Sky Sports Racing HD Virgin 519 Open NH Flat Race (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:50 | Winning time: 4m 22.1s

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Selected odds by:

Off To Alabama¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: J Mackie

8/1

Telescope gelding. Won 11-runner bumper at Wetherby (16f, heavy, 66/1) on NH debut 18 days ago, pulling clear with an experienced rival. Should go well under penalty.

Form: 1

Tom Doniphon²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

£55,000 4-y-o, Great Pretender gelding. Irish point runner-up from the family of Grand Sancy. Won 12-runner bumper at Fontwell (17.7f, soft, 7/2) on NH debut 24 days ago, all out. Leading player.

Form: 4-21

I Play County⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes

15/8

€38,000 3-y-o, Doyen gelding. Winner of his sole start in Irish points and showed a fair amount of ability when fourth of 18 in bumper at this C&D (soft) 42 days ago, well positioned. Respected.

Form: 1-4

Monty Bodkin⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

5/4

Expensive as a store (out of Grade 1 winning mare) and went with plenty of promise despite evident inexperience when runner-up at Ascot on debut. Ground was much more testing when down the field at Aintree and yard are going much better, so no surprise to see him bounce back.

Form: 26

Ronster Monster^b1⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: Ella Pickard

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. 200/1, last of 14 in bumper at Lingfield (16f, standard) 72 days ago. Blinkered for 1st time. Can't be fancied.

Form: 00

Tarbuck

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss C Dyson

125/1

Telescope gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to useful chaser up to 25f Wicklow Lad, from family of 1994 Supreme Novices Hurdle winner Arctic Kinsman. Market can guide.

Form:

Masterpiece

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies

18/1

Mastercraftsman gelding. Brother to a winner on Flat and half-brother to 3 winners, including fair hurdler Yukon. Dam 1m winner who stayed 11.5f. Makes some appeal on paper but may need to above average to win this.

Form:

Non-Runners

The New Lion

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Monty Bodkin (5/4), I Play County (15/8), Tom Doniphon (9/2), The New Lion (5/1), Off To Alabama (8/1), Masterpiece (18/1), Tarbuck (125/1), Ronster Monster (200/1)

MONTY BODKIN disappointed on heavy ground at Aintree last time but is given another chance to build on a most promising debut at Ascot the previous month for the in-form Ben Pauling yard. Tom Doniphon and Off To Alabama are most respected after successful debuts, with I Play County and well-connected newcomer The New Lion others to consider in a strong-looking heat.