15:00 Kempton

Saturday 24 February 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 3m 47.10s

Carntop²⁰³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie SnowdenWS

40/1

Rated 98 on the Flat when trained by Ralph Beckett and was not disgraced when last seen at Goodwood in August. May need this debut outing over hurdles for new yard following wind surgery, but is talented and worth noting in the betting.

Form:

Destrier³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

16/1

Has won his only two starts over hurdles and was particularly impressive at Wetherby last time. This is a much better contest, but he is on the upgrade and clearly enters calculations.

Form: 0-11

Global Citizen¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 130| D

5/1

Formerly trained by Jonjo O'Neill, he made a winning start for this stable when bolting up at Southwell. Faces a much sterner test, but is certainly one for the short list.

Form: 1-1521

Humphrey Bogart^h1⁵⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

7/1

Showed a high level of form, including when fifth to Harzand in the Derby, when trained on the Flat by Richard Hannon. Has been off for a long time, but is in good hands and will have been well prepared for his hurdling debut in a first-time hood.

Form:

Michael's Mount¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

7/1

A decent handicapper on the level for Ed Dunlop, he made a successful stable/hurdling debut at Doncaster. Connections waste no time in taking on stronger opposition and he is another who warrants respect.

Form: 1

Mont Des Avaloirs^h1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| D

2/1

Promising novice who lost little in defeat when third in the Tolworth Hurdle at Sandown last time. The second that day has advertised the form with victory in a big handicap. Wears a hood for the first time.

Form: 2-1F13

Rockpoint¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 121

25/1

Has shown ability in all five starts over hurdles, including at Newbury on his latest outing. Should pick up a race in due course, but this looks too tough.

Form: 5-43532

Scarlet Dragon^h¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A KingWS

13/2

Winner of five races and was rated 107 when trained on the Flat by Eve Johnson-Houghton. Makes his hurdling debut for a top yard and has to be of serious interest on his first start since undergoing a wind operation.

Form:

Shoal Bay^t1⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 135| D

10/1

Bumper and hurdle winner who was fourth to a useful sort at Cheltenham last time. Stable was not firing then, but is in much better form now so no surprise if he were to get involved in a first-time tongue tie.

Form: 114

Ballywood¹¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 135

25/1

French import who has won two of his four starts and makes his debut for a stable with strength in the novice hurdling division. Interesting contender, but stable jockey prefers Scarlet Dragon.

Form: 3-112

Forecasts

Mont Des Avaloirs (2/1), Global Citizen (5/1), Scarlet Dragon (13/2), Michael's Mount (7/1), Humphrey Bogart (7/1), Shoal Bay (10/1), Destrier (16/1), Rockpoint (25/1), Ballywood (25/1), Carntop (40/1)

A hot novice hurdle which may produce one or two contenders for next month's Cheltenham Festival. Scarlet Dragon, Humphrey Bogart and Carntop were each more than capable on the Flat and could be good enough to make a winning hurdling debut, but in MONT DES AVALOIR they meet a rival with high-class novice form under his belt. Destrier is feared as he bids for a hat-trick, while Global Citizen, Michael's Mount and Shoal Bay have claims along with French import Ballywood.