Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 4m 51.24s

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Selected odds by:

Crest Of Fortune^b1⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 124| BF

4/6

Bumper winner who made a winning start over hurdles at Ffos Las. Runner-up both starts since, latterly pulling clear of the rest at Exeter (16.7f, heavy) where he was beaten by one who has since been placed in a Grade 2. Strongly respected back up in trip here with Cobden booked/blinkers applied.

Form: 15-122

First Confession⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 126| CD

2/1

Bought for £140,000 after winning sole outing in points and duly built on hurdles debut promise when landing the odds in a C&D maiden in November. Out of his comfort zone from an early stage in a Newbury Grade 1 since but it remains early days for this 6-y-o and he may well get back on track.

Form: 1-317

Groovy Blue⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B PaulingWS

12/1

Well held in Newbury bumper for Emma Lavelle but a different proposition for new stable when winning a similar race at Fontwell last May. However, little impact in 2 starts over hurdles so far and big step forward will be needed following a wind op if he's to take this for last year's winning yard.

Form: 8-16P

Old Cowboy¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore

12/1

Purchased for £66,000 after finishing runner-up in a point last April and made an encouraging start to his Rules career when third of 13 in 2m Newbury novice hurdle last month. Failed to build on that next time, though, and it could be that it's in handicaps where he will find his feet.

Form: 42-33

Non-Runners

Kingston Pride⁷¹

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Just A Rose²⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Crest Of Fortune (4/6), Kingston Pride (1/1), Just A Rose (6/4), First Confession (2/1), Groovy Blue (12/1), Old Cowboy (12/1)

With the highly promising Just A Rose ruled out, this now looks pretty open. CREST OF FORTUNE hasn't done a great deal wrong in his three starts over hurdles to date and left the strong impression that this step back up in trip would be in his favour when again finding just one too good at Exeter on New Year's Day. Anthony Honeyball's charge gets the nod ahead of First Confession and Kingston Pride, both of whom looked promising prior to low-key performances in graded company last time.