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14:17 Kelso

Saturday 2 March 2024

All13:4214:1714:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

bet365 Premier Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 29.96s

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Selected odds by:

Jango Baie²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| BF

9/4

£170,000 buy after finishing runner-up sole start in Irish points and justified strong market support on hurdles debut at Ascot. Followed up in the Grade 1 Formby Novices' Hurdle at Aintree (16.5f) and, although not quite in the same form at Huntingdon since, he's still very much the one to beat.

Form: 2-112

Cannock Park⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Craig Nichol| T: Paul Robson| OR: 124

14/1

Successful sole outing in point bumpers and confirmed the promise of his Rules debut 7 months on when landing 10-runner contest at Bangor in October. Excellent hurdles debut when successful at Cheltenham and ran creditably when 14¾ lengths third to Jango Baie in Grade 1 at Aintree next time.

Form: 12-113

Alnilam¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bradley Harris| T: Anthony Charlton| C

8/1

Fairly useful winner on the Flat who left behind his hurdling debut form when easily landing 9-runner novice at this course (16.2f, soft) 15 days ago. Open to further improvement.

Form: 41

Bertie's Ballet²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer| OR: 116| C

9/1

Useful dual bumper winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when just nudged out to score at Haydock (15.6f, heavy) in December. Progressed again when second at Musselburgh (15.6f) last month but further improvement needed now upped in class.

Form: 210-212

Choose A Copper^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| OR: 119| BF

28/1

Placed in his completed start in Irish points and readily made all at Hexham on Rules debut in October. Not beaten far despite finishing last of 3 in a Sandown listed event but was no match for an improving sort back in calmer waters here (22.7f) last time. Back down in trip.

Form: UF-2132

Dripsey Moon^p1³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Ryan Mania| T: J C McConnell| OR: 128

28/1

Dual point winner who looked potentially useful when making a successful hurdling debut at Perth in August. Shaped well in defeat under a penalty but has had his limitations exposed at this level the last twice. Cheekpieces on for the 1st time.

Form: 11-1256

Intense Approach^t1¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Harvey| T: J C McConnell| BF

22/1

Dual bumper winner who was beaten in fourth when falling at the last on Wexford hurdling debut (shaped as if amiss). Tongue strap goes on and should be capable of much better.

Form: 1-211F

Justus^p³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 116

150/1

Fairly useful on Flat for Ian Williams (stays 16.5f) and produced a much-improved performance at the second time of asking over hurdles when winning 4-runner novice at Catterick (15.7f, heavy). No match for very useful mare at Doncaster subsequently and this isn't any easier.

Form: 012

Personal Ambition⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 130

3/1

Placed in an Irish point and made it 2 wins from 3 starts over hurdles back in an ordinary novice in good style in 13-runner event at Doncaster (16.6f, soft) 52 days ago. Can make his presence felt back up in grade.

Form: 3-131

Rich Spirit³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs S J Smith| OR: 126

16/1

Showed only modest form in 2 bumpers but has developed into a fairly useful hurdler, building significantly on his Catterick novice win when second on handicap debut at Doncaster (19.4, good) last time. This requires another step forward, though.

Form: 5-33512

Will Knott⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd

125/1

Malinas gelding who improved on his Hexham bumper debut win when third at Musselburgh in January. Faces a stiff task on hurdle debut, however.

Form: 4U2-13

Brucio^t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: D A Jacob| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 127| D

5/1

Showed promise in bumpers and readily surpassed previous hurdles form when landing 13-runner mares' maiden at Catterick (15.7f) in January, cruising clear. Showed further improvement when following up on handicap bow at Leopardstown (18f) and there could be more to come now upped in grade.

Form: 653F11

Forecasts

Jango Baie (9/4), Personal Ambition (3/1), Brucio (5/1), Alnilam (8/1), Bertie's Ballet (9/1), Cannock Park (14/1), Rich Spirit (16/1), Intense Approach (22/1), Dripsey Moon (28/1), Choose A Copper (28/1), Will Knott (125/1), Justus (150/1)

A Grade 2 in which it could pay to side with PERSONAL AMBITION, who unlike standard-setter Jango Baie, hails from a stable in rude health at present and is well worth another chance at this level having dominated a Doncaster novice in good style in January. Jango Baie still warrants plenty of respect being a Grade 1 winner, while Brucio is improving in leaps and bounds and needs taking seriously, too.