12:50 Taunton

Saturday 30 December 2017

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1515:45

totescoop6 Play Today Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 0.9s

Don't Ask²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

6/4

Improved from his first bumper start to his second before making a winning debut over hurdles at Bangor earlier in the month at Bangor. His jumping got better as the race wore on and he found extra to win and should be capable of improvement here under a penalty.

Form: 5-31

Cranbrook Causeway³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

100/1

Went with little encouragement on his hurdling debut and didn't show any progress next time out and has plenty to prove here.

Form: F-06

Dan McGrue^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 115

5/2

A winner on debut when trained in Ireland in his only bumper his two starts for this yard have so far proved a little below that mark. May well have failed to stay last time out over 3m here (ran better than bare result) travelled well and this shorter trip may well suit better.

Form: 1111-44

Drumlee City²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ian Popham| T: Nick Mitchell

20/1

Form was only modest in bumpers but he offered little on his hurdles debut (pulled-up) and although he showed more last time he still looks to have a tough task here. Needs another run for a mark and will be better off in low-grade handicaps in the future.

Form: 325-P5

Faint Hope^t1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L Heard| T: G Harris

10/1

Showed more when he was switched to hurdles in a C&D novice (the first two have run well since) but he failed to build on that run at Hereford last time out. That race didn't really pan out for him though and handicaps may well offer him more of an outlet; tongue-tie now goes on.

Form: 4-6735

Grand Rigel²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Michael Heard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe

66/1

Very much looked the second string on debut at Exeter recently and went with little enthusiasm and it may take time before he's seen to any effect.

Form: 0

Inaminna⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

25/1

A winner in Irish point-to-points he offered something to work on when he made his Rules debut at Fontwell in November. Showed up well until weakening close home and there should be more to come in time.

Form: 1-32F3

King's Temple⁷⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Tim Vaughan

100/1

Looking at his pedigree he should have offered more than he did on his debut at Chepstow in a bumper in October. Showed very little though on debut and he lost his place quickly and he makes his debut over hurdles with something to prove.

Form: 0

Must Havea Flutter¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton

33/1

There was some encouragement in his hurdling debut over 2m4f (wore a hood) at Plumpton earlier in the month but he was well held over 2m at the same venue soon after. Looks as though he's being brought along with handicaps in mind and one to keep an eye on.

Form: 823-468

River Bray^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: V R A Dartnall

6/1

This will be his third run over hurdles and given his last two runs it looks as though the handicap route is the one the he will be going down once he has a mark. Considerately handled last time out at Southwell he should be interesting in the future after this run.

Form: 4-285

Skinflint⁶⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

10/1

Makes his debut here having cost £30,000 as a four-year-old and runs in some familiar colours and has some useful jumping relations including the smart Ballybolley. Runner-up in an Irish point-to-point in March 2016 and one to watch in the market here.

Form: 2/

Sparky's Spirit²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard

66/1

Lightly raced in point-to-points he was well held on a belated Rules debut after a long absence. Started 66/1 last time out and looks to be in need of the experience and more time here.

Form: PP4/0

Stockburn³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

25/1

His two bumper runs have shown some limited promise with some slight improvement coming on his second run at Ascot. Now makes his hurdles debut with something to find and will probably be seen to better effect over further.

Form: 08

Gertie Getaway¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Looks a fairly cheap purchase for one in this yard and needed the experience on her bumper debut finishing held having run green. Her hurdles debut was similarly modest although she may make a step forward back from a break.

Form: 44

Forecasts

Don't Ask (6/4), Dan McGrue (5/2), River Bray (6/1), Faint Hope (10/1), Skinflint (10/1), Drumlee City (20/1), Inaminna (25/1), Stockburn (25/1), Must Havea Flutter (33/1), Gertie Getaway (33/1), Sparky's Spirit (66/1), Grand Rigel (66/1), King's Temple (100/1), Cranbrook Causeway (100/1)

A big field go to post but in truth a lot of these are running for handicap marks and will be seen to better effect in that sphere once they have a mark. That group would include Faint Hope, Must Havea Flutter and River Bray. DON’T ASK comes from a yard in good form and given that he has some improvement in him he could well defy a penalty. Dan McGrue is another who may well be better suited by this trip having faded over further last time while Skinflint is a most interesting newcomer who must be watched in the market.