14:15 Stratford

Thursday 24 August 2017

All13:4014:1514:4515:2015:5516:2516:55

John Smith's Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 30.1s

Mister Universum^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| C

2/5

Improving and winner of last two, including a novice hurdle here in early July, the application of a tongue strap seemingly making the difference. Easily followed up and extra two furlongs here ought not pose a problem. The one to beat.

Form: 47-5411

Fair Frank³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum McKinnes⁽¹⁰⁾| T: D G Bridgwater

40/1

Good looking sort that will make a nice chaser in time, hasn't pulled up any trees in two hurdles starts but has shown a glimmer of ability and will be of more interest once handicapped after today.

Form: 0-753

Fit For The Job²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

3/1

Very useful at his peak for David Wachman on the Flat (rated 90) and new yard did get a win out of him at Windsor in July. May want a bare 2m and is probably best watched on hurdles debut today, although needs a market check.

Form:

Good Event³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: P W Hiatt

28/1

Did at least get round last time, running on a bit to take a modest fourth here in July but that form is nowhere near good enough to trouble the principals here.

Form: P4

Reckless Behavior²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey

14/1

Second in an Irish point-to-point (not a bad race for the grade) but last on debut for the yard at Worcester. Suspicion is he's better than that and no surprise if he improves a bit in a modest event here.

Form: 2-6

Stun Gun¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: D Shaw

40/1

Best known as a low-grade handicapper on the Flat (best at around 1m), not totally disgraced at Market Rasen last time but needs this for a handicap mark which is where his best chance of success will lie.

Form: 67

Sundance Boy^b1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: G Fierro

150/1

Has shown very little to date, Flat and jumps, and cannot be a realistic contender for top honours on what he's shown so far.

Form: 005/0P-

Thahab Ifraj¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 109

7/2

Yet to win in 14 starts but has posted some reasonable efforts to his name, and his second to the useful Champagne City here two starts ago one of the better pieces of form on offer. Gets a useful chunk of weight as a 4-y-o and has place chances.

Form: 5-42

Forecasts

Mister Universum (2/5), Fit For The Job (3/1), Thahab Ifraj (7/2), Reckless Behavior (14/1), Good Event (28/1), Fair Frank (40/1), Stun Gun (40/1), Sundance Boy (150/1)

MISTER UNIVERSUM has been much improved since the introduction of a tongue tie here in July, finishing his races off much better, and he has been found another very suitable opportunity to rattle off the hat-trick here. Thahab Ifraj ran well here in June and went well enough on the Flat a couple of weeks ago to think he could be the main danger. Fit For The Job has no hurdling experience but should have been well schooled and can round out the first three.