15:00 Taunton

Thursday 2 March 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4517:15

Ron Osborne Memorial Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 46.20s

Spiritofthegames⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

1/1

Winner of a point-to-point last season and successful on hurdling debut at Ayr in October. Highly tried in subsequent start but ran well on handicap debut in a decent event at Kempton subsequently and likely to go well once more.

Form: 114

Amour de Nuit⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

3/1

Achieved a rating of 106 when racing on the flat for previous yard. Finished runner-up on debut for top trainer here in December but well beaten upped in trip subsequently. Drop to 2m3f should suit and likely to go well once more.

Form: 273121-

Blue Comet⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

11/1

Ran well enough in two outings for current stable to suggest he can win races over hurdles finishing fourth on each occasion including over 2m5f on hurdling debut at Ludlow in January. This looks a stiff task but likely to run his race.

Form: 89-

Chato⁷⁶

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

4/1

Victorious on debut in a bumper at Uttoxeter in July and finished runner-up in a similar event at Worcester subsequently. Not disgraced in a listed bumper at Ascot subsequently and an interesting contender on hurdling debut.

Form: 12

Equleus²⁸

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

200/1

Winner on the AW for previous yard but well beaten in two outings for current stable including here in January and likely to be better suited to handicaps.

Form: 0802-

Flying Shadow⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: Miss E C Lavelle

14/1

Successful on debut in a bumper at Stratford in June but well held in a similar event at Southwell on return to action in November. Has moved yards since and makes his hurdling debut here.

Form: 13

Kristjano³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: J D Frost

66/1

Placed multiple times at up to 2m on the flat but disappointed in two outings over hurdles for current yard and likely best watched until tackling handicaps.

Form: 860-

Minella Style⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: T E Whelan| T: N B King

33/1

Point-to-point winner at the fourth attempt in April 2016 and ran well until outpaced late on in an AW bumper at Lingfield in November. This a more suitable test and an interesting contender on hurdling debut.

Form: P/1323-5

Stealing Mix^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland

20/1

Winner of a point-to-point from three starts and signs of promise in two hurdles outings so far. This looks tougher than the races he's been contesting however and he's likely to fair better in handicaps.

Form: 765621-

Treasure The Ridge^p¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: M Hill

50/1

Six time flat winner but finished well beaten on debut for this yard at Wolverhampton last month. Only previous hurdles outing resulted in a heavy defeat in a novice claiming event in May 2014.

Form: 8/F3-

Apalis^p1,t⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Bannister⁽³⁾| T: C J Mann

100/1

Weakened quickly on two attempts over hurdles including in first time tongue tie on latest outing in January. Won on the flat in France so not without ability but likely to fair better in handicaps. Wears first time chekepieces here.

Form:

Sheelbewhatsheelbe²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips

200/1

Finished third on bumper debut at Worcester in June 2014 but only limited signs of ability in two outings since returning late last year and likely best watched at present.

Form: 3/8673-

Top Of The Rocks^p,t¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: James Banks| T: Mrs K Stephens

200/1

Pulled up on hurdling debut and well held at Exeter subsequently. Winner of a selling handicap on the flat but needs to step up markedly on what he's shown so far to be competitive here.

Form: /P709-

Non-Runners

The Mighty Ash⁵²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Mrs F M Shaw J: Ian Popham

Forecasts

Spiritofthegames (1/1), Amour de Nuit (3/1), Chato (4/1), The Mighty Ash (10/1), Blue Comet (11/1), Flying Shadow (14/1), Stealing Mix (20/1), Minella Style (33/1), Treasure The Ridge (50/1), Kristjano (66/1), Apalis (100/1), Sheelbewhatsheelbe (200/1), Equleus (200/1), Top Of The Rocks (200/1)

SPIRITOFTHEGAMES ran well in a handicap on his most recent outing and can take this novice hurdle under a penalty here. The selection has a success at Ayr to his name already this season with this drop in trip unlikely to inconvenience him and he can be given most to do by Amour De Nuit, assuming that the latter reproduces the form of his debut outing while this step up in trip on hurdles debut can see Minella Style claim third. 1. Spiritofthegames 2. Amour de Nuit 3. Minella Style