14:15 Wincanton

Sunday 22 April 2018

All14:1514:5015:2015:5016:2516:5517:3018:00

cowsfeet.co.uk 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 49.40s

Blu Cavalier¹⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| C

1/1

Bidding to complete a hat-trick following a couple of wins on heavy ground. Carries a double penalty and has a useful amateur booked to ride.

Form: 4/24411

Ballyknock Cloud^p,t¹²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber

20/1

Multiple winning point-to-pointer last season and made a winning rules debut at Southwell (3m, good) in October. Pulled up on soft ground subsequently and returning from a break.

Form: 3111-1P

El Presente¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130| D

8/1

Finished third twice since winning over an extended 2m3f at Huntingdon (good) last October. Worth a check in the market on his return from a break.

Form: 3133

Malachite⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

5/1

Made a winning debut over hurdles at Huntingdon (soft) over an extended 2m4f in February. One to note as he seeks a second career success.

Form: 9351

Watcombe Heights⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 123| BF

9/2

Maiden hurdle winner last August and some respectable efforts in handicaps since including when 5L second on soft ground here when debuting for this yard in February. Disappointed since.

Form: 1F3226

Costly Dream¹⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J WhiteWS

33/1

Fair effort when sixth to a useful rival in a Haydock bumper in November 2016. Well beaten on hurdling debut in October and more needed in this.

Form: 6-0

Cotswold Way⁵⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

50/1

Promising effort in finishing 12L third at Taunton (2m3f, soft) in January. Well held subsequently however and likely more needed if he's to take this.

Form: 537

Selfcontrol¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls

50/1

Fell early on when debuting over hurdles a couple of seasons back and well held on return from a long absence here earlier this month.

Form: F-6

Stylish Moment⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

10/1

Placed in a bumper and also when finishing 22L third at Doncaster (2m5f) on hurdling debut in February. More needed here however.

Form: 363

Ritas Bid^t1⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry

80/1

Held in a couple of bumpers earlier this year but hails from a good stable and interesting to see how she fares on hurdling debut.

Form: 89

Non-Runners

Mere Ironmonger⁷³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: B G Powell J: Paul O'Brien

Forecasts

Blu Cavalier (1/1), Watcombe Heights (9/2), Malachite (5/1), El Presente (8/1), Stylish Moment (10/1), Mere Ironmonger (16/1), Ballyknock Cloud (20/1), Costly Dream (33/1), Cotswold Way (50/1), Selfcontrol (50/1), Ritas Bid (80/1)

MALACHITE made a winning debut over hurdles last time out and he can follow up under a penalty in this opening contest. Nicky Henderson is good form (11/40) at present and his son of Malinas can see off Blu Cavalier who carries a double penalty having won two hurdle races previously. El Presente, can finish third in this having filled the same position at Bangor last time out.