Happy New Year Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:25 | Winning time: 4m 44.30s

Noble Warrior¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: James Moffatt

40/1

Made a successful start over hurdles having finished runner-up in his only completed point-to-point outing. Hard to say what he achieved when winning but has regressed since under a penalty; unseated 6th over C&D last time.

Form: U215U

Dadsinluck^t1⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim VaughanWS

66/1

Hurdles debutante who hinted at ability on his bumper debut but looked rather limited on his 2nd start in that sphere after a break. Has now had a wind op and the tongue-tie goes on for the first time; looks a longer-term project.

Form: 78

Hogan's Height^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 130| DWS

11/8

Useful sort over fences who won three times in that sphere last year the last a handicap off 131. Has failed to fire on his return to action (pulled up last time) and now back over hurdles after wind surgery; best form when ridden prominently.

Form: 1116-3P

The Sting^h⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Joe Colliver| T: Micky Hammond

50/1

Made little impact in point-to-points failing to complete in three of his four starts and has so far looked limited under Rules. Tailed off in both hurdles runs so far (little chance last time) and of little interest prior to handicaps.

Form: 5-PP564

Vamanos³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gregory⁽⁵⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 115

8/11

Flat-bred gelding who took a step forward over hurdles last time and has the physical scope to progress further in this sphere. Would have finished 2nd last time but for a last hurdle blunder and will appreciate this increased trip.

Form: 7-43

Legalized^h³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Colm McCormack⁽³⁾| T: Kenneth Slack

11/1

Has twice caught the eye over hurdles despite being poor on the Flat and needs this run for a handicap mark a sphere in which she will be of great interest given her connections. Kept on well over 2m here last time and will appreciate this trip.

Form: 54

Non-Runners

Tight Call⁴⁵

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: Tim Vaughan J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Vamanos (8/11), Hogan's Height (11/8), Tight Call (3/1), Legalized (11/1), Noble Warrior (40/1), The Sting (50/1), Dadsinluck (66/1)

There should be more to come from Tight Call who will appreciate this trip far more than the 2m he ran over at Wetherby last time. Vamanos would have finished 2nd last time were it not for a mistake at the last and he’s another expected to run well in this. HOGAN’S HEIGHT would have been giving all of these weight over fences and he looks to have a reasonable opportunity of getting back to winning ways here on the back of a wind op; he could try and make all. The run of Legalized will be interesting to monitor as this is her qualifying run for a mark and she’s shown some promise in this sphere so far.