15:55 Wincanton

Sunday 29 October 2017

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

Dominic And Ossie Baker Memorial 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 3m 42.2s

Aero Majestic^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe

100/1

Not sure that this drop in trip is what he needs having not looked the easiest ride so far with a test of stamina looking as though it would suit him better. Yard a little quiet at the moment and best watched over this trip.

Form: 23345

Come On Charlie

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

One of three from this stable that line-up here and he makes his debut with the market giving the best clue as to the relative strength of his chance versus his stablemates.

Form:

Contented²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

8/1

Finished third in an Irish bumper and was then sold for £70,000 to his current connections. Looks the pick of the stables three runners in this and that bumper experience should stand him in good stead.

Form: 3-

Diamond Guy^t1²⁰⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| CD

13/8

Was a long odds-on chance when winning his bumper over C&D in the spring but in truth had very little to beat there. Travelled strongly and won by 28L but now faces a tougher test on his hurdling debut with a tongue-tie on for the first time.

Form: 1-

Great Lover

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Smith⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

66/1

Dam was a maiden on the Flat and over hurdles and he looks the least fancied of his stable's trio of runners in this partnered by a 5lb claimer on his Rules/hurdles debut.

Form:

Monsieur Murphy⁶⁰⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

Pulled-up in both his starts showing very little promise despite representing a good yard. Hard to fancy on what he's shown so far.

Form: F43PP/

Sensible Friend²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Mrs A J Perrett

66/1

Only fair in bumpers with his best effort coming at Fontwell on his last start in that sphere (finished third). Showed a little ability over hurdles on debut last time out in a fairly weak affair and handicaps will be more his forte.

Form: 393-8

Stand By Me⁵²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: A E Jones

28/1

Had four bumper wins finally winning one at Newton Abbot a fair while ago and not seen since. Now makes his debut over hurdles and likely to need the run after an absence and more needed.

Form: 793/1-

Storm Home⁵⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

5/4

Leading when fell two out on his point-to-point debut with the winner turning in some useful bumper performances subsequently. Cost connections a cool £130,000 and starts out on the road to repaying that hefty price tag here.

Form: F/

Sustainable Star¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford

250/1

Beaten a long way on his bumper/Rules debut at Newton Abbot earlier this month showing very little that would make you want to support him here.

Form: 9

The Black Squirrel⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| BF

33/1

Bumper winner who hasn't really progressed for the switch to hurdles and was well beaten when made favourite at Stratford last time out in a maiden. This looks more competitive than that heat and he's passed over here.

Form: 2-32165

Tikken Away²¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

25/1

Looks the second string for this stable as he makes his debut for them having cost €11,000 after finishing a runner-up at Thurles in the summer in a maiden hurdle. Would need to improve to take this and that looks unlikely on what he's shown so far.

Form: 70752-

Unsafe Conduct²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C L Tizzard

66/1

Very much the stable neglected in this who have the well-fancied Storm Home running for them. His first priority may well be to get round safely having fallen in both starts over hurdles so far.

Form: 00F-F

Smaoineamh Alainn^h²²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: R Walford

11/1

Took a big step forward on what she has done previously when landing a Chepstow mares' novice on heavy ground last time out. Now carries a penalty for that win on quicker ground in a better race and that makes life tough for her.

Form: 356421-

Georgina Joy²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: C O'Farrell| T: N J Hawke

200/1

Started at big prices on all her three starts and hasn't really shown that much having beaten only six rivals home in three starts. Would be a big surprise if she could find the improvement to figure here.

Form: 967

Forecasts

Storm Home (5/4), Diamond Guy (13/8), Contented (8/1), Smaoineamh Alainn (11/1), Come On Charlie (20/1), Tikken Away (25/1), Stand By Me (28/1), The Black Squirrel (33/1), Unsafe Conduct (66/1), Sensible Friend (66/1), Great Lover (66/1), Aero Majestic (100/1), Monsieur Murphy (150/1), Georgina Joy (200/1), Sustainable Star (250/1)

Nearly all of the powerful West Country stables are represented here and the market should give us some good clues as to what is expected. The early vibes look to be for STORM HOME who cost connections plenty but could well start repaying them here. Diamond Guy will find this more taxing than his easy bumper win here but has to be respected given his stable while Contented looks to be the pick of the Hobbs trio and should go well. The unpronounceable Smaoineamh Alainn will find this whole lot tougher than her Chepstow win under different conditions and it will be worth keeping an eye on horses like Tikken Away and Sensible Friend with a view to handicaps further down the line.