Roxyfet Sports Lounge For Private Hire Novices' Hurdle (Novices' Championship Hurdle Qual') (GBB)

Won by a neck in a first-time tongue-tie (retained) at Taunton (2m, heavy) last month on his second hurdle start and the runner-up has since gone one better; showed promise on good to soft in a bumper (unraced on good); strong claims for top trainer who is 5-7 here in the last five seasons.

Good-ground point winner who scored on his rules debut here (2m4f, soft) in December despite hanging badly right, with a subsequent winner in second; underwhelming at Newcastle (2m4f, soft) since but not written off.

Third in sole point (3m, yielding) and well backed when easily making all on rules debut in maiden hurdle at Southwell (2m, good to soft) last month; tailed off in Grade 2 at Kempton 19 days later but retains potential and he's a leading candidate if rediscovering the Southwell promise.

Displayed useful Flat form as recently as the autumn and it's very early days over hurdles, but he's been soundly beaten on both starts in this code; may be of greater interest when back in headgear.

One win (in 2023) from his five point starts; tailed off at 200-1 on recent hurdle debut at Newcastle when back from a long absence.