bet365 Scottish Supreme Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 3m 44.0s

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Bertie's Ballet³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 118| D

11/4

Useful dual bumper winner who, having been given a considerate introduction to hurdling after 7 months off, went one better with a fair bit more in hand than the bare margin of victory suggests at Haydock (15.6f, heavy) just over 5 weeks ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 3/210-21

Hypotenus⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: K M Donoghue| T: G P Cromwell| OR: 130| D

2/1

Wide-margin winner on first start for this yard in maiden hurdle at Gowran in September but hasn't built on that, not really suited by the way the race developed when 12½ lengths third of 6 to Risk Belle in Grade 3 at Fairyhouse a couple of months ago. This easier but must jump better.

Form: P-26163

Panjari^p1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117| BF| D

11/2

Useful on Flat in Germany and has been very quick in getting the hang of hurdling, winning extended 2m Taunton novice and running well from a good prominent position in Cheltenham handicap in December. Let down by jumping when the headgear was left off here last time so can get back on track.

Form: 52137

Recoup^t¹⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

4/1

Fairly useful Flat winner in France. Joined new yard for 55,000 gns and made the perfect start to hurdling career after 5 months in 16-runner novice at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) in October, edging ahead final 50 yds. Open to improvement, so warrants plenty of respect for a top yard.

Form: 1

Whistle Stop Tour⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 118| D

18/1

Winning Irish pointer who also made a successful start over hurdles in a Hexham novice (16.2f) in October. Has failed to kick on as anticipated on both subsequent starts however, well hell on handicap debut at Haydock (18.9f, heavy) just over 6 weeks ago. Others preferred.

Form: 51-134

Titanium Moon¹⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 127| D

13/2

Failed to win in 4 outings on the Flat but on a roll over hurdles, not hard pressed to make it 4 novice wins in a row (all by wide margins) at Stratford (16.3f, good to soft) 6 months ago. Open to further improvement, he holds leading claims again if ready to roll.

Form: 21111

Non-Runners

Lily Du Berlais³⁰¹

Weight: 10-9| Age: 8

T: S R B Crawford J: Ben Bromley

Forecasts

Hypotenus (2/1), Bertie's Ballet (11/4), Recoup (4/1), Lily Du Berlais (5/1), Panjari (11/2), Titanium Moon (13/2), Whistle Stop Tour (18/1)

Cases can be made for most, but preference is for RECOUP, who pulled well clear with a subsequent winner on his yard/hurdling debut at Ludlow back in October and Fergal O'Brien's 5-y-o should have plenty more to offer in this sphere. Titanium Moon wasn't hard pressed to make it 4 novice wins in a row when last seen at Stratford 6 months ago, so she's put forward as the main danger, ahead of Hypotenus, who is clearly talented but needs to learn to jump better.