12:40 Towcester

Thursday 30 November 2017

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

starspreads.com Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 16.6s

Linenhall²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

3/1

Made the frame on his first three starts in bumpers (started favourite twice in that discipline). Made a winning start to his hurdles career (up in trip) when winning at Stratford beating a small field; should progress but has a penalty to carry.

Form: 2435-1

Aaron Lad²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: Dr R D P Newland

11/8

Previously trained in Ireland where he took the runner-up slot on his last two starts showing improved form on the second occasion. Likely to continue on an upward curve here on his first start for his new stable; trainer does well with this sort.

Form: 022-

Potters Hedger¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: L Wadham

8/1

Placed on his final and fourth start in a bumper he showed an aptitude for hurdling when finishing just outside the first three on his hurdles debut. That run came behind a useful sort and he's entitled to make further progress with the experience behind him.

Form: 8652-4

Pull Together¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds

25/1

Just one run in a maiden Irish point-to-point where he finished third of five finishers. Now makes his hurdles debut having finished well held in a Wincanton bumper earlier in the month and best watched in this.

Form: 3/7

Royal Magic^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: S Thomas

33/1

Form in his completed Irish point-to-points was only modest and he may well have been flattered by his sixth on debut in a Newbury bumper. A reproduction of that would give him a chance but likely to find this harder as he makes his hurdles debut.

Form: 6P6-6

The Devils Drop²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

9/2

Runner-up on his only Irish point-to-point but showed more than enough ability to win a race such as this with a very solid run at Chepstow last time. Better than his final placing there he travelled well and looks capable of better with his last run already looking decent form.

Form: 2-4

The Ogle Gogle Man³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: C J Mann

11/1

Took a while to get off the mark in Irish point-to-points winning at the fifth attempt. Debut under Rules at Wincanton showed a little more and gave hope that there was more to come in the future; stiff track should help.

Form: 65F3-13

Trepuco Warrior²⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: P W Middleton

25/1

Pulled-up in both starts in Irish point-to-points he makes his debut under Rules now. Given his form so far he's hard to build a case for here though.

Form: PP-

Forecasts

Aaron Lad (11/8), Linenhall (3/1), The Devils Drop (9/2), Potters Hedger (8/1), The Ogle Gogle Man (11/1), Trepuco Warrior (25/1), Pull Together (25/1), Royal Magic (33/1)

There is some potential in this opener and THE DEVILS DROP showed enough on his debut at Chepstow when tenderly handled (travelled well) to be of interest here especially as the one that finished right behind him won next time out. Aaron Lad will have his supporters for a yard who do well with their Irish imports and he along with Linenhall who is penalised for his Stratford win will form the main dangers to Alan King’s runner. Potters Hedger is entitled to come on for his debut as is the wonderfully named The Ogle Gogle Man who may well be suited by this stamina test.