2.55 2m. 103yds. 12 Declared. Poundland Top Novices' Hurdle (Grade 1) (GBB Race) (Class 1 ) of £100,000.00 4-y-o plus
1st - €56,270.00 2nd - €21,200.00 3rd - €10,610.00 4th - €5,300.00 5th - €2,660.00 6th - €1,330.00 7th - €660.00 8th - €340.00
Formscan - As is only to be expected, this is a good quality renewal with the likes of Altobelli and Hullnback bidding to extend winning runs, while Luccia is respected in her bid to give Nicky Henderson back-to-back winners of the race. The last-named edges preference from that trio given she wasn't beaten far in the Grade 2 Jack De Bromhead Mares' Novices' Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. However, it might pay to focus more attention on Irish raiders Inthepocket and FOUND A FIFTY, with the latter just preferred given he has bags of scope for further progression judging by his close proximity to the high-class Corbetts Cross in a Grade 2 at Naas last time. That is not to underestimate Inthepocket, whose highly commendable fourth-placed finish in the Supreme at Cheltenham gives him rock solid claims.