13:15 Fontwell

Wednesday 26 December 2018

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

David Hazelden 70th Birthday Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 37.83s

Coole Well²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: Jamie Snowden

7/2

Fulfilled earlier promise when making all at Plumpton. Runner-up Manning Estate is weighted to reverse the form, but he did make a mistake two out and appeared to have a bit in hand.

Form: 235-U1

Hillary John³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Teal⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex

14/1

3m point-to-point winner made a winning rules debut in June when he scored in a Downpatrick maiden hurdle. Form of that worked out really well so disappointing he went off too hard at Ascot before tailing off on stable debut.

Form: P4/117

West To The Bridge^h,t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: David England| T: D Skelton| OR: 126

4/1

40/1 when landing a shambolic race at Aintree and although be beat a 132-rated rival the form has to be treated with caution. Has not always looked straightforward and not one to risk at short odds.

Form: 25-5601

Cracker Jak¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Miss S Smith

25/1

Showed some ability in bumpers but tailed off on hurdling bow when his jumping looked erratic. Up against it here.

Form: 4-450

Hook Lane Roobee²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: Miss S Smith| D

20/1

Surprise winner on debut at Plumpton a year ago when he landed a 14 runner bumper. Form of that race worked out well but he was too keen on his hurdling debut and paid the price a long way out.

Form: 1-P

Little Vern²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Angus Cheleda⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard

16/1

Showed the benefit of a wind operation when third to Friday's Ascot winner Eden Du Houx. Makes hurdling debut for a yard that do well here and rider's claim brings him into the reckoning.

Form: 0-3

Manning Estate²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner| T: O Sherwood

3/1

Proved to be the only one who could go with Coole Well at Plumpton on his hurdling debut and weighted to turn the tables with that rival here.

Form: 262

Mere Ironmonger²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell

11/1

Kempton bumper winner in 2016 who has had his problems since. Needs to step up considerably on his Newbury hurdling debut.

Form: 16/70

On The Slopes²³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

5/1

Chased home Friday's Ascot winner Eden Du Houx in a bumper at Plumpton when Little Vern was behind. That rival will have improved for the run so interesting to see what difference nine flights of hurdles makes.

Form: 3P-3P32

Southern States^v1³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L Richards

100/1

Regressive on the Flat and showed nothing on hurdles bow at Chepstow last month. Visored now, but impossible to fancy.

Form: P

Tel'art⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: B Pauling

6/1

Looked a nice prospect when making all to land a Bangor bumper and the runner-up has impressed since. First time he will have encountered soft ground but that is rarely an issue for French-bred horses.

Form: 51

Elska¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁷⁾| T: R Bandey

50/1

Well-beaten fourth on hurdling bow here last month and finds herself in what is a more competitive event this time.

Form: P/PUP-74

Tommys Geal²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: M Goldstein| T: M Madgwick

66/1

Four wins on the Flat came on better ground than this and she has plenty to find with Coole Well and Manning Estate on Plumpton running.

Form: 7

Non-Runners

Cadmar

Weight: 10-12| Age: 4

T: C Gordon J: Matthew Batchelor

Forecasts

Manning Estate (3/1), Coole Well (7/2), West To The Bridge (4/1), On The Slopes (5/1), Tel'art (6/1), Mere Ironmonger (11/1), Hillary John (14/1), Little Vern (16/1), Hook Lane Roobee (20/1), Cracker Jak (25/1), Cadmar (33/1), Elska (50/1), Tommys Geal (66/1), Southern States (100/1)

This is an above-average novice hurdle for the venue with some nice types lining up and some good form lines in evidence. It is hard to take the form of West To The Bridge's Aintree success seriously and he looks vulnerable under a penalty. Coole Well and Manning Estate clashed at Plumpton with the former overcoming a late mistake to score with enough in and to suggest he may confirm the form. On The Slopes and Little Vern chased home a useful sort in a bumper on the same card, but preference is for another hurdling debutant, TEL'ART, who looked a useful prospect when scoring at Bangor and is related to some smart types.