Betfred TV 'Hands And Heels' Maiden Hurdle (Part Of The Racing Excellence Series) (Cond/Amats)

Off time: 12:37 | Winning time: 5m 26.4s

Bob Mahler²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Hicks⁽⁵⁾| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

9/4

Placed on half of his six hurdles outings to date most recently when beaten 8L at Ascot last month. Drop back in trip shouldn't pose any problems and he is one for the shortlist in this contest.

Form: 33UF-53

Chef Des Obeaux²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| BF

2/5

Placed twice from four starts so far including when runner-up on hurdling debut over an extended 2m4f at Newbury (soft) earlier this month. Yard are in good form at present (12/36) and he looks a leading contender today.

Form: 57/2-2

Katara Bay³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: B Leavy

100/1

Finished well beaten in a bumper on sole start for Venetia Williams in January 2016 and it was a similar story when debut over hurdles for this stable last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 5/0

St Merryn^h³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: B R Summers

100/1

Placed in a point-to-point on good-to-soft ground in April last year but failed to trouble the judge in two rules outings since including on debut for this yard in a novice hurdle last month. More needed today.

Form: 3/6-0

Tailor Tom³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Theo Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

33/1

Placed in a point-to-point from three starts but has finished well beaten in both hurdles outings since joining this stable and is likely to be of more interest once tackling handicaps.

Form: 6P3-80

The New Pharaoh⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Mr Joe Wright| T: Laura Morgan

16/1

Successful three times on the Flat including over 1m4f on soft ground at Doncaster in July. Purchased for 22,000 gns at the sales last month and worth a check in the market for a new stable on hurdling debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Chef Des Obeaux (2/5), Bob Mahler (9/4), The New Pharaoh (16/1), Tailor Tom (33/1), Katara Bay (100/1), St Merryn (100/1)

CHEF DES OBEAUX can go one better than when finishing second on his hurdling debut at the start of the month by taking this six runner novice hurdle. The selection had filled the same position in a bumper at that same course on his sole start for this yard last season and he can register a first victory today with Bob Mahler, who ran well to finish third in a good novice contest last time out the selection to claim second ahead of hurdling newcomer The New Pharaoh.