15:15 Wetherby

Wednesday 18 October 2017

All14:1014:4515:1515:4516:2016:5517:25

Watch Racing UK In Stunning HD Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 4m 55.95s

Alfiboy²⁹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

4/1

Just his fourth start at the age of seven, with only one run in each of the last three years. Showed a fair bit of promise in a novices' hurdle for Paul Webber over two years ago and in good hands if he is to make a career out of this

Form: 02/P-

Atlantic Grey¹⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

12/1

Runner-up in a Bangor bumper in February (soft), though well held in all of his other three starts. Likely to do better over obstacles and also for this step up in trip, so no surprise if we see a decent hurdling debut from him.

Form: 7727-

Barton Knoll¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: J Mackie| OR: 109

5/2

Was runner-up in successive novices'/maiden hurdles over similar trips to this in the spring (on good/good to soft) and his Towcester run is probably the best form in this field. Has decent claims if ready first time out after a break.

Form: 692-2

Choix De L'amour

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: T Reed

50/1

Not sold as a juvenile and was then a vendor buy-back at three (€3,500). First foal of an unraced half-sister to a 2m5f-3m hurdle/chase winner. Further hurdle winners at 2m-2m5f in his pedigree, though probably one to watch on debut.

Form:

Forth Cave³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J E Foster

100/1

Placed in one of his two Irish point-to-points in 2016 and last of six, beaten 30L, in his hurdles debut at Hexham (2m4f, heavy) last month. Will need a lot of improvement on that to get involved today.

Form: 34-6

Hello Bertie²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: J M Jefferson| BF

5/2

Was placed in bumpers at Perth and Southwell in the spring before a decent hurdling debut back at the Scottish track (2m, heavy) behind a clear winner last month. Wouldn't need much improvement for this better ground to take a close hand.

Form: 3-32

Judge Earle¹⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Liam Quinlan⁽⁷⁾| T: R A Fahey

14/1

Improved in three bumpers in the spring, winning the last of them against modest opposition at Sedgefield (2m1f, good) in May. Pedigree suggests that he could have a future over hurdles and he could go well on debut now upped in trip.

Form: 67-1

Royal Escape²⁴

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

5/1

Made a reasonable racecourse debut in a Warwick bumper in April and although beaten 23L, he was not disgraced over hurdles at Uttoxeter last month. Should be able to build on that this time.

Form: 5-B5

Brandy Burn¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Henry Brooke| T: P D Niven

100/1

Well held in all four starts to date, the last two over hurdles. Step up in trip far from certain to suit her and she looks likely to be of more interest when she has a handicap mark.

Form: 0-428

Non-Runners

General Consensus¹⁷³

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: S Drinkwater J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Barton Knoll (5/2), Hello Bertie (5/2), Alfiboy (4/1), Royal Escape (5/1), General Consensus (5/1), Atlantic Grey (12/1), Judge Earle (14/1), Choix De L'amour (50/1), Forth Cave (100/1), Brandy Burn (100/1)

This is unlikely to be the strongest novices' hurdle at the track this season and can go to HELLO BERTIE, who looks to have enough about him to get his nose in front. Alfiboy does not look to have been the easiest to keep sound, but any money for him would be interesting, while Atlantic Grey represents a top yard and could make a good debut. General Consensus may emerge as a big danger to the selection, while Judge Earle is another eyecatching newcomer to this discipline and support for him would probably also be significant.