16:37 Ffos Las

Wednesday 16 April 2025

All16:3717:1217:4518:1518:4519:1519:45

Geraint Bowens Welsh Cap Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 16:37 | Winning time: 5m 4.28s

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Selected odds by:

Akimos³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Paul O'Brien| T: N J Henderson

5/1

Westerner gelding who ran to just a modest level when fifth of 11 in introductory hurdle at Newbury (16.3f, good to soft) on debut in December. Showed little when pulled up at Uttoxeter 11 weeks later and looks one for low-grade handicaps.

Form: 5P

Devon Dude²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams| OR: 114| BF

10/11

Bumper winner who ran his best race over hurdles when narrowly denied in 19f Taunton maiden in February. Came unstuck at very short odds in 3-runner maiden at Exeter (16.7f, good) the following month and he heads back up in distance.

Form: 1-43722

Guchen⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nathan Andrews⁽¹⁰⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110

9/2

Only fifth of 7 in a bumper last May but showed promise when second of 10 on Hereford hurdle debut (19.5f, good to soft) in December. Ran to a similar level in spite of the drop in trip when third at Huntingdon in February and certainly not out of things back up in distance.

Form: 523

It's A Breeze^h⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

17/2

Failed to meet expectations in a bumper on Boxiday Day 2023 but made a promising start hurdling 12 months later when third of 10 in maiden at Wincanton. Failed to improve on that 11 weeks later at Exeter (pulled hard) and looks to have his work cut out again despite Cobden on board.

Form: 8-36

Katana¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Slevin| T: N J Henderson

20/1

Showed ability amidst greenness when fifth of 8 in bumper but hard to enthuse about both hurdling exploits, finding the hurdles getting in his way at Wetherby (16f, good) recently. Needs this step up in trip to unlock some improvement.

Form: 565

Mask Of Zorro⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Jack Tudor| T: J Tizzard

11/1

Limited impact in a trio of bumpers but showed up a bit better sent hurdling after 3 months off when fifth of 10 in maiden at Exeter (16.7f, good to soft) just under 6 weeks ago. His task is to now build on that upped to 2½m.

Form: 4-075

Quinn's Reward⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Caoilin Quinn| T: T Symonds

66/1

Seemingly being brought along gradually, finishing a never-nearer sixth of 12 in novice at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) in February. Heads up in trip with tongue tie worn last time left but others more appealing.

Form: 7946

Non-Runners

Buckna⁵⁸

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: W Greatrex J: James Bowen

Deep Purple¹⁶⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Tristan Durrell

Drayton Flyer⁵⁵

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: O Murphy J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Devon Dude (10/11), Buckna (5/2), Deep Purple (3/1), Guchen (9/2), Akimos (5/1), It's A Breeze (17/2), Mask Of Zorro (11/1), Drayton Flyer (12/1), Katana (20/1), Quinn's Reward (66/1)

Preference is for BUCKNA, who kept up his run of placings whilst shaping as if a swift return to 2½m+ would suit at Southwell a couple of months ago. The main danger may emerge from Devon Dude, who was turned over at prohibitive odds at Exeter recently but is another who should appreciate this step back up in trip. Deep Purple and Guchen can fight out third.