14:15 Perth
Sunday 4 June 2017
All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15
Gateway To The Highlands Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 4f 35y | Good (Watered) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 50.87s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
One of four runners for the yard in this and he already has a rating of 125 having been successful at Navan in April over 2m on heavy ground beating a perennial runner-up in Couer Joyeux who also made a mistake at the last. Has run respectably in his last starts facing stiffer tasks than for his win over further and should stay this trip although all his best form has come on softer ground than he'll face here.
The jockey booking takes the eye on this once raced maiden who was well held on his debut at Tipperary over 2m on his debut starting at 33/1. Yard look to have better chances than this one in this.
Fairly useful on the Flat when trained by Ralph Beckett (won four handicaps all over 1m6f off marks up to 77) and makes his second start for this yard here after finishing runner-up on his hurdles debut at Exeter. Chased home the useful Brahms De Clermont (beaten 15L) on that occasion and needs to brush up on his jumping having been untidy at Exeter after an early mistake.
Out-and-out front-runner when a winner on the Flat off marks up to 74 (winged round Chester for his last win) when with Richard Ford. Tried over hurdles twice before in Ireland before returning to the scene for his previous trainer in a Wetherby seller (unseated rider 2 out but shoed some promise). Showed a little more on his last two starts both here and made his handicap debut last time off 103 splitting Gold Chain and Work De Breteau. Returns to novice company today under a leading rider.
Makes his Rules debut here with the tongue-tie on for the first time after showing little in three Irish maiden point-to-points pulling up on his latest start.
Well held in point-to-points (only completed once) and shown very little under Rules for this yard pulled-up latest start and hard to see him taking a hand here.
Useful bumper horse scoring on his second run when with Mark Johnston and followed up that win with another victory at Kelso under a penalty for his current yard making all both times. Now switches to hurdles for the first time although given his Flat pedigree its quite surprising connections haven't taken him back to the Flat. Looks sure to go well here for a very capable yard who are building a very solid reputation.
Making steady progress over hurdles and rather surprising that connections haven't taken him handicapping given that he now has a mark of 111 over hurdles. His best recent run over hurdles came when bustling up a long odds-on shot here over C&D having every chance and not going down by much. Meets some useful types again here but has place prospects again.
Mixed bag of form in Irish pint-to-points winning on her ninth start in that sphere at Loughanmore in a maiden event. Well beaten last of three finishers last time out also in a point-to-point and makes her debut here under Rules.
Won on her debut in an Irish maiden point-to- point but has so far shown only moderate form over hurdles in three starts although she did improve a little last time here over 2m looking as though she was finally getting her act together. Cost £55,000 so wasn't a cheap purchase and will be interesting to see what she could do with a handicap mark.
Has been well held in bumpers and novice hurdles with only one solid piece of form to her name when she was third at Kelso in late-December. A repeat of that wouldn't be good enough to win this though and she needs to settle better in her races also to give herself a chance.
Forecasts
Jimmy Breekie (2/1), Golden Jeffrey (3/1), An Fear Ciuin (5/1), Air Squadron (5/1), Picture Painter (7/1), Largy Legs (16/1), Airdrigh (40/1), Final Reminder (50/1), Commercial Ruin (66/1), Queen Of Avalon (66/1), Your Preference (200/1)
There are quite a few in here who would be better off in handicaps and it’s not beyond the realms of possibility that Jimmy Breekie could give away the weight all round although his mark of 125 looks a little inflated. Both Air Squadron (needs to jump better) and An Fear Ciuin would have a chance with Picture Painter also entering the mix and looking to improve again on his form so far. Most interesting though is the hurdling debutante GOLDEN JEFFREY who scored twice in bumpers and looks as though he could be useful over hurdles given what he’s done so far in his three bumper starts.
- Golden Jeffrey
- Picture Painter
- Jimmy Breekie
Prize Money
1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00
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