12:35 Market Rasen

Tuesday 26 December 2017

All12:0512:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:25

Diamond Anniversary Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 4m 17.7s

Ashkoul^t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 119

9/5

Rated in the 90s on the Flat for Mick Appleby, though unable to add to two soft ground French wins. Weak in the market when runner-up at Southwell but showed he had improved for his hurdling debut. Has an easier task and stable took this last year.

Form: 22

Ballinslea Bridge²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: O Murphy

7/4

Cost £25,000 in June after a 12L success in a 3m Tralee point-to-point. Showed clear ability in bumpers before jumping violently to his right on his hurdling debut. No surprise to see him on a right-handed track now and he is set to go close.

Form: P4-1222

Brights Park²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: N Kent

66/1

By Mahler out of an unraced Turtle Island mare, he is a second foal who cost £4,500 as a three-year-old. Tailed off on both starts to date and easy to overlook.

Form: 00

Ciboir⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Broughton⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N Kent

66/1

Has looked of little account on two starts so far having been tailed off at big prices. Hood removed today.

Form: 0-9

His Dream⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Killian Moore⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

7/1

Stepped up on debut to win a Down Royal bumper before finding the Queen Alexandra at Royal Ascot beyond him. Tailed off on hurdling debut and, although he is clearly better than that, he is probably best watched unless there is significant support.

Form: 8-16

Jacbequick³²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L Heard| T: D O'Meara

16/1

Six-time Flat winner rated in the low 80s. Shaped much better on second start over hurdles but needs another giant step forward here.

Form: P5

Weebill²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

5/1

Second foal of a 1m2f Flat/useful 2m2f-3m hurdle winner and showed ability on bumper debut. Highly regarded and an interesting hurdling debutant for a good yard.

Form: 4

Rosie Hall⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Joe Williamson⁽⁷⁾| T: J S Wainwright

100/1

Has a record of 0-26 on the Flat and there was very little on offer last time out, even allowing for the fact that it was her first run after a long break

Form: 60/

Silk Run¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey

10/1

Has shown some ability in bumpers but less so since sent hurdling. May lack the ability for novice company and may be of more interest when sent handicapping.

Form: 5366

Forecasts

Ballinslea Bridge (7/4), Ashkoul (9/5), Weebill (5/1), His Dream (7/1), Silk Run (10/1), Jacbequick (16/1), Brights Park (66/1), Ciboir (66/1), Rosie Hall (100/1)

Ashkoul has finished runner-up on both starts over hurdles and represents last year's winning yard. He has done little wrong so far but Olly Murphy is strongly represented by Weebill and BALLINSLEA BRIDGE. The former is highly regarded and caught the eye on his bumper debut, whilst the latter may know a bit more having had three runs under rules. Most recently he made a hot favourite work hard on his hurdling bow, despite being all at sea on the tight left-handed track. This circuit should see him to better effect and the race may take less winning than it looks.