15:45 Wincanton

Thursday 8 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:5017:20

Smarkets Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 3.80s

Jurby²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| CD

2/1

Bumper winner who came good at his second attempt over hurdles, winning here over C&D (heavy) in January. Burst a blood vessel when attempting to follow-up at Doncaster last month, so has that to overcome, but is short-listed again.

Form: 10/21P

Storm Home³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130

8/11

Looks a useful recruit and justified favouritism when winning a Taunton novices' hurdle (2m½f, soft) last time, to get off the mark. Carries a penalty for that, but there looks to be more to come and he should be involved again this time.

Form: F/25F1

Cap St Vincent⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

66/1

Showed a little bit of promise on debut in an Ayr bumper last spring, but couldn't build on that on his hurdling debut at Taunton (2m3f, soft) last time. Drops in trip for this and looks one to watch for the moment.

Form: 0-9

Choix Des Armes^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

8/1

Showed promise on debut in an Ascot bumper last season, though after finishing last there on hurdles debut a wind op followed. Can back reasonably well at Taunton (2m½f, soft) last time and with a bit of improvement he could figure today.

Form: 7-06

Come On Charlie¹³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

14/1

Sent off at 20-1 on debut over C&D (good) in October and he never got involved that day. Returns after a break with the champion up, which makes him more interesting, especially on softer ground, which pedigree suggests could suit.

Form: 9

Dont Be Robin¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford

16/1

100-1 on both rules starts so far and outperformed those odds when 13½L third at Taunton (2m½f, soft) on his hurdles debut last month. Has to be taken more seriously after that and could get involved again here.

Form: 84-F353

Hardness²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Stefan Kirwan⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

50/1

Made the frame on the Flat in France on three occasions, but yet to do so in three starts over hurdles for this trainer. Looks to be more of a handicap prospect and should have a mark to play with after this race.

Form: 878

Definite Winner^t1⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy PriceWS

150/1

Showed promise in a good ground Irish bumper for Gordon Elliott, but unable to improve on that. Well held on only completed start for this trainer and has since had wind surgery. Probably one to watch again this time.

Form: 4399-P0

Geni Johnson⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn

150/1

Showed glimpses of ability in maiden hurdles when trained in Ireland last year, but sent off at 50-1 for a Fakenham seller on debut for this yard in January. Unseated that day and has plenty to prove for the moment.

Form: 69870U

Nanny Makfi^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: B Barr

150/1

Made the frame five times from 10 starts on turf on the Flat (rated 51) at up to 1m4f and showed she handles cut in the ground. No National Hunt success in her pedigree and now makes hurdles debut. Should stay but watching brief suggested.

Form:

Let's Be Happy¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: A Stronge

50/1

Won a fast ground Brighton handicap over 1m2f in June and placed at up to 1m4f on the Flat (rated 62). Hasn't yet transferred that ability to hurdling and will probably be more interesting when the handicapper has given her a mark to work with.

Form: 56

Forecasts

Storm Home (8/11), Jurby (2/1), Choix Des Armes (8/1), Come On Charlie (14/1), Dont Be Robin (16/1), Let's Be Happy (50/1), Hardness (50/1), Cap St Vincent (66/1), Definite Winner (150/1), Geni Johnson (150/1), Nanny Makfi (150/1)

Only Jurby and Storm Home turn up with winning hurdles form here, though the former has to prove that he is over a broken blood vessel from last time, while the latter has a penalty to contend with. Therefore, the suggestion is to take both on here with CHOIX DES ARMES, who made a nice enough reappearance after wind surgery last time and could now begin to show improvement. Come On Charlie is another who could do that this time, while Dont Be Robin surprised a few people last time and looks to have at least frame claims again.