Kidwells Group Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 48.09s

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Selected odds by:

Absolutely Certain³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: B R Summers

200/1

Unpromising in points and offered little either start over hurdles in recent months.

Form: 44P78

Court In A Storm^t¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

7/4

Court Cave gelding who showed plenty to work on when second on debut in a Huntingdon bumper (15.8f) 12 months ago and built on that after 6 months off with a tongue strap fitted when a convincing winner at Ludlow in October. Good prospect now hurdling over this longer trip (bred to stay well).

Form: 2-1

Don Virginia¹²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 104

4/6

Placed on first 3 starts in maiden/novice hurdles but no further improvement switched to handicaps, finishing seventh of 8 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f) in December. Still, he's not one to write off back from a break now tackling this longer trip.

Form: 2-3247

Goodbyemick^t1¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: M Comley| OR: 96

14/1

Maiden pointer who showed more than previously under Rules when fifth in a 10-runner novice hurdle at Stratford (16.3f) 12 days ago. Step back up in trip rates a plus on that evidence but he will have handicaps as an option after this. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 356345

Rock On Cowboy^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 99

10/1

Showed promise in novice hurdles for Ben Pauling but regressed towards end of 2023 season. Missed last year and having confirmed he retains ability when third on return for new yard at Sedgefield in February, his latest run at Exeter 5 weeks ago was very much a backward step. Cheekpieces refitted.

Form: 36P6/3P

Sweet Serene¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Georgie Howell

200/1

Best effort in bumpers (modest form) when fourth of 11 at Bangor last June but offered little both starts over hurdles, including when last of 5 on stable debut at Exeter (16.7f) 18 days ago. Can only be watched at present.

Form: 97-445

Forecasts

Don Virginia (4/6), Court In A Storm (7/4), Rock On Cowboy (10/1), Goodbyemick (14/1), Absolutely Certain (200/1), Sweet Serene (200/1)

COURT IN A STORM confirmed debut promise when running out an impressive winner on his return in a Ludlow bumper in October and, appealing as the type to be well served by this step up in trip now hurdling, he's fancied to make a successful start in this sphere. Don Virginia has been given a break following a lesser run in December and he's fancied to pose the chief threat.