13:05 Hereford

Wednesday 29 November 2017

All12:3513:0513:3514:1014:4015:1515:45

KBIS British Equestrian Insurance Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 47.6s

Court Liability²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington

15/8

Looking a good buy for the 88,000 gns paid after one run in a point-to-point. Has shown a good attitude to land a bumper and, more recently, a novice hurdle (2m5f, good). The form of the latter has been working out and he could be useful.

Form: 2-11

Rasasee^h²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 113

4/1

Landed a three-runner race at Market Rasen when the favourite went off too fast. Best run since came in another small field last time, but again he was flattered as the winner idled.

Form: 3-31402

Captain Jack¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: R J Price

12/1

Mid-division in two starts over hurdles but has shown a bit of ability on both occasions. Will qualify for handicaps after this and that is when he is most likely to open his account.

Form: 0976-55

Change Ur Tune²⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis

33/1

Bought during the summer for £14,500 after finishing third in a Rathcannon point-to-point. Stable 2-46 with hurdlers over the past five seasons so probably best watched on seasonal debut.

Form: 7-3

Flight To Milan

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

10/1

€40,000 purchase as a three-year-old. Full-brother to Barrakilla who won three races for this yard and half-brother to three other winners including Punchestown Gold Cup winner China Rock. The market should be informative.

Form:

Flying Verse¹³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: David Dennis

12/1

Failed to raise his game on hurdling debut and has a lot to find in order to trouble the principals.

Form: 543

Mega Mind¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas

50/1

Failed to stay on only completed start in point-to-points and joined this yard for £4,500. Tailed off on hurdling debut and has an awful lot to find.

Form: F6-7

Oologist¹⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: J Gallagher

66/1

Showed some ability in bumpers but has shown little aptitude for hurdling. Off the track since May and it would be hoped he has been well schooled in the interim.

Form: 627-PP

Paul^t1⁴²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

16/1

Winning point-to-pointer but tailed off on both starts under rules. Returns from a 13 month absence wearing a first-time tongue-tie. Has probably had issues and the market will indicate if the jockey booking is as positive as it looks.

Form: 44718/7-

Shine's Bar²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Has only shown a modest level of form so far in bumpers and on both starts over hurdles. Needs to improve considerably for the switch to a longer trip.

Form: 3056

Snatchitback^h1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: M Scudamore

100/1

Only moderate form in bumpers and point-to-points to date and looks hard to fancy on that. Hood goes on and others readily preferred.

Form: 83/4-P

Stage Summit¹²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

11/4

Was found to be a sick horse when pulled up in a point-to-point. Landed a Limerick bumper subsequently and was then sold to current yard for £30,000. Showed a good turn of foot and he holds leading claims in a race lacking depth.

Form: P-51

Western Morning^t1²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

50/1

A low key debut point-to-point winner who was always in the rear and tailed off when pulled up on his hurdles debut at Chepstow in late October (2m3f good to soft). Returns to action wearing a tongue tie.

Form: 1-0

Kiwi Myth²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr M Legg⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs F M Shaw

100/1

Midnight Legend mare improved from her debut to finish in mid-division for a bumper two weeks ago. More needed on hurdling debut.

Form: 00

Forecasts

Court Liability (15/8), Stage Summit (11/4), Rasasee (4/1), Flight To Milan (10/1), Captain Jack (12/1), Flying Verse (12/1), Shine's Bar (14/1), Paul (16/1), Change Ur Tune (33/1), Western Morning (50/1), Mega Mind (50/1), Oologist (66/1), Kiwi Myth (100/1), Snatchitback (100/1)

Despite the numbers this can hardly be described as competitive. Ben Pauling's horses have been going so well that it is hard to be entirely dismissive about Stage Summit. His Irish bumper form does not amount to a great deal and that is reflected in a relatively modest purchase price. Nevertheless, he showed a good turn of foot that day and the allowance he receives puts him on the shortlist. Rasasee has been flattered in his two best performances and this should go to COURT LIABILITY. The four-year-old is on a hat-trick and the form of his Sedgefield victory looks solid enough with the third and the fifth both running well in similar company next time.