13:05 Hereford

Wednesday 28 November 2018

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:3515:0515:40

Sri Lanka The Jewel Of Asia Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:05 | Winning time: 4m 54.4s

Dr Sanderson³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

11/8

Carlisle bumper winner for Stuart Crawford who maintained his unbeaten record with a straightforward debut hurdles win (2m4f maiden) at Worcester in October; solid chance.

Form: 1-1

Espoir De Guye¹⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

8/1

Bought for €70,000 after winning a 2m3f conditions hurdle at Les Sables-D'olonne (France) in June; GB debut for new handler Venetia Williams; stablemate of Shivermetimbers.

Form: 51

He's A Goer²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| OR: 127

4/1

Couldn't successfully carry a penalty for his September Warwick (2m) win at Wetherby (2m3f+) latest but was only beaten by just over 1L by Skidoosh; trip shouldn't prove problematic at this sharp track; chance.

Form: 384-412

Copperhead²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard

50/1

Started 66/1 for hurdles debut at Newbury (2m+, good to soft) three weeks ago, but unable to progress beyond mid-division at any stage of that contest (finished 13th of 16).

Form: 779-0

French Piece¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽⁵⁾| T: D G Bridgwater

100/1

Raced keenly on debut in a 2m1f+ Fontwell bumper 19-days ago, but was comprehensively beaten at the finish (sixth of seven); quickly switched to hurdling.

Form: 6

Gallows Point¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

33/1

Half-brother to the bumper/2m2f-2m6f hurdle winner Bonne Fee; looks to be a work in progress at this stage; simply not strong enough on recent hurdles debut at Uttoxeter (2m4f).

Form: 60

Goldrapper⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price

200/1

In rear throughout (100/1) on both previous hurdles appearances (2m); up in trip awaiting an opening handicap mark; no chance today.

Form: 7-35580

Minerfortyniner^t¹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁷⁾| T: G R I Smyly

16/1

6-13 in PTP's; sent off at triple figure odds on both starts under rules (2m3f-2m5f+); handicapping awaits after today - most likely over fences; stablemate of Edabean.

Form: 11P1/4-6

Mouseinthehouse

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

25/1

€22,000 3yo; fourth foal who is a half-brother to maiden PTP winner Mollysue; in-form trainer saddled a double at Ludlow on Monday.

Form:

Peddler

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: M Bradstock

25/1

€29,000 3yo; tenth foal; half-brother to bumper/2m4f-3m chase winner Arbeo; worth keeping an eye upon today with the longer-term in mind.

Form:

Star Of Lanka¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W Greatrex

3/1

With Sally Haynes when landing a 1m6f Newcastle bumper on debut (He's A Goer third), but sold for £40,000 in May 2018; finished 16L fourth of 14 to Eldorado Allen on hurdles/stable debut (2m, Sandown).

Form: 133-4

Cangodemayo¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: B Pauling

100/1

Cost £30,000 out of the Irish PTP scene (1-1); has struggled over hurdles so far; pulled-up in both of her last two starts, which were spread over a period of ten months apart.

Form: 1/05P-P

Edabean^p1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: G R I Smyly

100/1

Stablemate of Minerfortyniner; didn't complete in any of her three starts in bumpers (PUP), and finished tailed-off last on hurdles debut; wears newly applied cheekpieces; seemingly devoid of any ability.

Form: PUP6

Non-Runners

Shivermetimbers¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Hugh Nugent

Forecasts

Dr Sanderson (11/8), Star Of Lanka (3/1), He's A Goer (4/1), Espoir De Guye (8/1), Shivermetimbers (8/1), Minerfortyniner (16/1), Peddler (25/1), Mouseinthehouse (25/1), Gallows Point (33/1), Copperhead (50/1), Edabean (100/1), Cangodemayo (100/1), French Piece (100/1), Goldrapper (200/1)

DR SANDERSON is one of a trio of runners carrying a penalty but his trainer Paul Nicholls has probably found the ideal opportunity in which to supplement the Worcester winnings, and in-turn pay back another small portion of the purchase price. On hurdles form, the main threat would seemingly come from the Tom Lacey-trained He's A Goer, albeit it's worth noting that he was beaten over 8L in a Newcastle bumper (Dec 2017) won by today's rival Star Of Lanka.