13:00 Leicester

Tuesday 23 January 2018

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:20

Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 41.70s

Don Des Fosses³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

5/4

Won maiden Irish point-to-point on debut and opened his rules account at the first time of asking in a Uttoxeter bumper (soft) last month. Connections waste no time in pointing him back at an obstacle and with the champ up he looks very interesting.

Form: 11

Pull Together³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: S Edmunds

8/1

Has shown a bit of promise before falling on his hurdles debut at Towcester and returned there to be beaten just over 9L (2m5f, good to soft) last month. Handles soft, though yet to race on heavy. Can improve and could take a hand.

Form: 3/7F4

Rosmuc Relay⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

4/1

Won a maiden Irish point-to-point (heavy) at the second attempt last month and was bought for £42,000 soon after. Lovely jumps pedigree and this trip looks a good starting point. In good hands too, so could see him making a decent rules debut.

Form: 31

Rumor⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J L Flint

100/1

Showed a bit of promise on debut in a Worcester bumper (good) in September, but has gone backwards in three novices' hurdles from 2m-2m3½f, including on heavy last time. Impossible to recommend him today on that evidence.

Form: 4080

Secret Legacy⁶⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| BF| D

5/1

Won a Tipperary bumper (2m4f, soft) on debut and equalled that effort when beaten under penalty next time. Held on hurdles debut over there for Gordon Elliott, but clearly has ability, likely to handle the ground and interesting on stable debut.

Form: 133

Taken By Force³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: C Poste| T: T H Weston

100/1

Placed in a couple of Irish point-to-points, but yet to threaten in any of his four starts under rules from 2m-2m5f. Handles soft, but yet to race on heavy. One to watch at present.

Form: 327-P60

Transpennine Star¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| BF

11/2

Won a couple on the Flat over 1m6f and stays 2m1f in that sphere, so stamina proven. Half-brother to a 2m hurdle winner, so some jumping ability in his pedigree. Debuts for this yard/over hurdles today and a market check is suggested.

Form:

Hayley Belle^t1³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: M Bradstock

16/1

Won maiden Irish point-to-point (soft/heavy) in March 2016 and cost £48,000 soon after. Not seen from then until racing keenly and not getting home at Southwell (3m, soft) on hurdles debut last month. Better effort not ruled out in tongue tie.

Form: 31/P

Pacofilha⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J L Flint

33/1

Just about gets 1m4f on the Flat, where she is a maiden from 13 starts. Was never involved on her hurdles debut at Warwick (2m, good to soft) in November and now returns for a second attempt. Looks one to watch.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Don Des Fosses (5/4), Rosmuc Relay (4/1), Secret Legacy (5/1), Transpennine Star (11/2), Pull Together (8/1), Hayley Belle (16/1), Pacofilha (33/1), Rumor (100/1), Taken By Force (100/1)

An interesting opener with a few unknown quantities to ponder. The market should be informative, but without that knowledge DON DES FOSSES looks a solid option with which to side. Sure to be well prepared, he has the benefit of the champion jockey up and it doesn't take much imagination to see him making a good hurdles debut. Rosmuc Relay is another interesting newcomer who could go very well, while Secret Legacy sets the standard on rules form and has already had a sighter over hurdles in Ireland, so he is feared. Hayley Belle could be an improver and the same applies to Pull Together.