12:00 Taunton
Thursday 14 December 2017
All12:0012:3013:0513:3514:1014:4515:1515:50
Kings College Taunton Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 104y  |  Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |  14 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 12:05Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 13.2s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Quickly developed into a smart novice hurdler and gained his second success over timber latest when a 22L winner over C&D. Won't want any further rain but if ground suits him he will run a big race even with the double penalty.
Three-time German flat winner, including Group Three. Scrambled home by a short-head on hurdles debut at Plumpton but couldn't follow up when third at odds-on at Catterick. Open to further improvement but would need it under penalty.
57 rated maiden of 16 races on the flat. Pitched into what looks a very warm contest on his hurdles debut and likely to struggle.
Heavily backed into 4/9 on stable and hurdles debut at Huntingdon but pulled hard and had to settle for second. again keen latest when sixth at Ascot and while he has ability he will have to settle to show it.
Related to the great Kauto Star but showed nothing to suggest he had anything like that ability when a moderate eighth on debut at Ffos Las in October. Switched to hurdles now but Brian Cooper prefers Sizing Cusimano.
Useful, but very hard tried dual winner on the flat for Richard Hannon. 1m the furthest he went on the level so stamina a major doubt here.
Sixth of 12 on debut at Hereford last month was a fair start to his career and enough to suggest some ability. Leap of faith however to see him going close today.
Showed a limited amount of ability in two bumpers in the spring before a well beaten third of six on hurdles debut. Well beaten again latest after a break and hard to fancy.
83 rated on the level where he won once over 1m4f for Elie Lellouche. Down the field in Cesarewitch on stable debut. Switches to hurdles and should be useful recruit for leading yard.
80 rated dual 1m2f winner on the flat for Charles Hills. Appreciated genuine quick ground on the level so won't want any more rain for this, his hurdles debut. Joined top trainer who excels with novice hurdlers so not dismissed.
C&D bumper winner who improved on an average hurdles debut to run well here, again over C&D last time, finishing second by 6L. More to come and likely to make a bold bid today.
Cost €100,000 so perhaps no surprise he was pitched in at the deep end on debut in a Listed bumper at Cheltenham. Not disgraced there in sixth and one of the more likely of the hurdles debutants here.
Point-to-point winner was very disappointing in lone hurdles start for Ed Walker as favourite at Exeter back in April. Changed yards now but much more needed to play a part. Wears first-time headgear.
Good second in a 23 runner Punchestown bumper on debut. Somewhat disappointing as favourite in a Carlisle bumper in first start for this yard next and again couldn't justify favouritism on return at Warwick. Goes hurdling now but yard second string.
Forecasts
Brahms De Clermont (10/11), Show On The Road (6/1), Grapevine (6/1), Parthenius (8/1), Sizing Cusimano (12/1), Desiremoi D'Authie (12/1), Friday Night Light (20/1), Flight To Milan (50/1), Duc Kauto (66/1), Miss Tynte (80/1), Ticket To Ride (100/1), Flying Verse (100/1), Emell (150/1), Bergholt (200/1)
This will be a tough ask for BRAHMS DE CLERMONT under a double penalty but the manner of his latest win suggests he is up to the challenge and he gets the nod once more. Show On The Road is certainly a danger in receipt of 12lb after a good second last time over C&D. There are several hurdling newcomers worthy of respect and the best of them could prove to be Grapevine for champion trainer Nicky Henderson.
- Brahms De Clermont
- Show On The Road
- Grapevine
Prize Money
1st: £5,064.002nd: £1,496.003rd: £748.004th: £374.005th: £187.00
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