13:40 Ffos Las

Friday 24 November 2017

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2516:00

Sigma 3 Kitchens Ltd Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:42 | Winning time: 5m 41.8s

Baihas¹⁶¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr James King⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland

16/1

Once a 92-rated Flat performer for Sir Michael Stoute, for whom he won a 1m6f Yarmouth maiden in June 2013. Not seen since being beaten 8¼L in the Group 3 Queen's Vase that same month. Market check to gauge expectations after such a huge absence.

Form:

Buck Bravo^t1¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: D A Rees

66/1

Made minor improvement in Irish point-to-points without winning one and after changing hands for £9,000, he was tailed off and pulled up over C&D (soft) earlier this month. Tongue strap added today but has a lot of improving to do.

Form: 7343-P

Dark Invader¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

6/1

Runner-up in a Wincanton bumper (good to firm) on his third/final start for Paul Nicholls and made a pleasing debut for this trainer when an 18½L third over C&D (soft) earlier in the month. Can take another step forward this time.

Form: 42-3

Farmer Boy¹⁷⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jamie Bargary⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

66/1

10-1 and put in a sound effort on debut in a Newton Abbot bumper in May (2m1f, good). Hurdles debut this time and stepped up in trip too, which should be a positive, though has to prove himself in these very different conditions.

Form: 4

Fiscal Space³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: T Symonds

20/1

Runner-up in his only Irish point-to-point and cost £46,000 to bring to these shores. Entitled to need his debut when a 13L sixth in a soft ground bumper here last month. Can improve on that now upped in trip for hurdles debut.

Form: 2-6

Juge Et Parti¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: D N Russell| T: Christian Williams

1/3

Won his debut bumper by 15L at Bangor (good) in April and bettered that when runner-up over C&D (soft) on his recent hurdling introduction. Looks very much the one to beat today on that evidence.

Form: 1-2

Noble Robin³³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

7/2

Scored on debut in an Irish point-to-point last year and a shade disappointing on his rules debut here (2m6f, soft) in December, when 9-4 but beaten 19L into fourth. Needs to jump better today and if he does he should be thereabouts.

Form: 1/4-

Snazz Man⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

66/1

Looked as though he is going to take some training when sent off at 150-1 and hanging and jumping left almost from flag fall at Exeter on debut (2m2½f, good) last month. Needs to take a step in the right direction this time.

Form: 8

Stuccodor^t,v⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 110

14/1

Has not yet lived up to his Flat rating of 86 when jumping hurdles and has been frustrating to follow, being placed in 7-12 races. Recent efforts not very encouraging and looks best watched until showing us something more positive.

Form: 22/50-0P

The Final Whistle¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis

100/1

Showed a bit of improvement for his debut but still beaten 27L in another bumper at Ludlow (good) last month. Now stepped up in trip for hurdles debut, but has a huge amount to find to get competitive.

Form: 99

Forecasts

Juge Et Parti (1/3), Noble Robin (7/2), Dark Invader (6/1), Stuccodor (14/1), Baihas (16/1), Fiscal Space (20/1), Buck Bravo (66/1), Snazz Man (66/1), Farmer Boy (66/1), The Final Whistle (100/1)

Balhas is a very interesting runner and it will be fascinating to see how much ability he retains after almost four-and-a-half years off the track. He is certainly in good hands and it is worth checking the market to see if there is any confidence in him first time back. Irrespective, the suggestion here is JUGE ET PARTI, who is coming along nicely and would be tough to beat with a repeat or better effort than he produced over C&D recently. Fiscal Space looks like a possible contender along with Noble Robin and Dark Invader, while Farmer Boy is another to check out in the market.