SIXTH RACE 4.25

THE VIRGIN BET FIVES NOVICES’ HURDLE RACE (CLASS 4) (GBB RACE)

for novice four yrs old and upwards ™ Total prize fund £8000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £3338, 2nd £1670, 3rd £834, 4th £418. (Penalty Value £4356.80)

Leading course trainer (17-22): N Henderson (53 wins from 226 runners, 23%) runs EASY RIDER & ISSUING AUTHORITY

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): D Skelton (7 wins from 35 runners, 20%) runs THE KING OF RYHOPE colours no horse age st-lb

Fancy That: N Henderson won this race in 2017 and 2021. The stable runs EASY RIDER & ISSUING AUTHORITY today. Longest Traveller: THE KING OF RYHOPE trained by D Skelton, Alcester, 99 miles.

1 THEATRE MAN (IRE) (79) 232-212 BF 7 11-9

Br B g Ocovango - Theatre Bird (IRE) Harry Bannister J

O Burkes & Syders Richard Bandey, Kingsclere T

B Thomas Merrigan Tote S

TIMEFORMVIEWShowedfairformwhenplacedbothstartsinbumpersandlefthurdlingdebutformbehindwhenscoring at Hereford in November Good second under a penalty at Doncaster and worthy of respect.

2 THE KING OF RYHOPE (GB) (28) 1/-213 BF 7 11-9

Br Ch g Malinas (GER) - Eleven Fifty Nine Bridget Andrews J

O Sullivan Bloodstock Ltd & Chris Giles Dan Skelton, Alcester T

B Mr M. Rowe & Mr B. Wright Ladbrokes, The Air Ambulance Service (Warwickshire & Northamptonshire) S

TIMEFORMVIEWSuccessfulsoleoutinginIrishpointsin2020andoffthemarkatthesecondattemptoverhurdlesatExeter Bettered that when third in Prestige Novices’ at Haydock last time and should take all the beating in this company.

3 CELTIC NED (IRE) (-)

5 11-2

Br B g Well Chosen - Belsalsa (FR) Niall Houlihan (3) J

O Celtic Contractors Limited Pat Phelan, Epsom T

B Ned Morris

TIMEFORMVIEWCloselyrelatedto2winners,includingusefulhurdler/chaserMulcahysHill,andhalf-brothertobumperwinner/fairlyuseful hurdler Penn Lane Yard is hardly renowned for first-time-out winners and this 5-y-o is probably best watched. TFRHHIII BHA-

4 EASY RIDER (GB) (30) 64

5 11-2

Br B g Sixties Icon - Rose Row Daryl Jacob J

O Mrs Susan Roy Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B Cotswold Stud & Overbury Stallions Ltd

TIMEFORM VIEW Half-brother to ungenuine but useful hurdler Buckle Street and fair chaser Debden Bank. Held back by inexperience when sixth on debutina17-runnerWincantonbumperandshowedmorewhenfourthinanoviceatSandownonhurdlingbow.Needstoimprove TFRHHHII BHA-

5 ENDERSEN (IRE) (36) 543-6P2

6 11-2

Br B g Ask - Molly Con (IRE) Brendan Powell J

O THE FOREVER PARTNERSHIP TWO Richard Rowe, Pulborough T

B John Mounsey Southern Cranes & Access Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEW Maiden Irish pointer who hasn’t shown enough as yet to warrant interest in a race like this.

TFRHIIII BHA-

6 HASTON CLERMONT (FR) (75) F2-45

6 11-2

Br B g Coastal Path - Magie Brune (FR) James Davies J

O Burkes & Syders

Noel Williams, Blewbury T

B S.C.E.A. Elevage de Clermont Noel Williams Racing Limited S

TIMEFORM VIEW Runner-up on completed start in Irish points (Nov 2021). Cost a fair bit and showed plenty to work on in Chepstow bumper but only fifth in a novice at Plumpton on hurdling debut. Could improve

7 ISSUING AUTHORITY (IRE) (67) 521-232 BF 6 11-2

TFRHHIII BHA-

Br Ch g Flemensfirth (USA) - Mini’s Last (IRE) Nico de Boinville J

O Owners Group 101 Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B Mr Edward Collins Owners Group S

TIMEFORMVIEWFlemensfirthgeldingfromagoodfamily Runner-upinIrishpointsatsecondattemptandforgedclear to land 5-runner bumper at Uttoxeter. Fairly useful form so far over hurdles and merits respect. TFRHHHHI BHA124

DECLARED RUNNERS 7 2022: EARTH LORD (IRE) 6 11 7 Tom O’Brien 5-6 (Philip Hobbs) 4 ran

Stewards Note:

ISSUING AUTHORITY: Following its run on 10/1/2023 it was reported that the horse suffered interference in running.

Probable S.P’s: 11-10 The King of Ryhope (GB), 7-2 Theatre Man (IRE), Issuing Authority (IRE), 25-1 Easy Rider (GB), 28-1 Haston Clermont (FR), 33-1 Endersen (IRE), 40-1 Celtic Ned (IRE)

Having been placed in graded company last time, THE KING OF RYHOPE looks the obvious way to go dropping back in grade Fellow hurdling winner Theatre Man is a danger and Issuing Authority has shown enough to warrant a mention.

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