Phoenix Security Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 59.4s

I'm To Blame^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish| C

5/6

Dual bumper winner was an impressive 14L maiden hurdle winner over 2m1f on good ground here in November. Decent fourth upped to an extended 2m4f at Newcastle (soft) subsequently and likely to run well once more.

Form: 11-13

Manamite²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: R P McLernon| T: B Haslam| OR: 114

7/1

Victorious on heavy going in a 2m maiden hurdle at Hexham last time out.. Interesting to see how he fares upped in distance under a penalty.

Form: 2P-P81

Mance Rayder^p¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: H Hogarth| OR: 107

16/1

Placed over 2m5f on good ground here in November. Below that level in two subsequent starts including when beaten 20L on handicap debut last time out.

Form: P4-P239

Taking Aim²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: D B Hurst⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C Grant

250/1

Maiden after four starts and pulled up on his two most recent outings. Likely to be of more interest once tackling handicaps.

Form: R/P7-0PP

Whiteoak Fleur³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

2/1

Finished third twice from four starts to date. Beaten 1½L on hurdling debut at Kelso (2m5f, good-to-soft) a month ago and drop in distance unlikely to inconvenience.

Form: 3-403

Barnay¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Ellam| OR: 110

33/1

Finished fourth in juvenile hurdles the last twice including when beaten 16L at Wetherby (2m, good-to-soft) last time out. More needed stepping up in distance.

Form: 644

Forecasts

I'm To Blame (5/6), Whiteoak Fleur (2/1), Manamite (7/1), Mance Rayder (16/1), Barnay (33/1), Taking Aim (250/1)

I'M TO BLAME impressed in winning here on his penultimate outing and he is taken to defy a penalty to register a fourth success under Rules in this small field novice hurdle. The mare Whiteoak Fleur ran well over further last time out and she can claim second ahead of dual Flat winner Manamite who got off the mark over hurdles when successful on heavy ground last time.