13:05 Chepstow

Friday 19 January 2018

All13:0513:3514:1014:4515:2015:50

Live Casino At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:06 | Winning time: 5m 8.65s

Cuban Pete⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams

9/1

Never a threat on his rules debut in a Bangor bumper (soft) last month. Steps up in trip for his hurdles debut and that should be a positive. Check market for clues as to expectations this time.

Form: 7

Dr Wells⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: P & M Bowen

16/1

Weak in the market ahead of his debut in a Southwell bumper (good) in November and never got into it there. Dam won over slightly further over hurdles, so switch to this discipline and a longer trip can hopefully elicit improvement.

Form: 8

Hillary View¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

8/1

Won an Irish point-to-point in November at the third attempt and purchased for £20,000 just after that. Ran reasonably well for a long way until weakening and beaten 59L on hurdles debut over C&D earlier in month. Needs to improve on that.

Form: 4P-10

Keepyourheadup^t²³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes

100/1

Has shown nothing in four starts under rules, finishing last on the only one that he has completed. Impossible to make a case for him.

Form: 7/PP-P

North West Wind⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

7/2

Ran well here over 2m (heavy) on his debut in a novices' hurdle in November, when he looked very much in need of further. He gets that here and is open to improvement. No surprise if he emerges as a leading contender.

Form: 4

Scorpion Sid³²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

11/8

Runner-up in a maiden Irish point-to-point on sole run in that sphere in March and changed hands for £50,000 soon after. Related to bumper and 2m4f-3m hurdle/chase winners, so stamina in pedigree and can probably put in a good debut effort.

Form: 2-

Snazz Man²⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner

50/1

Well beaten in both completed starts and failed to complete at Exeter last time. Drops back in trip here and should receive a handicap mark after this run, but very hard to find a reason to recommend him this time.

Form: 88P

Snuff Box⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss V Williams

4/1

Won a 2m4f point-to-point (god to soft) in 2016, but weakened quickly out of if on rules debut in an Exeter bumper (2m1f, soft) last month. Pedigree details several winners over this sort of trip, so could do better this time on hurdles intro.

Form: 1-9

Forecasts

Scorpion Sid (11/8), North West Wind (7/2), Snuff Box (4/1), Hillary View (8/1), Cuban Pete (9/1), Dr Wells (16/1), Snazz Man (50/1), Keepyourheadup (100/1)

NORTH WEST WIND made a very encouraging debut in the context of this line-up and is taken to improve for the experience and this step up in trip to score this time. Scorpion Sid looks an interesting newcomer and would not need to be anything special to make an impact, while Hillary View and Cuban Pete look to have to potential to join battle for the minor honours this time.