Virgin Bet Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 5m 40.99s

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Selected odds by:

Crest Of Fortune^b²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 124| BF| D

15/8

Bumper winner who made a winning start over hurdles at Ffos Las. Runner-up all 3 starts since, latterly in first-time blinkers (retained here) in 4-runner novice at Ascot (19.3f) 3 weeks ago. Obvious player on form.

Form: 15-1222

Jupiter Des Mottes³⁹

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

8/15

Looked a good prospect in winning his only outing in bumpers for Nicky Richards and did so again in making a successful start over hurdles upped in trip at Newcastle (20.3f) 10 months later. Sure to go on to better things.

Form: 1-1

Jehol De Thaix⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Quinlan| T: N G Richards

12/1

Showed plenty to work on when second in a Uttoxeter bumper (15.8f) and similar story after 7 months off when third on hurdles bow at Kelso (16.2f) in December. Possibly found race coming too soon just over 3 weeks on when not in the same form here last time, so worth another chance.

Form: 235

Wholly Boley²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: D Bourke

33/1

Only modest form in bumpers in 2023 but won a point since and made a satisfactory start to his hurdle career when fifth in a 3m course maiden in January. Failed to progress back here last time, however.

Form: 652-156

Wor Lad²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: D W Whillans

250/1

Well held in 2 bumpers last spring and offered little on recent C&D hurdling debut.

Form: 87-9

Non-Runners

King Of Answers²³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Miss Lucinda V Russell J: P W Wadge

Forecasts

Jupiter Des Mottes (8/15), King Of Answers (11/8), Crest Of Fortune (15/8), Jehol De Thaix (12/1), Wholly Boley (33/1), Wor Lad (250/1)

An interesting small-field novice contested by 3 previous winners. JUPITER DES MOTTES again looked a good prospect when making a successful hurdling debut at Newcastle in January and is taken to defy a penalty en route to better things. Stablemate King of Answers forged clear in good style at the same venue last month and has to be feared with the performance supported by the clock. Crest of Fortune is the other key player on form despite being turned over at short odds on his most recent start.