Betfred Follow Us On Twitter Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 5m 36.40s

Palmers Hill⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124| BF

3/1

Talking horse having cost £310,000 after taking an Irish point-to-point by 20L in March, won a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle (2m, soft) in October but put in his place next time at Ascot behind Count Meribel. Has to improve seemingly.

Form: 31-14

Colonial Dreams²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120

10/3

Fancied for novice/maiden contests at Ludlow and Doncaster either side of Christmas but well held and didn't always jump fluently. Potentially going to improve on switch to handicaps for in-form champion trainer.

Form: 4721-32

Landin⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 120| D

7/1

Maiden hurdle winner at Worcester over this trip on good ground in October and solid effort in second behind easy winner under penalty at Plumpton next time. Much less convincing back there since and something to prove as a consequence.

Form: 867-125

Kapcorse⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

7/1

Useful pedigree and ran well on hurdle bow at Exeter (2m1f, soft) in October before finding things unfolding too quickly in decent Newbury maiden in December over shorter. Should be suited going up in distance for in-form Ditcheat team.

Form: 4-67

Miss Adventure^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁷⁾| T: P W Middleton| OR: 117

15/2

Good start for this yard 2m3½f soft-ground Lingfield maiden hurdle in November, disappointing next time at Towcester but bounced back last month over 2m on heavy going at Plumpton in first-time hood (retained). Can't rule her out.

Form: 32-252

Just So Cool²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: David Dennis| OR: 115| D

9/2

Returned from a long absence (670 days) to open hurdles account in good style at Huntingdon last month in conditionals contest, doing so with ease. Up 8lb but commands attention on that evidence.

Form: 03223/1

Holdbacktheriver²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110

10/1

Showed just hints of promise in novice hurdles and well held last month on handicap bow at Taunton (2m3f, soft). Eased 2lb but plenty to work on seemingly.

Form: 4-U325

Forecasts

Palmers Hill (3/1), Colonial Dreams (10/3), Just So Cool (9/2), Landin (7/1), Kapcorse (7/1), Miss Adventure (15/2), Holdbacktheriver (10/1)

The market should prove informative with a number of handicap debutants in the mix here. Chief amongst those to keep any eye on in expensive purchase Palmers Hill, winner on debut over hurdles at Uttoxeter in October and open to doing better on the back of his run at Ascot since. Colonial Dreams will need perhaps need to sharpen his jumping but represents Nicky Henderson and so will have every chance of doing just that. Kapcorse represents a yard going along very nicely (though Barry Geraghty seemingly prefers Palmers Hill). Any of the trio could mount a bit but they have a fair yardstick to aim at in JUST SO COOL, who came back from a long layoff with a smooth Huntingdon win last month. He's been hit with an 8lb rise for that success but, if he runs to a similar level, he could well defy the assessor. The mare Miss Adventure improved in a first-time hood at Plumpton and is another handicap debutante of note.