13:20 Catterick

Wednesday 24 January 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0015:3516:05

Racing To School Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 5m 8.06s

Born A Saint

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R D Day⁽³⁾| T: Laura Morgan

20/1

Unraced first foal by Phoenix Reach out of a lightly raced dam who was a half-sister to the 2m-3m hurdle/chase winner Close House. Trainer also saddles Haasab.

Form:

Haasab^p³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁷⁾| T: Laura Morgan

6/1

Cost just £3,500 in August 2016, but has progressed to some degree through a four race bumper career; beaten 6L when a runner up to Return Ticket over 2m here in December. Claimer ridden for hurdles debut.

Form: 6432

Jaunty Flyer¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

13/8

Winner of his third start in a bumper at Exeter in April (2m1f, good) when trained by Brian Eckley. Has steadily improved over hurdles for this trainer, handles cut and is versatile in terms of trip. Obvious contender.

Form: 31-5423

Keepinupwitdjones²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Finian O'Toole⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S A Watt

12/1

With Arthur Moore in Ireland for his first two starts prior to joining this trainer. Hasn't exactly set the world alight in bumpers, beaten almost 15L at Musselburgh latest, but upped in trip for hurdles debut so could step forward slightly.

Form: 5594

Okey Dokey^t1¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: A W Short⁽⁷⁾| T: P Griffin| OR: 95

25/1

His largely uninspiring form in point-to-points has been matched by some moderate efforts over hurdles so far. Probably posted a slightly better showing at Naas latest (2m), but steps up in trip once more today wearing a first time tongue tie.

Form: P3P6U7

Paris Protocol¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: M Walford

33/1

83-rated on the Flat prior to leaving the care of Richard Hannon for £33,000 in November. Started at odds of 50/1 on hurdles/stable debut at Doncaster recently (2m+ soft) but not too many obvious positives to be drawn. Early days, and upped in trip.

Form: 0

Pc Dixon⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson

66/1

13 race maiden (under all codes) who looks truly devoid of ability. No reason to expect that he can arrest his continual decline since switched to hurdling.

Form: 006

Rajapur^p²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: D Thompson

16/1

Modest on the Flat, with his sole success coming as a shock at Redcar in November (1m6f soft; 33/1). Tailed off back over hurdles for just the second time at Fakenham on New Years Day (previous start for Phil Kirby). Couldn't be recommended.

Form: 2-4

Teescomponents Lad²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Miss E Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: G Boanas

3/1

Reliable sort who has finished runner up on both of his starts over hurdles, including when beaten just 1¼L by Enola Gay over 2m here last month. Should stay (brother to 2m4f winner Book At Bedtime), and ranks as a major player.

Form: 522-322

Young Tom²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

5/1

A winner over 1m4f on heavy ground on the Flat for Mick Appleby, both of his starts over obstacles have come at this track. Not disgraced, but looks more of a future handicapper, and finished three places behind Teescomponents Lad latest.

Form: 45

Forecasts

Jaunty Flyer (13/8), Teescomponents Lad (3/1), Young Tom (5/1), Haasab (6/1), Keepinupwitdjones (12/1), Rajapur (16/1), Born A Saint (20/1), Okey Dokey (25/1), Paris Protocol (33/1), Pc Dixon (66/1)

Not the strongest Novice Hurdle around, so the ideal chance for one of these runners to get off the mark over obstacles. Tim Vaughan and Alan Johns link up with Jaunty Flyer, and this £65,000 purchase ought to be on the premises given his ability to handle cut, and his versatility over a variety of trips, whilst hurdling debutante Haasab is by far the most interesting of the Laura Morgan trained pair. However, TEESCOMPONENTS LAD really deserves to get his head in front, and whilst he tackles this longer trip for the first time, he's bred to stay, and has done precious little wrong over hurdles thus far and therefore rates as a marginal pick.