13:10 Leicester

Tuesday 22 January 2019

All13:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:15

Croxton Park Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 5m 13.10s

Chef D'Equipe^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129| D

5/4

Dual chase winner who exploited his novice status with a very easy hurdles win last time out at Taunton (2m3f, good). Should prove tough to beat under a penalty on that evidence.

Form: 517-251

Clondaw Anchor^h⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 127| BF

9/4

On an upward curve, having improved with each hurdles run. Scored at Carlisle two starts ago (2m1f, good to soft). Bettered that despite defeat at Lingfield when last seen in November. Step up in tip looks positive. Contender.

Form: 2-213

Imperial Acolyte²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

10/1

Drifted prior to a 6L win at Wetherby (2m, good to soft) in November. Could not improve for that back there under a penalty last time. Step up in trip should help, but needs to get back on track.

Form: 5-15

Laughing Luis⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118| C

10/1

Dual bumper winner, who overcame keenness to score here over 1m7f (good to firm) last month. Will arguably need to settle even better over this longer trip, under his penalty, but clearly has to be respected.

Form: 4-11471

Mon Port^h1⁷⁴

14/1

Won a bumper for Ben de Haan and also a Huntingdon maiden hurdle on debut for this trainer in May (2m, good). Beaten favourite both runs since, and returns up in trip after wind surgery. Should stay. First-time hood. Respected.

Form: 82/1-122

Fortescue²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁷⁾| T: H D Daly

100/1

Showed promise in a Uttoxeter bumper in November, but pulled up on hurdles debut at Exeter earlier in the month. Others preferred.

Form: 038P

Jen's Boy²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

10/1

Last seen in May, when improving on his debut and just edged out in a fast ground Towcester bumper. Steps up in trip for this hurdles debut and looks top stable's first string on jockey bookings. Should go well.

Form: 8-2

Mr Palmtree¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin

100/1

Placed in a couple of Irish points last year, but well held in two bumpers and a maiden hurdle. Watch.

Form: 3-2000

Roccowithlove⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

50/1

€55,000 purchase who was supported on debut, but finished 27L adrift in an Ascot bumper in November. Step up in trip looks positive for this hurdles debut, so a market check looks prudent.

Form: 8

Royal Reef^p,t⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss C Dyson

100/1

Multiple AW Flat winner over staying trips (OR 83). Pulled up on hurdles debut at Southwell last month (3m, good to soft). Drop in trip may help, but has a little bit to prove this time.

Form: P

Super Mac³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr

100/1

4-1 on debut at Uttoxeter (2m, heavy) last month, but well beaten early there. Likely that there is some ability, so better ground and longer trip for this hurdles debut might help him produce better.

Form: 9

The Captains Inn⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| BF

20/1

Placed in an Irish point last March and cost £220,000 soon after. Beaten favourite on debut in a Warwick bumper last month, but still ran with plenty of promise. Could be a different proposition up in trip and back over obstacles.

Form: 2-6

Forecasts

Chef D'Equipe (5/4), Clondaw Anchor (9/4), Laughing Luis (10/1), Jen's Boy (10/1), Imperial Acolyte (10/1), Mon Port (14/1), The Captains Inn (20/1), Roccowithlove (50/1), Mr Palmtree (100/1), Fortescue (100/1), Royal Reef (100/1), Super Mac (100/1)

A really interesting opener. Chef D'Equipe was well placed to win easily last time and should again be a handful under a penalty, while Clondaw Archer, Imperial Acolyte and Mon Port are other penalised runners of particular interest. Jen's Boy can probably make a good impact on his hurdles debut, but the same can be said of THE CAPTAINS INN, who ran well on debut in a Warwick bumper and can begin to repay some of his price tag on his first outing over hurdles.