13:00 Ffos Las

Sunday 12 November 2017

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0515:4016:10

Ethical Power Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 1.7s

Corbett Court¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T E Whelan| T: Mrs D A Hamer

150/1

Unable to score in point-to-points and nothing in form last season over sticks or recent return at Exeter (2m1f, soft) to warrant suggestion he'll open his account now.

Form: 744P6-0

Fact Flow¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: D Burchell

50/1

Placed in a couple of bumpers but plenty improvement needed on both hurdles runs so far, beaten 31L at Cheltenham last month over extended 2m in slightly better contest.

Form: 2243-07

Heath King⁴²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: T Dowling⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss I Pickard

100/1

Finished runner-up in a Listowel (soft) bumper on his final start in Ireland back in September 2015. Sole start since came when well beaten at Uttoxeter 13 months ago and others make more appeal.

Form: F8052/8-

Holdbacktheriver³¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

8/1

Presenting gelding is a half-brother to useful hurdler/chaser Kalane, stayed 3m, and made a fair start in a Bangor bumper (2m½f, good to soft) in January. Market check called for going hurdling.

Form: 4-

Incus¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: E De Giles| C| D

7/1

Four-time winner on the Flat in low-grade handicaps, race fit and will handle conditions with no issues. Entitled to go well if taking to the jumping.

Form:

Shalakar³⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: Miss V Williams

11/2

Two-time Flat winner in France last year before making switch to this yard a year ago, makes first appearance on a British racecourse in this jumping debut and likely to know his job. Respected.

Form:

Sir Egbert^h1²⁷³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey

8/1

Promising bumper effort at Warwick in January on debut (3L third of 14), before running too free following month at Exeter. Hood on for jumps debut and could be in the mix if settling better.

Form: 39-

Angels Antics²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/2

Supported for a bumper here in May, finished 4L second on debut. Satisfactory jumping bow in C&D mares' event last month and entitled to come forward for leading yard in fine fettle right now (10-39).

Form: 23

Arian²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Ian Popham| T: J L Flint

5/4

Decent bumper winner who built on the promise of her hurdling debut when runner-up in a C&D mares' maiden last month (Angels Antics behind in third). Should be more to come.

Form: 6/51F-2

Forecasts

Arian (5/4), Angels Antics (9/2), Shalakar (11/2), Incus (7/1), Sir Egbert (8/1), Holdbacktheriver (8/1), Fact Flow (50/1), Heath King (100/1), Corbett Court (150/1)

ARIAN and Angels Antics (second and third in a C&D mares' contest last month) are the two that appeal most on form. Both are entitled to step forward on that showing but, given she had 7L to spare, Ian Popham's mount is worthy of the nod to uphold the placings. The latter is much-respected however, with Nigel Twiston-Davies' team enjoying a superb 26% over the previous fortnight. The fly in the ointment could be French import Shalakar, twice a winner in his native land and now making his first start for Venetia Williams having changed hands for €50,000 a year ago. Any strong support behind him in the betting would alter the complexion of this contest.