15:00 Southwell

Sunday 25 February 2018

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:0516:3517:05

Porto Racing Saddlery Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 24.00s

Battalion⁴⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: J A Osborne

6/4

Useful horse on the Flat and successful in Listed company on the AW in December 2016. Fair efforts in similar races in late 2017 and one to note on his hurdling debut.

Form: /-

Bite My Tongue^p²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: J G O'Neill

200/1

Struggled in two Flat maidens for Tony Carroll and pulled up on two of his three starts since joining this yard. Others make more appeal.

Form: P0P

Cash To Ash⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

50/1

Limited signs of ability in point-to-points in Ireland including when 25L fifth at Killeagh (soft) last month. Probably best watched on rules debut.

Form: F-86P5

Concealed Ambition⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

66/1

Well beaten in a couple of maiden hurdles to date and likely to be of more interest once eligible for handicaps.

Form: 09

Contre Tous^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 125

10/3

Successful twice over fences for Paul Nicholls including off a mark of 121 at Market Rasen (good) last April. Ran well to finish third over fences on debut for this yard three weeks ago and he is an interesting runner reverting to hurdles.

Form: 55113-3

Coolanly⁸⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 11-2| J: Unknown| T: F O'Brien| BF| D

Form: 3P1-12

George Gently⁵¹⁶

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

15/8

Good effort in finishing runner-up on very soft ground in an Enghien hurdle in September 2016. Absent since but a leading contender if capable of reproducing that effort on his return from a long absence.

Form: 2-

Hay James³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Graham Carson⁽⁷⁾| T: S A Harris

200/1

Finished last of 11 in a Doncaster (good-to-soft) bumper in December and pulled up on hurdling debut last time. Others make more appeal.

Form: 0P

Lord Napier⁴²

Age: 13| Weight: 11-2| J: Unknown| T: P & M Bowen

Form: /5

Monthyne¹⁹

Age: 15| Weight: 11-2| J: Unknown| T: W Greatrex

Form: 88/6

Naasik⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: J R Norton

200/1

Finished third in a couple of small field bumpers but well beaten on both appearances over hurdles and probably best watched today.

Form: 74-3300

Quest For Life⁴³

Age: 14| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

Form: 23227

Roi De Dubai⁹¹

Age: 14| Weight: 11-2| J: Unknown| T: J C McConnell| OR: 92

Form: 19060-7

Royale Zanzibar⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Aidan Coleman| T: T Symonds| OR: 121| D

13/2

Placed over hurdles in France and off the mark at the second time of asking for this yard when winning a maiden hurdle at Hereford (2m, soft) last month. Interesting to see how he fares today.

Form: 02-281

Hijran²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: T J O'Brien| T: Henry Oliver

20/1

Twice a winner on the Flat and signs of ability in three outings over hurdles since joining this yard. Likely to find a few too good in this contest however.

Form: /663

Jersey Jewel^p,t⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

33/1

Successful twice on the Flat but well beaten on hurdles debut at Bangor in October and beaten twice in amateur riders contests on the AW subsequently.

Form: /8-

Lady Master²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey

66/1

Limited signs of ability in bumpers and failed to trouble the judge in three outings over hurdles here. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 56-786

D'waterside¹⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: D Loughnane

Form: -9

Pearl Of The West¹⁵⁹

Age: 12| Weight: 10-0| J: Unknown| T: J C McConnell

Form: /-

Forecasts

Battalion (6/4), George Gently (15/8), Contre Tous (10/3), Royale Zanzibar (13/2), Hijran (20/1), Jersey Jewel (33/1), Cash To Ash (50/1), Lady Master (66/1), Concealed Ambition (66/1), Naasik (200/1), Hay James (200/1), Bite My Tongue (200/1)

GEORGE GENTLY made a highly promising start to his hurdling career when running in a competitive hurdle in France a couple of seasons back and he can make his first start since a winning one for trainer Dan Skelton. The selection represents a stable in decent form (7/40) at present and can get the better of classy Flat performer Batallion who is a latecomer to hurdling and makes his debut in this sphere today. Contre Tous, a winner over fences twice last year can finish third on his sixth start over hurdles while last time out winner Royale Zanzibar is also worth considering.