This looks a match between GROOVY BLUE, who ran creditably when third in what looked a strong, small-field novice at Ascot last time, and the unexposed Joining Force, who shaped well on his hurdles debut at Chepstow, with the former just preferred.[Colin Russell]
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Third in a bumper on debut here (2m, good to soft); fair seventh next time but beaten 20l when sixth on hurdles debut at Wincanton (1m7f, soft) last month and needs to improve for good ground and longer trip.
Close third to a 200-1 shot on hurdles debut at Huntingdon (2m, good); pulled up in a better race on soft at Newbury next time but return to good ground will suit and he's now up in trip.
Won Fontwell bumper (2m, good to soft) last May; best run over hurdles was when third of four at Ascot (2m3f, good; second and fourth have won since) last month on first run after wind surgery; good claims.
Has won five of his 21 points (2m5f/3m) on ground ranging from heavy to good to firm; 20l fifth on hurdle debut at Chepstow last month (2m3f, soft); should improve on that but looks more one for handicaps.
Runner-up in his second point in Ireland (3m, yielding; winner was fourth in the Turners on Wednesday); fair third in a Chepstow bumper on stable debut (2m, good to soft) in October and, although only fifth in a 2m novice there (good) the following month, that is solid form; down in grade and up in trip; chance.
Bumper winner for Henry Daly in February 2023 (2m, good); runner-up in novice hurdles at Warwick (2m5f, good) and Catterick (2m3f, good to soft) later that year; subsequently off for 305 days and although his comeback was decent he's been pulled up in two handicaps since, the latest with cheekpieces tried (visored this time); has a bit to prove.
