A pleasing turnout for the French Furze Novices' Hurdle featuring four (should've been five) previous winners. The Nicky Richards-trained
Glenduff downed a talking horse of Colin Tizzard's (Faustinovick) on hurdles debut at Carlisle, while the Fergal O'Brien-trained
Imperial Alcazar took a deep looking Aintree maiden (2m4f) by the minimum margin. Furthermore, with the likes of
Duc De Grissay (most unfortunate at Kelso) and
Prince Kayf (green at Sedgefield) open to improvement under rules this will take some winning. Nevertheless, having fended off the well-regarded West Cork at Warwick, the upped-in-trip
ESPOIR DE ROMAY is favoured for Kim Bailey.
- Espoir De Romay
- Imperial Alcazar
- Glenduff