Becher Meeting 8th December Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 12.5s

Montego Grey

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

10/1

Newcomer by top jumps sire Montmartre is a half-brother to six winners on the flat so has a speedy enough pedigree for this and represents top connections so merits respect on debut.

Form:

Raven Court

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

5/1

Newcomer by Court Cave out of a point-to-point, hurdle and chase winner who stayed 3m. Very much bred with stamina in mind and likely to find things happening a little quickly here.

Form:

Secret Reprieve

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: Evan Williams

16/1

€45,000 son of top jumps sire Flemensfirth (sire of Gold Cup winner Imperial Commander) out of an unraced half-sister to two bumper winners. One of the more likely sorts to have no form in any code.

Form:

Sojourn³⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

2/1

33/1 fourth of 16 beaten 13½L on debut at Newbury 12 month ago. Absence since a concern but third and fourth from that race both won twice since over hurdles so form useful and if he's ready he must have a realistic chance.

Form: 4-

Corruption²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: Alexandra Dunn

50/1

Half-sister to a few winners but showed little on Towcester debut in March when tailed off from 3f out on heavy ground and almost pulled-up. Hard to fancy based on that. Also declared Fontwell Friday.

Form: 9-

Misty Whisky

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

11/10

Newcomer by Stowaway is a half-sister to classy bumper and hurdles winner Air Horse One and bumped and hurdles winner One For Rosie who both won on debut. The most appealing newcomer and fully expect her to go close.

Form:

Non-Runners

Blazer's Mill²³⁶

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: O Murphy J: B J Geraghty

Forecasts

Misty Whisky (11/10), Sojourn (2/1), Blazer's Mill (3/1), Raven Court (5/1), Montego Grey (10/1), Secret Reprieve (16/1), Corruption (50/1)

Olly Murphy has an incredible seven from 15 record in bumpers this season so his expensive purchase BLAZER'S MILL who showed plenty of ability in a lone point-to-point race makes the most appeal on his debut under rules. Misty Whisky's two siblings to race both won bumpers on debut so she has to be respected on a bid to do the same. Also shortlisted is Sojourn who ran creditably in a decent looking bumper on his only previous run.