Confidence in Knights Affair making a successful winning hurdles debut after 210 days out would have been stronger, had last year's seasonal reappearance not appeared to have been needed. In LES'S DESTINY STAR and Brooklyn Callin he faces two rivals likely to upgrade on previous rules efforts granted a trip and row of obstacles, and both can call upon far more recent match practice. The former, out of a half-sister to American Mike, is afforded narrow preference. [Jeremy Grayson]
Watch Live UK & Irish Racing
Simply place a bet of £5 or more on
any UK or Irish race to watch the action live!
Only minor promise on one bumper start, and less still on either hurdles start at the end of last year, not travelling well; has left Nicky Henderson and have to hope fresh surroundings awaken something in him.
Flat wins for David O'Meara were gained on dry surfaces around Redcar's 1m6f (peak RPR of 82) and Musselburgh's 2m circuits, so boxes all appear ticked as regards track, ground and stamina ahead of this switch to hurdling; did need his first run back from a comparable break last spring.
Unable to defy the penalty for January 2024's Doncaster bumper win (2m, good), albeit the return from a year out last time appeared needed; best days remain ahead of him being out a point-winning half-sister to American Mike, and this looks a realistic introduction to hurdling.
Better RPRs with each successive bumper start, offering hope a 40l sixth on March's Doncaster hurdles debut (2m3.5f, good to soft) can be similarly improved upon, especially if consenting to settle better again.
Last year's Fakenham bumper third (2m, good) increasingly appears an outlier form-wise, and hurdling efforts to date haven't hinted at a need to step up to today's sort of trip.
Mixed bag of efforts in bumpers for Nicky Stokes in autumn 2023; hurdles-winning prowess across a variety of trips on pedigree, but watching brief perhaps still advised considering the 18-month layoff.
Gently diminishing returns last year after a fair Worcester bumper fourth (2m, good), shaping as if needing a fair bit further than the 2m3.5f of September's Fontwell hurdling debut; more required on return.
Irish point winner (3m, good to yielding) from a staying family that includes Earthmover, so no real surprise a sprint finish conspired against her in a bumper here last time; equally no surprise were today's assignment a closer fit to her present optimum under rules.
1/4 Odds Place 1,2
( Pool guide displayed could change before the race starts & should be used as a guide only )
