19:00 Sedgefield

Thursday 31 August 2017

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

Play Slots At sunbets.co.uk/vegas Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 19:01 | Winning time: 4m 53.30s

Shining Romeo²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: D P Quinn| OR: 124

4/6

Has got better with each run over hurdles, despite finishing a place worse off each time. Goes well on good ground and should appreciate this step up to 2m4f (stays 1m4f on the Flat), which could be the key to more success for him here.

Form: 209/1-23

Ask Shanroe¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonathan England| T: Mark Campion

125/1

Beaten out of sight in all three starts over hurdles, starting at 250-1 at Hexham last time. Impossible to recommend him.

Form: P4-3796

Bafana Blue²⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes

40/1

Didn't show a great deal in two bumpers and a 2m6½f maiden hurdle last winter when with Chris Grant. Drops back slightly in trip for his debut for this stable and looks one to watch on this occasion.

Form: 68P-

Grow Nasa Grow⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Winks⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks

14/1

Showed some promise in bumpers, though has regressed since jumping hurdles and was beaten 59L into third at Uttoxeter last time when stepped up to this trip. Likely to be seen to better effect when he goes handicapping.

Form: 358/0-3

Nemean Lion^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby

9/2

Was a reasonable performer in Irish bumpers without winning one and also not disgraced on his sole start over hurdles there. First run for this trainer today and a watching brief with a view to handicapping is probably sound advice.

Form: 34-4864

Bal De Rio²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison

2/1

70-rated Flat performer who comes here for his hurdling debut on the back of a decent effort over 1m3f (good to soft) at Carlisle earlier in the month. Trip should be within range and if he can jump then he could go very well.

Form:

Jungle Girl

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Craig Nichol| T: J S Wainwright

33/1

Plenty of stamina in the pedigree of this debutante whose dam was a maiden pointer. Trip should be within range, though otherwise looks one to watch first time. Yard among the winners of late.

Form:

Wandaover¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: N Mechie

150/1

Well beaten in both completed bumper starts and pulled up when tailed off on hurdling debut at Hexham last time. Others preferred.

Form: 8-0P

Forecasts

Shining Romeo (4/6), Bal De Rio (2/1), Nemean Lion (9/2), Grow Nasa Grow (14/1), Jungle Girl (33/1), Bafana Blue (40/1), Ask Shanroe (125/1), Wandaover (150/1)

Not a very competitive contest and it is likely to rest between Bal De Rio and SHINING ROMEO and the latter gets the vote. The five-year-old continues to improve over hurdles and this step up in trip can help him to successfully concede weight to Brian Ellison's hurdling newcomer. Jungle Girl should probably be checked out in the market given that the yard has had a couple of recent winners, while the same probably applies to Nemean Lion, although his trainer may have handicaps more in mind than this.