12:50 Taunton

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:2012:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:20

Bet toteplacepot At betfred.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 3m 59.94s

Brahms De Clermont⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| BF| CD

11/10

Has not always looked straightforward and clearly has limitations which have been exposed in his two latest defeats. Latest effort looks better as the winner has finished second in a Grade Two, but he may not be one to take a short price on.

Form: 642-132

Barn Hill

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

Bought as a three-year-old for €40,000 and a half-brother to three winning hurdlers. Represents a stable that do well here and he would not have to be anything out of the ordinary to be a contender.

Form:

Desiremoi D'Authie²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N D Fehily| T: A King

4/1

French bumper winner who has been too keen on both hurdles starts for new connections. Clearly well thought of but it remains to be seen how much cover his experienced rider can find in such an uncompetitive field.

Form: 26

East Wing¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: A J Honeyball| BF

11/2

Conditions were more holding than advertised when disappointing on his return from a six month break. Makes his hurdling debut on better ground and with his yard 7-16 in the past fortnight.

Form: 28

Get Wishing²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: V R A Dartnall

50/1

Has failed to impress in two bumper starts and also on hurdling debut. Could be another late developer for the yard and hard to see him landing this.

Form: 08-0

Podili Road¹⁹

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

14/1

Son of Darsi purchased for €20,000 as a three-year-old in June 2015. Half-brother to a couple of useful staying chasers and likely to be better over further in time. Made no show on hurdling debut and pedigree would indicate he wants it softer.

Form: 9

Snapdragon Fire³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey

33/1

Scopey individual who showed promise in a couple of bumpers before finishing down the field on hurdling debut. Will improve for the experience and yard going well, but he will not come into his own until tackling stiffer tests of stamina than this.

Form: 240

The Brothers¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: C L Tizzard

20/1

Well beaten at lengthy odds in two minor contests. Probably needs more time and his jumping needs to improve.

Form: 88

The Pooler^v¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Walford

66/1

Placed in a point-to-point but his form under rules has revealed limited ability. Clear when unshipping his rider just after halfway last time and faces a tough mission here.

Form: 36-9U

Yellow Kangaroo¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Three runs have revealed little promise so far and his best chance will come in handicaps further down the line.

Form: 5-08

Anndarrow¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Half-sister to winning hurdler Minella Charm but has made no show in both starts. May find the ground more to her liking here than last time, but it remains hard to build a compelling case.

Form: 0P

Forecasts

Brahms De Clermont (11/10), Desiremoi D'Authie (4/1), Barn Hill (9/2), East Wing (11/2), Podili Road (14/1), The Brothers (20/1), Snapdragon Fire (33/1), Anndarrow (33/1), Get Wishing (50/1), Yellow Kangaroo (66/1), The Pooler (66/1)

BRAHMS DE CLERMONT has been frustrating to follow since sent jumping and he has been a costly failure on his last two starts. His profile indicates he is not one to trust at short odds, but he has the best form of these and his trainer has an excellent record here with his hurdlers. It is hard to be convinced about his opponents, although it will probably not take too much to beat him. The Hobbs newcomer Barn Hill is worth monitoring in the market, as is East Wing for his in form yard.