14:40 Warwick

Wednesday 28 March 2018

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:55

Best Odds Guaranteed At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:41 | Winning time: 4m 21.80s

Whatmore⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 132

11/8

Twice a winner on good ground last year but handles softer ground fine, will find this much easier than some of the tough tasks he's been taking on (Listed and Grade 3 events last three starts) and has to be a big player, with drop in trip no issue.

Form: R-11468

Harefield⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 130| BF| CD

1/1

C&D winner on similar ground in November, has preformed with credit in two starts since although twice a beaten favourite, and may not be one for maximum faith. Obvious chance at the weights though, and one of the main protagonists here.

Form: 24-41F2

Captain Jack³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: D A Jacob| T: R J Price| OR: 108

7/1

Already looking moderate after a handful of starts and well beaten in handicaps last couple. No realistic chance at these weights although may find himself challenging for the minor placings all the same.

Form: 6-55355

Higgs⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: S-J Davies

66/1

Not disgraced on bumper debut at Ludlow but not so good back at that venue after a break latest. No realistic chance here.

Form: 40

Totterdown^h³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: R T Phillips

33/1

Has run to a similar level in three bumpers and one hurdle but it's nowhere near good enough to be challenging for top honours here.

Form: 5287

Fields Of Fortune⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

8/1

Not without some ability on the Flat (although winless) and might have run into the places behind the useful we Have A Dream here in November but for unseating at the last. Conditions fine and should be challenging for the minor money at least.

Form: U5

Taking A Chance¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

20/1

Second in a point-to-point last year but shown very little in three starts under Rules. although Ludlow run in January hinted at better to come, probably in handicaps this summer. One to watch.

Form: 2-P50

Zamalight^h¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Garner⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

100/1

Another that looks to be getting readied for summer handicaps, as his best Flat form came on much quicker and he's not shown enough in two hurdles starts to date to be of interest today. Watching brief advised.

Form: 80

Non-Runners

Rebel Royal³⁵

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Forecasts

Harefield (1/1), Whatmore (11/8), Captain Jack (7/1), Fields Of Fortune (8/1), Taking A Chance (20/1), Rebel Royal (20/1), Totterdown (33/1), Higgs (66/1), Zamalight (100/1)

Unless there's dramatic improvement from one of the others then this looks a match between WHATMORE and Harefield. At the weights the latter would look the one to be with but Whatmore may be the more straightforward and facing a much easier task than has been the case, can give the weight away. Alan King's other representative Fields Of Fortune may be best of the rest.