14:45 Fakenham

Friday 15 February 2019

All13:4014:1014:4515:2015:5016:2516:55

British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 55.2s

Mill Green²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ned Curtis⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131

7/2

Won his last two starts in fine style and is still open to any amount of improvement. A double penalty may not be enough to anchor the gelding at present.

Form: 54-311

Khage^h³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 129

11/2

Greatly improved since returning from wind surgery and still has more to offer. Won easily at Taunton last time and will be dangerous to all if allowed an easy time of things from the front. One to bear in mind at least.

Form: 35-F21

On The Slopes¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: C Gordon| OR: 130

7/2

Form of all four starts since returning from a break has a solid feel to it and the gelding would be dangerous to underestimate here. Solid place claims on ground that should be ideal.

Form: 3P3212

Rapper²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 121

14/1

Showed a good attitude to win at Ludlow last month when gaining a deserved success. The penalty makes for a much tougher assignment against this better company though.

Form: 34631

Pistol Whipped⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

11/4

Posted a reasonable effort on his only completed starts in a point-to-point before making a very satisfactory debut for his high profile yard at Newbury in December. Jockey bookings make for an interesting conundrum. One to monitor in the betting.

Form: S23

Some Man^h1⁴²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F NichollsWS

8/1

Won a point-to-point before making two starts for Paul Nicholls in 2017. Been off since and had wind surgery in the intervening period. Probably best watched this time.

Form: 1/45-

Southern Sam⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: O Sherwood| OR: 123

8/1

Improving with each run and open to more improvement. Gets weight from the main body of contenders and stays the trip well, so no forlorn hope for a place in the frame.

Form: 2-23

Witham¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: Kielan Woods| T: Mrs P Sly

66/1

Hinted at ability in her early starts but showed very little on her return from a long absence when last of eight at Market Rasen earlier this month. Difficult to see the mare finding the requisite improvement.

Form: 44/4-8

Forecasts

Pistol Whipped (11/4), Mill Green (7/2), On The Slopes (7/2), Khage (11/2), Southern Sam (8/1), Some Man (8/1), Rapper (14/1), Witham (66/1)

A tough one to call with the likes of On The Slopes, Khage, and Rapper all going the right way and progressing nicely. However, MILL GREEN has won both his last two starts with a bit in hand and looks capable enough to cope with his double penalty. The selection's stablemate Pistol Whipped is another interesting one to bear in mind for a place in the frame.