13:25 Wincanton

Thursday 2 February 2017

All13:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:1516:45

Carling Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:26 | Winning time: 4m 7.90s

Midnight Maestro³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King

11/8

Very promising start to his career, with both bumper and novices' hurdle wins on his debut in each sphere. Unable to build on that at Cheltenham last time, but plenty more scope for improvement and a return to form is entirely possible.

Form: 1-

Black Anthem¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: W Featherstone⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr

100/1

Well beaten in a recent Warwick bumper and failed to make the frame in four point-to-points, so not difficult to take on on his hurdles debut.

Form: 406535-

Black Night⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Richard Hodson⁽⁷⁾| T: James Moon

25/1

Regular winner around Jersey's Les Landes on the Flat (rated 83), so something to work with for his trainer. Hurdles debut so has to prove that he can both jump and also handle the forecast ground.

Form: 5

Equleus²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: L Heard| T: Mrs K Stephens

200/1

Tough ask for this winner miler on the AW, who finished last of ten on his introduction to hurdles at Taunton (good) last week.

Form: 0802-

Magical Thomas¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland

33/1

Sole success was over 11f on Kempton's Polytrack a couple of seasons ago. Currently rated 76 in that sphere, though no great shakes in three hurdles runs so far. Trainer's runners enjoying a great spell, so watch the market to see if there is any more confidence this time.

Form: 6003P7-

Master Majic¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

10/1

Not asked any serious questions in two bumper outings and takes to hurdling for the first time here. Yard carrying all before it this season and it is likely that this Flemensfirth gelding will handle the forecast ground well and could put up a much better showing.

Form: 99-

Not Never⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

9/2

93-rated Flat campaigner who was not always fluent when well fancied on his Plumpton hurdling debut last month. Stays 1m 6f on the Flat, so this trip no concern and if he has learned enough from that first run then he looks likely to be in contention. Acts with cut.

Form: 4406

Sir Antony Browne¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

5/4

Soft ground bumper winner on debut this time last year and did well to make the frame under a penalty next time. Not raced since March but clearly freshness is of no concern, likely to be well prepared and pedigree suggests that he should not be unduly inconvenienced by the forecast going.

Form: 13-12

Non-Runners

Azzuri⁸⁰

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Forecasts

Sir Antony Browne (5/4), Midnight Maestro (11/8), Azzuri (6/4), Not Never (9/2), Master Majic (10/1), Black Night (25/1), Magical Thomas (33/1), Black Anthem (100/1), Equleus (200/1)

A really interesting opener to the card and we will side with SIR ANTONY BROWNE to come home in front. Alan King's runners are going well and this five-year-old will surely do better in time with a step up in trip, though he makes plenty of appeal today. Not Never should have learned a fair bit from his debut and has the Flat speed to get heavily involved if he can jump better, while Mister Majic and Azzuri are among several others who should be in the with a shout of prize money. Midnight Maestro will have to be pretty useful to win under his penalty. 1. Sir Antony Browne 2. Not Never 3. Azzuri