14:25 Catterick
Friday 24 November 2017
All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2515:0015:35
Injured Jockeys Fund Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  1m 7f 156y  |  Good to Soft  |  13 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:25Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 52.3s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Former German Flat racer (three time winner) who was off the mark at the first attempt on these shores for new connections over hurdles at Plumpton recently (2m good). Penalised for a short-head success, but with similar conditions underfoot today.
An eight race maiden on the Flat, but he was getting steadily closer from a falling mark upped to 1m2f from September onward. This trainer saddled a winner at Hexham on Wednesday with a similar (slightly better) type. Hurdles debut.
A three time winner on the Flat, but only once beyond 7f; over 1m2f at Wetherby in June. Ended his Flat season below that level of form and switches to hurdles for the first time.
Won a 1m2f seller on the Flat at Ripon in August (good), but he's achieved nothing in three starts over hurdles and looks an almost certain rear-division finisher.
Saved the best of his Flat form for Catterick, a 7f winner here in May 2016. Whilst he's seemingly versatile in terms of ground conditions, he makes little obvious appeal as a hurdler.
Dual 1m4f Wolverhampton scorer for Brian Ellison (50's rated). Sold cheaply (for 5,500 gns) earlier this month, and predictably made little impact in deep on his hurdles debut at Bangor last week.
Strongest on the Flat over 7f, so 2m over hurdles was always likely to stretch his stamina. Not really shown much so far on decent ground at Market Rasen and Musselburgh, and surely he'd be better back on the Flat (Tapeta) at Newcastle.
Signs of promise in a Newcastle bumper on debut (December 2016), but never figured over hurdles so far (soft), and surely now just awaiting a handicap mark.
Beaten 15L by Golden Jeffrey on hurdles debut at Perth in September (2m heavy), but slightly disappointing when sent off 5/2JF at Wetherby subsequently (28+L fifth to Barton Knoll). Point to prove.
A rare jumps runner for a trainer with a 25% strike rate (5 from 20) over jumps here since 2010. 80's rated on the Flat, and a six time career winner, but pulled up at Wetherby (2m soft) on hurdles debut.
His Carlisle bumper success in May (2m1f good) doesn't amount to strong form, but he took a step forward on his hurdles debut at Kelso (2m good) last month when beaten just over 1L by Temple Man. Much respected.
Dermot Weld cast-off (cost £15,000 at Doncaster in August 2017). Had solid Flat form in England for Sir Mark Prescott prior to his days in Ireland, so no surprise if he's competitive on hurdles debut for a stable known to rejuvenate others horses.
A heavy ground Leicester winner for Mick Appleby in June 2016 (1m4f), but with only a few minor placed efforts since then has moved on to pastures new for a hurdles campaign. Stamina in his pedigree (by Sir Percy).
Forecasts
Parthenius (10/11), Rockalzaro (5/2), Hello Bertie (9/2), The Steward (16/1), Jacbequick (25/1), Almunther (33/1), Young Tom (40/1), Dutch Artist (100/1), Great Colaci (100/1), Frozon (100/1), Auxiliary (100/1), Heather Burning (200/1), Calypso Delegator (250/1)
Not a particularly strong novices hurdle with a number of Flat cast-offs (many appearing unlikely hurdlers) featuring in the line up. Therefore, the penalised Parthenius should be on the premises for Dan Skelton with reasonable ground conditions underfoot. Hello Bertie can be given a chance if striking a bold line through his most recent Wetherby effort, whilst Rockalzaro appeared a much improved horse when switched to hurdles at Kelso last month by Donald McCain. However, in a weak race, a leap of faith is taken with the James Moffatt trained hurdles newcomer THE STEWARD. This trainer has worked the oracle with Godolphin cast off's in the past, and he acquired this once talented Sir Mark Prescott trained Flat winner on the back of an unproductive spell in Ireland with Dermot Weld.
- The Steward
- Rockalzaro
- Parthenius
Prize Money
1st: £3,899.002nd: £1,145.003rd: £572.004th: £286.00
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