Blackmores Building Contractors Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 7.9s

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Selected odds by:

Hobie¹⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: David Dennis| OR: 100| D

12/1

Irish point winner who stepped up on a low-key hurdles debut when landing a 2m Worcester maiden last May. Ran to a similar level under a penalty at Stratford but has been disappointing since, including over fences.

Form: 134P5P

Tour Ovalie¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 97

13/8

Fair in bumpers and not far off that level over hurdles, shaping better than the distance beaten suggests in a mares novice at Doncaster in March. Ran to a similar level switched to a handicap when second over C&D 13 days ago and remains unexposed.

Form: 265342

River Robe^h¹⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Hammond| T: M Young| OR: 94

10/3

In frame on 5 of 6 outings in bumpers but has yet to match that form over hurdles. Goes handicapping for a new yard (formerly trained by Michael Flannery) in a refitted hood and improvement needed.

Form: 734250

Mambo Beat¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 88

6/1

Fair Flat winner who shaped better than previously over hurdles when fourth in 7-runner novice at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) 19 days ago. Makes handicap hurdle debut and should have more to offer.

Form: 944

Grandmaster Flash^p¹³²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-7| J: Conor Ring| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 79| D

16/1

Well held in a trio of maiden hurdles but his fairly useful Flat form suggests he could do better now handicapping in this sphere.

Form: 577

Our Dylan²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 78

4/1

Long-standing maiden who offered little after 6 months off at Taunton (19f, soft) 29 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind.

Form: 24P530

Lunar Ocean^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: P R Webber| OR: 76

18/1

Little impact in bumpers/over hurdles so big step forward needed on handicap debut.

Form: 06-U60

Forecasts

Tour Ovalie (13/8), River Robe (10/3), Our Dylan (4/1), Mambo Beat (6/1), Hobie (12/1), Grandmaster Flash (16/1), Lunar Ocean (18/1)

TOUR OVALIE failed to build on the promise of her Doncaster effort when second in a C&D handicap last time but she remains unexposed and is well worth another chance. Mambo Beat should have more to offer now heading into handicaps over hurdles and is second choice ahead of stablemate Grandmaster Flash.