12:40 Leicester

Sunday 3 December 2017

All12:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

Fernie Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:40 | Winning time: 5m 1.40s

Coolanly³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

9/2

Brother to fairly useful hurdler/fair chaser Bronco Billy and former point-to-point winner made solid start under rules when winning 16-runner Chepstow bumper in October. Respected now going hurdling.

Form: 3P1-1

Florrie Knox³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales

6/1

Beaten just under 10L into third of 14 in 2m3f (good to soft) novice hurdle at Wetherby last month on rules bow. Extra distance no concern and likely can build on that effort.

Form: 6-33

Free Travel⁵⁹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁷⁾| T: B I Case

20/1

Placed third in an Irish point on debut in April 2016, though hasn't been spotted anywhere for 595 days since, which must rank as some concern ahead of this rules debut.

Form: 3/

High Noon³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Miss E C Lavelle

8/1

Finished midfield in Chepstow maiden hurdle on debut in late October over 2m3½f (good to soft) in late October on jumping bow. Should come forward for that and yard in good form lately (3-13).

Form: 3-6

Laval Noir^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

12/1

Impressively scored in a bumper at Huntingdon in March 2016 but limited to only two starts over timber since. Weakened out of things on return from 359 days off at Kempton last month (2m5f, good) and must improve to get involved.

Form: 1/5-6

Quick Pick¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

5/1

Looked a decent prospect in bumper and hurdles debut at Ayr (2m, soft) in October when second. Was travelling with every chance back there last month when brought down four out over this trip and not discounted this time.

Form: 5212-2U

Sliding Doors²³⁴

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

10/1

Showed some promise in three bumpers early in the year without winning, though disappointing at Towcester in April when last out. Returns from break for hurdling bow and market check needed from yard doing well this winter.

Form: 234-

The Butcher Said²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| BF

4/1

Changed hands for €135,000 after impressive bumper effort at Punchestown in April, disappointing favourite in that sphere at Sandown on return last month (third, beaten 12½L) but open to doing better on hurdles bow.

Form: 2-3

Touchy Subject^t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: Miss J S Davis

33/1

Bought for £24,000 after finishing second in a Tralee point-to-point over 3m, but rather disappointing in a bumper at Newbury last month on British debut. More called for now tackling hurdles with first-time tongue tie added.

Form: 20

Vinndication²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

11/2

Game winner of good-ground bumper at Ludlow last month on rules bow, rallying decisively having been headed. Likely to be right in contention again on hurdles debut.

Form: 1

Forecasts

The Butcher Said (4/1), Coolanly (9/2), Quick Pick (5/1), Vinndication (11/2), Florrie Knox (6/1), High Noon (8/1), Sliding Doors (10/1), Laval Noir (12/1), Free Travel (20/1), Touchy Subject (33/1)

A tricky start for punters, with the well thought of The Butcher Said likely to frame the market. He changed hands for €135,000 after a fine second in a Punchestown bumper in the spring but disappointed in that sphere at Sandown last month on debut for this yard. More will surely be in the offing now the hurdles are in play and any support for Warren Greatrex's charge is to be noted. There are plenty here to ensure he's tested. Coolanly won a bumper at Chepstow in good style while Florrie Knox will have learned plenty from a sound run in a decent novice hurdle at Wetherby last time. Quick Pick has potential and was travelling well when brought down at Ayr over this trip last time but there was plenty to admire in the way VINNDICATION rallied to win a Ludlow bumper on debut and that attitude bodes well for Kim Bailey's charge in a contest that is likely to be keenly contested.