12:30 Catterick

Thursday 11 January 2018

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:45

racinguk.com Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 3m 55.19s

Cornerstone Lad¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Henry Brooke| T: Micky Hammond| D

7/1

In good form in the autumn, winning at Hexham (2m, heavy) on debut and producing a bit better, despite 19L third, on more recent run at Wetherby. Concedes weight all around and may again be vulnerable as a result.

Form: 13

About Glory¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: A Nicol| T: J Riches

250/1

57-rated on the Flat, where he has won a 1m2f Brighton handicap on fast ground. 50-1 and never involved when last of six on hurdles debut in same race as Cornerstone Lad at Wetherby last month. Others readily preferred today.

Form: 6

Crushed⁹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| BF

15/8

Won a Windsor handicap (1m2f, good to soft) from a mark of 70 on the Flat in September for William Haggas. Dam was placed in 2m-2m4f hurdles and enough stamina in pedigree to think he may have a future over timber. Market check advised.

Form:

Ecole D'art²⁰⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton⁽³⁾| T: J M Jefferson

9/1

Cost 675,000 gns as a yearling. Placed on 1m5½f (good to soft) on final Flat start in France last June for Andre Fabre. Gelded prior to this stable/hurdles debut and looks interesting on paper. Market check prudent.

Form:

Investigation¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: S A Harris

250/1

Landed a Yarmouth maiden (1m3½f, good to firm) in April, but handicapper well in control in that sphere since then. Plenty of stamina in his pedigree, so may be capable of winning over hurdles, though probably one to watch on debut.

Form:

Outcrop^h²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

9/1

Dual 1m2f Flat winner last year for Hughie Morrison, the latter in a seller. Didn't show much in first two hurdles, but much improved effort when 40-1 runner-up here last time. A similar improvement today would put him right in the mix.

Form: 562

Pennington¹⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J Kington⁽³⁾| T: R Ross

200/1

Showed a bit of promise at up to 1m on the Flat in 2016 for Mark Johnston, but regressed last year. Now makes stable/hurdles debut and with stamina also an issue on pedigree, he looks one to watch this time.

Form:

Take The High Road⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| BF

10/1

Made frame in two 1m1½f Irish maidens on soft/heavy for John Oxx in the autumn, but disappointed on first start for this trainer at Southwell (7f, AW). Pedigree suggests he is well worth a try over hurdles and a good debut would not surprise.

Form:

Turning Gold¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

9/4

Dual scorer at Yarmouth over 1m (inc. on soft) last year for Sir Mark Prescott. Made an encouraging hurdles debut at Wetherby when an 11L second, 8L ahead of Cornerstone Lad (conceded 6lb) last month. Short-list material on that evidence.

Form: 2

Millie The Minx¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Mrs Dianne Sayer

250/1

Well held both in a bumper and on her debut over hurdles which was over C&D last month. No reason why she can't improve today, but looks one for the future.

Form: 68

Shine Baby Shine⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby| D

28/1

Dual Southwell winner over 2m½f (AW), including last week from a mark of 57. Stamina therefore no concern, while slow ground could also be a positive. One to check out in the market ahead of her debut over hurdles.

Form: 5

Forecasts

Crushed (15/8), Turning Gold (9/4), Cornerstone Lad (7/1), Outcrop (9/1), Ecole D'art (9/1), Take The High Road (10/1), Shine Baby Shine (28/1), Pennington (200/1), Investigation (250/1), About Glory (250/1), Millie The Minx (250/1)

Quite an interesting opener, with locally-trained Cornerstone Lad the only previous winner and respected for that, but clearly also vulnerable under his penalty. TURNING GOLD finished ahead of him on the same terms at Wetherby last time, his hurdles debut, and he is taken to improve for that and go one better. Take The High Road, Crushed and Ecole D'Art are very interesting newcomers to the National Hunt game and are in good hands. It would not surprise if all three put in good performances, while Shine Baby Shine arrives in form and deserves a market check.