13:05 Taunton

Sunday 4 February 2018

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:30

Bathwick Tyres Bath Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 24.4s

Cappaway⁶⁷

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

20/1

Never a factor on his only start in a bumper at Hereford in November. Probably best watched now tackling hurdles for the first time.

Form: 9

Flight To Milan⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

25/1

Didn't shape badly on debut two starts ago but took a backwards step over C&D last time out. Each-way claims on that first performance and this jockey is good value for his claim.

Form: 60

Great Lover⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Effectively ran out on debut two starts ago before finishing down the field at Uttoxeter last time. Others have shown much more though the jockey booking is a positive.

Form: P8

Live For Today³⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Mr Robert Hawker⁽⁷⁾| T: K Bishop

33/1

Has shown little since winning a point-to-point in March 2016 (both under rules and between the flags) and unlikely to be seen to best effect over hurdles.

Form: 10/36PP-

Sizing Tara²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard

7/1

Far from disgraced on his only start in a bumper and should acquit himself well on debut over obstacles, but appears to be the stable's second string based on jockey bookings.

Form: 6

Skinflint³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

16/1

Pulled up on his only previous start under rules (over a longer trip at this course), but may have needed that run after a long break following his point-to-point second, and should do better here.

Form: 2/P

Storm Home⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard

4/1

Travelling well in a hot novice hurdle last time when coming down. Had previously run fairly well in similar races to this and should be capable of hitting the frame at the very least.

Form: F/25F

The Groovy Hoovy⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

33/1

Second in a Worcester bumper two starts ago (beaten only a head) but was well-beaten on debut over hurdles at Southwell last time. More needed now stepping back in trip.

Form: 29

Eggesford⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs L J Young

50/1

Couldn't get past the second when falling at Exeter last time out. Needs to improve his jumping having previously made very bad mistakes.

Form: P8F

Grand Sancy^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

8/13

Made a promising debut over hurdles at Wincanton last time after picking up some good form in bumpers. Wouldn't need to improve much, if at all, to get off the mark here for a top trainer.

Form: 422

Midnight Midge⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: R J Hodges

50/1

Never a factor in two bumpers at Huntingdon and Wincanton and best watched on this first attempt over hurdles.

Form: 78

Pentito Rap^p1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: B R Millman

66/1

Well-held on that Flat before being pulled-up on debut over hurdles at Hereford last time out. Makes no appeal in first-time cheek pieces.

Form: P

Gog Elles⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs K Stephens

33/1

16 race maiden on the Flat (went close a couple of times) and needs to improve for this switch to hurdles to have a say in this.

Form:

Forecasts

Grand Sancy (8/13), Storm Home (4/1), Sizing Tara (7/1), Skinflint (16/1), Cappaway (20/1), Flight To Milan (25/1), Great Lover (33/1), The Groovy Hoovy (33/1), Gog Elles (33/1), Live For Today (33/1), Midnight Midge (50/1), Eggesford (50/1), Pentito Rap (66/1)

Paul Nicholls has often given promising types educations in races like this and this course, and GRAND SANCY could be the latest. Having run very well on two of his three starts so far he wouldn't need to find much improvement (if any) to get off the mark here and looks the one to side with. Colin Tizzard's yard may finally be picking up into some form and so Storm Home seems the main danger, ahead of Flight To Milan.