Heineken UK Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 4m 19.70s

Brutal^p1,t³³

Age: 3| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: G Elliott| BF| D

3/1

£250,000 yearling who isn't the most obvious recruit to hurdling given his ownership. However, made a winning start at Cork in August (2m maiden) before a more modest showing at Killarney. First time cheek-pieces applied as he seeks to bounce back.

Form: 16

Akkadian Empire^h¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: I Jardine

16/1

Hurdling debutant who is a 13 race Flat maiden. Went close over 1m2f when beaten a head at Pontefract in mid July, but stamina to prove over this trip and ground conditions are perhaps not ideal.

Form:

Bodacious Name¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: J & S Quinn| D

5/4

A ready winner of a 2m Nottingham handicap in August on bottomless ground for Flat racing, which strongly suggests he'll handle the forecast conditions on hurdles debut. Far from a frequent Flat winner, but seemingly improving from a low base.

Form:

Eneko

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

5/2

Ex French (1m4f Flat winner at La Roche-sur-Yon in June) and joined current connections for £40,000 at Ascot in July. His dam Kaline Collonges was a half-sister to the winning chaser Apollon Collonges. Hurdles debutant worth noting in the market.

Form:

Geophony¹¹⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C & M Johnston

20/1

A rare jumps runner for the yard, and yet to race beyond 1m2f on the Flat. Broadly disappointing since winning over 7f at Musselburgh in July 2016 (good) and looks a most unlikely winner despite the positive jockey booking.

Form:

Hot Gossip⁹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

66/1

Not shown any real ability in five starts on the Flat, and no obvious reason to suggest that a switch to hurdling is likely to see her in a better light. Makes little appeal.

Form:

Tremendous⁸⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: L Lennon

50/1

Modest on the Flat for Richard Hannon and raced solely at trips ranging from 6f to 1m. Joined this trainer for 6,000 gns at Newmarket in July, but difficult to envisage her playing a hand in the finish on her hurdles debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Bodacious Name (5/4), Eneko (5/2), Brutal (3/1), Akkadian Empire (16/1), Geophony (20/1), Tremendous (50/1), Hot Gossip (66/1)

A rather odd collection of hurdling newcomers line up to tackle Cork maiden hurdle winner Brutal. That said; the Gordon Elliott trained runner perhaps isn't the most obvious recruit to the National Hunt scene himself given his ownership. However, he's a worthy favourite given his experience, and it's notable that he's always been partnered by the best available jockey over jumps so far, but he does have a few slight question marks against his name after a less pleasing Killarney effort. Bodacious Name shouldn't be troubled by the testing conditions, and is one of the more interesting Flat switchers, but a chance is taken on the intriguing looking former French racer ENEKO. He now represents leading connections in the North, and has the potential to step up a gear or two now going over hurdles.