12:10 Huntingdon

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All11:4012:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Boongate Kia 7 Year Warranty Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:11 | Winning time: 4m 58.40s

Black Mischief^p⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry

5/1

His form in bumpers was fair (placed each time) and he would have won on his hurdles debut but for falling at the last. Made amends the next time but has not quite followed up yet (trip possibly too far last time); better back in trip but still makes mistakes.

Form: 33F-155

Classic Ben²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds| D

7/1

Runner-up twice in bumpers (fairly useful form) he made no mistake on his hurdles debut at Fakenham winning ridden out. That was a fairly poor contest though (his main rival jumped right throughout) and his own hurdling will need to improve; entitled to progress though.

Form: 55F-221

Dandy Dan^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 127

2/1

Already a bumper/hurdles winner taking both his first two starts under Rules (both at Ludlow; six months apart). Suffered his first defeat earlier in the month under a penalty; that was no easy task though and he may find this a little more to his liking.

Form: 112

Boreham Bill²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling

13/8

Useful in bumpers and won on his debut in that sphere at Market Rasen looking as though a greater test of stamina would suit him. Made a promising start to his hurdling career (did a little too much in front) travelling well and looks sure to improve.

Form: 1205-4

Cocker³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J M Quinlan| T: A Blackmore| OR: 93

50/1

Looks a modest sort and continues to show little over hurdles and was well beaten in a handicap over 2m at Fakenham last time out. Faces a stiff task here in non-handicap company and fairly easily passed over.

Form: 43/535-4

Ey Up Rocky⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill

10/1

Has a decent Flat pedigree and looked quite useful when winning a Kelso bumper in September when he was with Micky Hammond. Now makes his hurdles debut for a new yard and should be of interest based on that hurdles win.

Form: 1

Lygon Rock³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: H D Daly

50/1

Has just had a couple of bumper runs so far eight months apart for a yard not known for their winners in that sphere. Improved from his debut last time out but has the look of a chaser and probably needs a little more time and distance to be seen at his best.

Form: 6-4

Minella Whisper²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: R T Phillips

66/1

Has the look of one for handicaps once he has a mark (this will be his qualifying run) and he has hinted at ability in a couple of runs so far. Wasn't unduly punished last time and one to note for the future after this run.

Form: P51-58

The Cannister Man¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas

50/1

Started at 6/1 for his bumper debut and only run under Rules so far but stumbled and fell after 2f. Now makes his hurdles debut and hard to know what to expect after that mishap last time out; best watched on balance.

Form: P2-F

Ask Nellie^t1²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: P J Brennan| T: M Bradstock

50/1

Very much bred to need time and further than this her bumper debut confirmed that view. Now makes her hurdles debut with the tongue-tie going on for the first time but one to watch more than back.

Form: 8

Ballina Lady¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

100/1

Had managed to hit the frame in Irish point-to-points but ended up finishing well beaten on her hurdles debut at Wetherby. Jumped well enough but pulled far too hard and predictably faded away; needs to settle better to be of interest.

Form: PP24-30

Forecasts

Boreham Bill (13/8), Dandy Dan (2/1), Black Mischief (5/1), Classic Ben (7/1), Ey Up Rocky (10/1), Lygon Rock (50/1), Cocker (50/1), The Cannister Man (50/1), Ask Nellie (50/1), Minella Whisper (66/1), Ballina Lady (100/1)

The three penalised runners may find it hard to give away the weight to BOREHAM BILL who shaped well over hurdles at Newbury last time out and that form is starting to look strong with the second and fifth both winning next time out. Black Mischief probably didn’t stay last time out and this shorter trip may see him fare better while Dandy Dan makes some appeal despite being well beaten at Doncaster last time out although the winner is useful. Classic Ben showed in bumpers that he was useful and although he needs to tidy up his jumping there looks to be more to come from him and his stable are in good form at the moment. Of the hurdling debutantes easily the most interesting is Ey Up Rocky who won well from a useful sort on his bumper debut and now makes his debut for a new yard and he should be noted in the market.