14:15 Taunton
Monday 4 February 2019
All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45
Racing To School Novices' Hurdle (Div 2)
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 3f 1y | Soft | 9 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 54.0s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Surprised a lot of people, including his trainer, when opening his account at Plumpton (2m4½f, soft) in December. Proved that was no fluke when chasing home a useful sort there last time and one to fear under champion jockey.
Placed in a good ground bumper over 2m at Uttoxeter on debut last May. Fair sixth on hurdles debut at Warwick (2m, good) in September but unconvincing both starts since and may want better surface.
Runner-up in a Grade 3 chase at Auteuil sees him standout, but two relatively poor runs since joining ranks at Ditcheat, latest as a well-beaten favourite at Wincanton over minimum distance last month. Too soon to be writing him off.
Represents top connections and leading course trainer but beaten long way in all four starts to date, including over shorter trip here last month. Second runner for the yard in this field, has plenty to work on currently.
Had some ability on the Flat (a winner over 10f at Nottingham last summer, good to form ground) and may make a hurdler in time, but was too keen here last month on jumps bow over shorter trip and may need more time.
Placed in a point-to-point in March, no impact in one bumper run but outran odds of 100/1 at Huntingdon over this trip on Boxing Day when 6¾L fourth of nine on jumping debut. Should have more to come.
Irish point-to-point winner who has so far showed little in three starts under rules. Others readily preferred again here.
Finished runner-up on only competed Irish point-to-point start she made an encouraging bumper debut at the end of 2017. Only spotted twice since however and beaten combined 172L in those hurdles runs. Much to ponder.
Has taken the runner-up slot on three of her four point-to-point starts, though not seen in that sphere since May 2017. The long absence and the fact that this is her rules debut temper enthusiasm.
Forecasts
Third Wind (1/2), My Way (9/4), Paint The Dream (5/1), Ostuni (25/1), Two Sams (50/1), Global Anchor (50/1), Ourmullion (50/1), Westerner Ocean (66/1), Save The Pennies (66/1)
The Paul Nicholls-trained My Way hasn't so far managed to live up to his reputation and, while it is too soon to be writing him off, he looks short in the betting here. THIRD WIND was a shock winner at Plumpton two starts back but proved that to be no fluke back there since and Richard Johnson's mount is the standard-bearer now. Paint The Dream showed more for the switch to hurdling at Huntingdon on Boxing Day and can lay claims on the place money.
- Third Wind
- My Way
- Paint The Dream
Prize Money
1st: £5,133.002nd: £1,507.003rd: £754.004th: £377.00
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