12:45 Wetherby

Friday 4 January 2019

All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5515:30

Every Race Live On Racing TV Juvenile Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 3m 59.8s

Chingachgook^h1⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson

8/1

Raced keenly but shaped up well on his recent hurdles debut here. Hood now applied and if that helps him settle better, he would probably have every chance here.

Form: 3

Doctor Jazz¹¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| BF

9/1

Officially rated 69 on the Flat, where he is 1-7, having won a fast ground handicap at Windsor in August (1m3½f) when with Richard Hannon. Bought for £20,000 in October. In good hands and trainer can ready one first time. Market check.

Form:

Echo¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

50/1

Scored over 1m at Redcar (good to soft) on the Flat in 2017. Bettered that on a couple of occasions in recent months (both 1m4f). Was supported prior to a disappointing hurdles debut at Catterick last month. More needed.

Form: 8

Lisheen Castle¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

13/8

Debut Flat winner in 2017, when with John Quinn, for whom he finished second in Listed company. Sold for 185,000gns soon after, and then again for 50,000gns last July, after his form dipped. Since gelded and makes debut for top yard.

Form:

Qawamees⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: M & D Easterby

12/1

Second on four occasions at up to 1m2f on the Flat/AW for Ed Dunlop (OR 80). Bought for 20,000gns in October and now makes stable/hurdles debut. Stable fairly quiet, but he has ability and would be interesting if supported.

Form:

Shandon⁴⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Coltherd⁽⁵⁾| T: L Egerton

125/1

Held in all four Flat runs from 6f-7f for John Joseph Murphy in 2017. Returns from 15-month absence for his hurdles/stable debut, having changed hands since last seen. Has stamina to prove. Can only watch.

Form:

The Knot Is Tied¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King| D

6/4

Won four times on the Flat (1m6f-2m) last year (OR 74) for Tim Easterby. Bought for £75,000 in November and made promising hurdles debut for this trainer at Newbury (soft) last month. That looks a solid effort and he could step up on it this time.

Form: 3

Non-Runners

Novel Character⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: J J Hanlon J: R P McLernon

Statuario⁷⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: P & M Bowen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

The Knot Is Tied (6/4), Lisheen Castle (13/8), Statuario (5/1), Chingachgook (8/1), Doctor Jazz (9/1), Qawamees (12/1), Novel Character (20/1), Echo (50/1), Shandon (125/1)

A fascinating opener. The Knot Is Tied is a good starting point on form and although beaten 17L on debut, he was the only one who could go with the useful-looking first two towards the finish. He could be better suited by this less testing ground and go very close this time. Lisheen Castle is clearly a very interesting newcomer for a top stable, who may well have him back on track after a loss of form on the Flat last season. A win would not surprise, but he is likely to be short odds and preference is for CHINGACHGOOK, who made a promising debut here recently. Qawamees, Doctor Jazz and Stataurio are other interesting runners.