12:55 Wetherby

Saturday 4 November 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

bet365 Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 1.10s

Alfiboy¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

20/1

Second in a Kempton novice hurdle in 2015 for Paul Webber, he made his first start for this stable when coming a cropper four out when leading at this course last month. Was well backed that day, but this looks tougher.

Form: 02/P-F

Al Shahir²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

6/4

Won a Newcastle bumper in February in convincing fashion and made a satisfactory hurdling debut at Newton Abbot last month when second of six to a nice sort. Should come on for the experience.

Form: 221-2

Ballymoy³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

11/4

Promise in two point-to-points before showing plenty of promise on debut in a bumper at Market Rasen despite distinct signs of inexperience. Will have been well schooled for his hurdling debut and stable could hardly be in better form.

Form: 4-33

Big Time Dancer¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: B Ellison

40/1

Three-times Flat winner from 1m-1m2f. Represents a respected stable and any market confidence in him on hurdling debut will have to be treated seriously.

Form:

Bogardus²⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: P Holmes

100/1

Four-times winner on the Flat whose only hurdles outing saw him finish third at Kelso over a year ago. Needs to step up on that effort after a break since running on the Flat in March.

Form: 3-

Calypso Delegator²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Finian O'Toole⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond

200/1

Won a 1m2f seller on the Flat at Ripon in August, but has shown little in two starts over hurdles. Hard to recommend on what he has achieved so far.

Form: P-8

Eskendash²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs P Sly

8/1

Runner-up in all four bumpers he has contested, he landed a 1m3f Kempton maiden in March and has performed well since. One to note on his hurdling debut.

Form: 2222-

God Willing¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: D Carroll

33/1

Winner of two of his 41 starts on the Flat, he now goes hurdling. Has a Flat pedigree, so he can hardly be considered a likely winner unless the market speaks in his favour.

Form:

Heather Burning¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin

100/1

Signs of promise in a Newcastle bumper, but not so good on his hurdling debut at Carlisle. Needs to take a big step forward to trouble the best of his rivals.

Form: 5-9

Hooves The Daddy¹⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: A Nicol| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

100/1

Little sign of ability in two bumpers when trained by Seamus Mullins and now tries his luck over hurdles for a new stable which looks to have a stronger candidate in Alfiboy.

Form: 3-9

Instant Replay²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C R King| T: B Ellison

66/1

Runner-up in a point-to-point, but little to shout about so far in bumpers and novice hurdles. One of three runners for the stable and probably the least fancied..

Form: 2265-7

Jacbequick²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D O'Meara

16/1

Experienced Flat campaigner who has won six times on the level. Makes his jumping bow and respected trainer has booked a top Southern jockey.

Form:

Kalashnikov²¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| CD

4/1

Showed a good attitude to win on his only start in a bumper at this track in March. Clearly has an engine and the market will be a fair guide to his chances on his jumping debut.

Form: 1-

Stay In Touch¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: D McCain Jnr

100/1

Winning point-to-pointer who has not pulled up any trees in a couple of novice hurdles. Still early days, however, so not one to write off yet.

Form: 2-F21U8

Stoneboat Bill¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: D Carroll

100/1

Winner of two races on the Flat at an ordinary level, and two outings over hurdles have revealed some aptitude for the job. Looks as though he will do better when handicapping.

Form: 65

Miss Amelia²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tony Kelly| T: M Walford

200/1

Nice enough jumping pedigree, but she was beaten a long way on her debut in a bumper at Hexham. Needs to show much more on this hurdling bow.

Form: 8

Non-Runners

Royal Flag²¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: B Ellison J: R Johnson

Forecasts

Al Shahir (6/4), Ballymoy (11/4), Kalashnikov (4/1), Eskendash (8/1), Royal Flag (14/1), Jacbequick (16/1), Alfiboy (20/1), God Willing (33/1), Big Time Dancer (40/1), Instant Replay (66/1), Stay In Touch (100/1), Stoneboat Bill (100/1), Heather Burning (100/1), Bogardus (100/1), Hooves The Daddy (100/1), Miss Amelia (200/1), Calypso Delegator (200/1)

Hurdling debutant Big Time Dancer may be the best of three runners from his yard, while cases can be made for bumper winner Kalashnikov, Alfiboy, Jackbequick and Eskendash. However, this may be fought out by Al Shahir and BALLYMOY, with the latter, who shaped with great promise in a bumper last time, sure to have been well prepared for his hurdling debut by his in-form stable.