13:45 Southwell

Sunday 16 December 2018

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:1514:5015:20

mintbet.com EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 29.6s

Seemingly So²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy

4/1

Easy to back on his hurdles debut despite being an expensive Irish point-to-point purchase (£100,000) but looked a good prospect when turning in a winning debut. Travelled well and stayed on well and will do even better over 2m4f and further.

Form: 2-1

Stoney Mountain²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly| OR: 133| BF| D

1/3

Already has plenty of experience having won two bumpers (well held in the Festival bumper); has made a good start to his hurdles career. Won on debut (beat a useful sort; winner since) and only went down to a useful sort at Ascot last time.

Form: 5101-12

Golden Whisky²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams

10/1

Promising in bumpers it's yet to quite click over hurdles and he failed to confirm his previous form last time after a break of 8 months. The 2m trip wouldn't have helped last time though (not given hard time) and will be better suited by this trip.

Form: 564F-5

Invisible Clouds³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

50/1

His bumper form was only modest at best and he showed little signs of progress when tried over hurdles last time looking one for the longer term. His hurdling was rather scruffy at Aintree and this looks a step too far at this stage of his career.

Form: 8-75

Mid Day Gun^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

125/1

Showed little when with Willie Mullins in three bumpers starts and his three hurdles runs for this yard have hardly shown much more. Not got a mark yet but connections will more than likely be taking him down the handicap route when he does.

Form: 535U80

Newlands Cross¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

125/1

Failed to beat anything home on his first two hurdles attempts and only managed to beat a few on his third start. That's hardly a positive though and it would be a major shock to see him involved here at the finish.

Form: 231-070

Saturdaynightfever²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

20/1

His bumper form isn't anything special (beaten favourite on his 2nd start) and his hurdles debut after a nine-month break was of a similar ilk. Made hard work of grabbing a place and is basically proving disappointing.

Form: 457-3

Non-Runners

Hill Of Keash¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: D P Dunne J: R T Dunne

Forecasts

Stoney Mountain (1/3), Seemingly So (4/1), Golden Whisky (10/1), Saturdaynightfever (20/1), Invisible Clouds (50/1), Hill Of Keash (50/1), Newlands Cross (125/1), Mid Day Gun (125/1)

Essentially quite a weak contest with the majority of these bound for low-grade handicap hurdles once they gain a mark. There are a couple of above-average prospects in the line up though with both penalised runners STONEY MOUNTAIN and Seemingly So capable of more than they have achieved so far. The former of that duo is given a narrow vote on account of his experience and the fact that this course may suit him slightly better. Golden Whisky should be better suited by this trip and he and Saturdaynightfever are the two that should contend for the minor place.