15:00 Wetherby

Tuesday 21 February 2017

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Watch The Cheltenham Festival On Racing UK Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 5m 3.40s

Eaton Hill³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

9/4

Mugged the very useful Mount Mews here last time out and returns trying to defy a penalty now. That was a good debut by any standards and with the runner-up and the fourth having both won next time it looks the sort of form that might enable this Yeats gelding to follow-up.

Form: 2-2213P

Jerrysback²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White

4/11

Point-to-point winner who scored on debut over an extended 2m4f at Plumpton (heavy) last month. Fifth-placed runner came out and made the frame next time, though the form would do well to better that of Eaton Hill's race. Obvious claims from a top yard, though far from nailed on.

Form: 42-F1

Plus One⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

6/1

Point-to-point winner who changed hands for £90,000 in December and makes his debut today for a yard just clicking into gear ahead of the soring festivals. Well bred and will be very interesting to see what the market makes of his chance.

Form: P1

Robertson²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: Laura Morgan

33/1

Has had his problems and spent approximately two and a half years off the track before his recent comeback at Catterick, when he was well beaten when unseating. Was entitled to need that and should strip fitter here, though others look more likely winners on this occasion.

Form: U

Strike West⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond

50/1

€10,000 purchase. Well beaten in three bumper runs, despite finishing runner-up on debut. This is his first taste of hurdling in public and the market is likely to provide clearer ideas on expectations for him.

Form: 27-7

Suggestion¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby

80/1

Won a two runner bumper on debut at Southwell in August (good) but well beaten all starts since, including over hurdles last time. Likely to be better suited to handicaps.

Form: 17

Tommy O'dwyer^p¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 105

16/1

Triple point-to-point winner who cost connections £27,000 last year, though was withdrawn when due to go under the hammer again last month. Shown little in two starts for this yard and hard to fancy.

Form: 4/1411-U

Blakolive²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Jake Greenall| T: M Walford

125/1

Cost €33,000 as a three-year-old. Well beaten in both a bumper and a novices' hurdle and looks best watched for signs of improvement.

Form:

Lady London¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

125/1

Maiden point-to-point winner who cost connections £36,000 last year. Not yet shown signs of repaying that faith in a bumper and two hurdles runs that have seen her pulled up on both occasions.

Form: 51-5P

Rich Man Poor Man⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: P A Kirby

125/1

By a top jumps sire and cost his owner/trainer €14,000 last year, though pulled up in both runs and cannot be recommended just yet.

Form: PP9P

Non-Runners

Ebony Rose¹²⁴

Weight: 10-10| Age: 5

T: S Corbett J: James Corbett

Forecasts

Jerrysback (4/11), Eaton Hill (9/4), Plus One (6/1), Tommy O'dwyer (16/1), Robertson (33/1), Strike West (50/1), Ebony Rose (66/1), Suggestion (80/1), Lady London (125/1), Rich Man Poor Man (125/1), Blakolive (125/1)

A poor race of its kind for this track, with few set to get into it from what we have seen on the racecourse. Although it is never easy defying penalties at this level, EATON HILL might be good enough to do so after winning a significantly stronger race here on his hurdling debut. Jerrysback is an obvious danger, while good efforts from both Plus One and Robertson would not surprise. 1. Eaton Hill 2. Jerrysback 3. Plus One