15:25 Hereford

Wednesday 4 January 2017

All12:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:2515:55

Weatherbys General Stud Book Novices' Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 15:26 | Winning time: 5m 7.2s

Sandymount⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

11/4

Scored first time up over hurdles at Southwell last month, manor of his win suggesting there will be more to come. Trainer/jockey partnership catching the eye this season.

Form: 3/23148-

Strong Pursuit²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

4/9

An easy winner for the champion jockey on his second hurdles start last month at Wincanton, he must be taken very seriously on the back of that effort.

Form: F31/6

Ain't No Limits¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G B Watters⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon

12/1

No match for market leaders at Market Rasen on Boxing Day but stayed on to take clear third. Goes up in trip here and can threaten the place money again.

Form: P36905-

Arkadios⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe

14/1

Not seen on the track since March 2015 but now makes hurdles bow for prominent trainer and cannot be discounted.

Form: P9PBPF-

Bandon Bridge⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price

33/1

Won a couple of Irish points but well held on sole rules start in May 2014. First run for new yard now, after a year off.

Form: 14124-0

Chevalgris²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss Jodie Hughes⁽⁷⁾| T: D Burchell

66/1

Another coming here after a significant layoff. Impossible to recommend based on previous hurdles form where some quirks were displayed.

Form: 6/97322-

Diamond Fort²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

20/1

Showed some promise on rules debut at Southwell bumper in October but took a backwards step a month later at the same venue, giving him enough to prove now on hurdles bow.

Form: 6648

Maximus Maridius^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater

50/1

This an easier than Kempton race he contested on Boxing Day. Showed decent aptitude for hurdling there before fading, not without a chance now.

Form: 17/6

More Than Luck²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁷⁾| T: S Thomas

100/1

Well held in novice events at Southwell and Towcester and this likely to play out in similar fashion.

Form: P5774P-

Seldom Heard^t1²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul Moloney| T: H Chisman

125/1

Laboured efforts and finished a long way behind both starts over timber to date. Hard to find reason for a turnaround today despite tongue tie.

Form: 66

Shemalzan¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan⁽³⁾| T: A Wintle

50/1

Form on the Flat in France entitles respect but this his first foray onto the racetrack for close to 1700 days.

Form: /F

Tarrona³⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: A Phillips

100/1

Change in surroundings would need to work the oracle after tame efforts in two start over hurdles this term. First start for new trainer now.

Form:

Town Parks²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

20/1

Fair efforts in two starts over hurdles to date. Likely to do ok when sent handicapping but up against it here again.

Form: 43-4

Buggi^p1,t1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: T Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr

100/1

Cut no ice both bumper starts and never a factor on hurdles bow at Lingfield in November. Expectations remains low here.

Form:

Non-Runners

Stealing Mix³⁴

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: N P Mulholland J:

Forecasts

Strong Pursuit (4/9), Sandymount (11/4), Ain't No Limits (12/1), Arkadios (14/1), Town Parks (20/1), Diamond Fort (20/1), Bandon Bridge (33/1), Stealing Mix (33/1), Maximus Maridius (50/1), Shemalzan (50/1), Chevalgris (66/1), More Than Luck (100/1), Tarrona (100/1), Buggi (100/1), Seldom Heard (125/1)

Ought to pay to focus on the top two here, with both having their merits. STRONG PURSUIT did things very easily at Wincanton in opening his account at the second time of asking. The champion jockey is back up today and they are worth sticking with. Sandymount was also eye-catching on his recent win and can take advantage should the selection not relish a battle. Maximum Maridius ran well for a long way at Kempton on Boxing Day and can do so again while Ain't No Limits is another with place claims in a race where many have lots to prove. 1. Strong Pursuit 2. Sandymount 3. Maximus Maridius