12:40 Leicester
Thursday 7 December 2017
All12:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:25
Knighton Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 3  |  1m 7f 113y  |  Soft  |  9 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 12:40Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 3m 53.55s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Has the pick of the National Hunt form on offer going into this, having won a similar race at Plumpton (2m1½f, good) and bettered that in defeat twice since. Has to concede at least 10lb to everything here, but has to enter calculations nonetheless.
Irish point-to-point winner on debut. Disappointed when favourite in a Newton Abbot bumper, but showed more last time in a better field at Cheltenham. Now goes hurdling over a trip on the sharp side for him. Probably capable of being competitive.
Won a point-to-point over 2m4½f and showed that he handles cut when an 8L runner-up on hurdles/stable debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) last time. Can build on that experience now and looks well worth short-listing.
Went close in an Irish point-to-point and made an immediate impact under rules when winning a Chepstow bumper (2m, good) in April. Started over further on hurdles debut last time and ran with credit there. Should be capable of better.
Won an Irish point-to-point on his second start and with an SP of 33-1, probably performed as expected on hurdles/stable debut at Lingfield (2m3½f, soft) last month, after an 18-month absence. Should strip fitter now and improvement anticipated.
Another Irish point-to-point winner (at third attempt), though in his case he has so far to build on that promise under rules, having been thrashed both in a bumper and last time in a Chepstow novices' hurdle. Watching brief looks prudent.
Placed in an Ascot maiden in 2016 on sole start for Simon Crisford. Changed hands for 27,000 gns and made hurdles/stable debut at Sandown (2m, good to soft) last month, when 66-1 but outperforming those odds for a long way. Probable improver.
Made a pretty good fist of things on hurdling debut at Chepstow (2m, heavy) in January and was not far off that on reappearance at Bangor last month. That should have him straighter for this race and would be no surprise if there is market warmth.
Has been showing steady improvement in three starts, the most recent being her hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m, good) last month. Still beaten 21L there, however, and looking as though she will be of more interest when handicapping.
Forecasts
Forgot To Ask (11/4), Doctor Haze (11/4), Arthington (3/1), Brianstorm (5/1), Glen Rocco (14/1), Silk Run (33/1), Radical Archie (33/1), Lord Marmaduke (50/1), Johnny Yuma (100/1)
Arthington has the pick of the public form going into this and would be far from a shock winner, but he gives 10lb and upwards to the field and that might make him vulnerable to an improver. That might be DOCTOR HAZE, who went well at Chepstow on his hurdling introduction and could step up on that this time. Forgot To Ask, Lord Marmaduke, Glen Rocco and Radical Archie are all potential improvers and a market check looks prudent to see who thinks theirs will find more of that today, while Brianstorm is also worth the same as a hurdles debutante likely to have a future.
- Doctor Haze
- Arthington
- Forgot To Ask
Prize Money
1st: £6,498.002nd: £1,908.003rd: £954.004th: £477.00
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