Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) 2012

3.10 Cheltenham

Neptune Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (Registered As The Classic Novices' Hurdle) (Grade 2) (Class 1)  (4YO plus)

Winner £14,238

Advice: 2 pts win Broadbackbob (13/8 general)

Broadbackbob: Improved with experience as a bumper horse last year, when eventually finishing sixth in the Aintree bumper (form has worked out well enough); Since moved to top yard and has been an impressive winner of both his hurdles starts, beating Cinders and Ashes by a length, before winning with ease at Newbury last time out; Should go well here.

Forgotten Gold: Second behind Harry The Viking quickly been boosted and followed that up with good win at Ludlow since; Third behind Barabtos also looking solid now although he’s now even worse in with the second, which doesn’t augur well for his chances here.

Knight Pass: Quickly developed a strong reputation in bumpers, winning twice impressively before festival disappointment; Two from three over hurdles, having disappointed some when beaten under penalty in what’s turned out to be a good race since, and then quickly taking advantage of good handicap mark.

Bowntobebad: Bumper effort promising and then followed up with maiden hurdle win, although he disappointed when bleeding and disappointing two months ago; First run since in 70 days, so that has to be a worry over his chances.

Hawk Mountain: Decent staying handicapper who ended up with a mark of 90 on the flat after his progression; Good start to life over hurdles at Sedgefield but then beaten under a penalty at Market Rasen and this even harder, so passed over.

Batonnier: Above average form over hurdles (better with each and every run), icnlduign when second behind solid yardstick here last time; May well improve once again and interesting from a place perspective.

Catch Tammy: Close but no cigar on bumper debut here but has since disappointed twice, and a line through One Term leaves him well and truly beaten here; May not have liked the heavy ground here on his hurdling debut but needs to improve massively on what’s been shown so far.

Hard To Swallow: Dissappoonting on hurdles debut but running a solid race when going down 2 out in Persian War Hurdle and ran another decent race when fourth here, although he’s strictly held by Battonier on that evidence Should run a respectable race.

Low Gales: Got upto win his point by a neck but never in it on hurdling debut at Doncaster and passed over.

Polisky: No match for Supreme Novices third Sprinter Sacre at Ascot but ran well nevertheless and and Grade 2 came too soon for him at Aintree; Third behind Fingal Bay on his seasonal reappearance makes him very interesting here and presumably ground was too testing for him at Newbury last time behind Broadbackbob, so has to be on the shortlist.

Secret Edge: Made more than a few mistakes on debut at Chepstow when only just losing out late on and major improvement from that led to him winning Listed juvenile hurdle, when making good use of stamina late on (followed up in easier company since); Shaped as if he would be suited by a step up in trip when third in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle, but this isn’t an easy task here.

VERDICT: BROADBACKBOB has impressed in different ways with the style of his two wins this season and he should make a bold bid for a third on the bounce here, despite the likely presence of strong challenges of Knight Pass back off level weights, and Polisky back on better ground. Of the rest – predictably – Battonier makes most approval.