12:20 Taunton

Thursday 30 November 2017

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

Bet toteplacepot At betfred.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 12:20 | Winning time: 4m 6.57s

Challico²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| C

7/2

Scraped home after running green when in command here four weeks ago. Made for the paddock gate after jumping the last on that occasion, but connections will be wiser. Stable's hurdlers always command respect here.

Form: 1-41

Big Time Frank⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc⁽⁵⁾| T: P Gundry

66/1

Pulled up on last start and more recent form in point-to-points would indicate he is out of his depth in this.

Form: 4423-3P

Diablerets²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: R Woollacott

66/1

Ran more respectably last time than on debut, but still has a lot more to find in order to be competitive.

Form: 4-8

Diese Des Bieffes²⁰

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

5/1

Took full advantage of the 13lb he received from the runner-up to quicken clear and score decisively on debut for new yard. That still rates the pick of the form on offer and yard are 7-23 with hurdlers here since 2013.

Form: 5-1

Shillingsworth²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard

33/1

Good looking individual out of a sister to Gold Cup winner Bob's Worth. Has shown some ability, but he appears a work in progress who will come into his over further.

Form: 7-59

Show On The Road^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| CD

10/1

Winner of a bumper here in 2016 before sitting out last season. Pulled hard on return before fading two out when encountering soft ground for the first time. That run will have put an edge on him and he may improve further for the quicker surface.

Form: 251/6

Take Em Out^t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Tim Vaughan

25/1

Regressive form in bumpers but best effort came here on debut. Makes hurdling debut and needs to improve on what we have seen.

Form: 2225-8

Tikken Away³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

100/1

Showed first semblance of form in a Thurles maiden hurdle in March. That effort does not look good enough to win this and he probably wants it softer.

Form: 70752-0

Tis What It Is¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

50/1

Has failed to progress since his debut and was well beaten here on hurdling debut two weeks ago. Soon in trouble that day and no reason to expect significant enough improvement.

Form: 346

Voodoo Doll¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

50/1

Sent off at lengthy odds on hurdling debut and failed to impress with his jumping. Has a lot to find to get amongst the main contenders.

Form: 7

Reine Des Miracles^t1³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

66/1

Promising second on debut for Micky Hammond last December but disappointed in three starts for this yard. Tongue-tie tried this time but hard to see that having enough of an impact.

Form: 28-00

Forecasts

Challico (7/2), Diese Des Bieffes (5/1), Show On The Road (10/1), Take Em Out (25/1), Shillingsworth (33/1), Voodoo Doll (50/1), Tis What It Is (50/1), Reine Des Miracles (66/1), Big Time Frank (66/1), Diablerets (66/1), Tikken Away (100/1)

Challico and DIESE DES BIEFFES look set to dominate proceedings for their leading trainers. The former just got home last time to beat a 113 rated rival from whom he was getting 6lb. Paul Nicholls' charge clearly had more in hand than the margins suggest, having idled when in command and then making for the paddock. On this occasion he has to concede 6lb to DIESE DES BIEFFES who comfortably beat a 129 rated hurdler at Fontwell. The Seven Barrows runner was receiving plenty of weight that day, but he had plenty in hand and has room for a lot more improvement.