14:35 Huntingdon

Thursday 5 October 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

32Red.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 3m 37.2s

New Agenda^h³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber| OR: 123| BF| CD

5/2

Made a decent start over hurdles, but carries a penalty for winning an egg and spoon contest over C&D in May (good). Not quite kicked on since then, but a couple of fair efforts on the Flat lately should have him spot on for today.

Form: 24-213

Arctic Chief²²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: R T Phillips

50/1

Showed minor promise in bumpers earlier in his career, but pulled up on both starts over hurdles since returning from a two year absence, so risky once more on his first start since late February.

Form: 2296/PP-

Breaking Ground^t⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs R Ford

100/1

Disqualified after 'winning' a 3m maiden Point-to-Point at Kilworth in March (soft), but has achieved little in four starts over hurdles thus far, and appears a likely back number once more.

Form: 1-73669

Dans Le Vent¹⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| D

13/8

Picked up for £40,000 after winning a Towcester bumper for Paul Morgan in October 2016, and finished a close up sixth in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham in March. A narrow Ludlow winner on his final start and an interesting recruit to hurdles.

Form: 1361-

Desi Daru⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: C Allen

100/1

Shown nothing of any note in a combination of bumpers and Flat races so far, and no reason to expect any better now switched to hurdling.

Form: 6

Hatcher^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| CD

7/4

Possibly didn't look the most willing initially, but no knocking his last two performances; doubling up at Huntingdon and Worcester (2m good). Stable bang in form and everything looks set for a strong first effort over hurdles with fitness assured.

Form: 321-1

Hidden Oasis⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

18/1

A three time winner on the Flat in Ireland for David Wachman (at up to 1m), but slow progress in that sphere for this trainer in England. Switched to hurdles more latterly, but needs to improve on his opening two efforts.

Form: 35

Notnowdear¹¹¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: J R Jenkins

80/1

Looked very moderate when last seen in action on the Flat as a juvenile for Ann Duffield in 2014, and despite being a half-brother to Waxies Dargle, looks impossible to fancy on hurdles debut after a three year absence.

Form:

Smooth Operator⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: M Pitman

66/1

Cost €61,000 as a yearling, but proved moderate on the Flat for various trainers, and was hopelessly tailed off on his hurdles debut for Tony Martin at Leopardstown in December 2015. Hard to imagine he'll be good enough today.

Form: 0/

Tayaar⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: J Ryan

100/1

A seven race maiden on the Flat, and his official rating of just 50 in that sphere speaks volumes. Hurdles debut.

Form:

The Salmon Man³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell

50/1

A 17 race maiden on the Flat, but has had a number of near misses. Not at his best for the entire of 2017, so connections now switch to hurdles in the hope he can recapture some form of sorts.

Form:

Pivotal Flame³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Phelan

50/1

Moderate, but out-ran her 200/1 odds when unseating at the last on her second hurdles start at Kempton in April, but that looks increasingly like an outlying performance and she is expected to struggle in this grade.

Form: 0U-

Forecasts

Dans Le Vent (13/8), Hatcher (7/4), New Agenda (5/2), Hidden Oasis (18/1), Pivotal Flame (50/1), Arctic Chief (50/1), The Salmon Man (50/1), Smooth Operator (66/1), Notnowdear (80/1), Breaking Ground (100/1), Desi Daru (100/1), Tayaar (100/1)

Both Hatcher and previous hurdles winner New Agenda have the fitness edge over the returning dual bumper scorer DANS LE VENT. However, the Jamie Snowden trained £40,000 purchase boasts the strongest form in bumpers (Cheltenham Champion Bumper sixth), and looks a fascinating recruit to hurdles. The combination of a Flat track and decent ground holds no fears, and he is the most obvious pick in a race in which very few of the others can be expected to play any sort of a significant role.