We have two selections from across the UK and Ireland on Thursday…
In the 2m5½f Class 4 Lenny Roberts Memorial Trophy Novices' Hurdle at Wincanton (13:30), Paul Nicholls fields the top two in the betting with Il Pino and Pentire Head. Whilst the current short-priced favourite Il Pino was a good winner of his point-to-point, stablemate Pentire Head appears to be good value at 10/3.
The gelding has placed on all three of his bumper outings, including a neck defeat behind Heros De Romay at Exeter in January and appears to be a solid hurdling prospect for the yard. Bought for 145,000 euros as a three-year-old, the son of Presenting is out of a sister to useful chaser Burton Port, which would suggest Pentire Head will improve for the switch to obstacles. Although undoubtedly the second choice of the yard, jockey Lorcan Williams is very capable of using the gelding's experience under rules to land an upset.
SELECTION – PENTIRE HEAD – 10/3
We head across to Ireland for the 2m7f Irish Stallions EBF Mares Maiden Hurdle at Thurles (13:55) for our second selection. Littlebiggie sits third in the betting for her hurdling debut and the price is potentially too big, based on her sole piece of form under rules. Trained by Ray Hackett, the six-year-old mare was a winner of her only point-to-point at Stradbally in April and unfortunately ran into subsequent Listed winner Aurora Vega (trained by Willie Mullins) on debut.
Ridden by seven pound claimer Conor Clarke, she raced keenly and was competitive until two furlongs out, when Aurora Vega took control of the race and sauntered twelve lengths clear. Littlebiggie finished nearly four lengths ahead of the third-placed horse Marvel Star, and should, as a point-to-point winner, benefit from the switch to hurdles.
SELECTION – LITTLEBIGGIE – 13/2
