14:40 Taunton

Tuesday 19 February 2019

All14:1014:4015:1015:4516:1516:5017:20

Aspen Waite Complete Business Growth Service Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 9.50s

Envole Toi³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 121| CD

7/1

Won three times over fences in France, and landed a Towcester novices' hurdle (2m, good) in December for this yard. Bettered that under a penalty at Warwick last time, and looks an each-way player again.

Form: 6-15713

Sofia's Rock¹⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| DWS

7/2

Made a winning debut for this trainer in a Worcester novices' hurdle (2m, good) in September. Has wind surgery since then, so now reappears after a break. Has won when fresh on the Flat. Entitled to plenty of respect under a penalty.

Form: 1

Agent Westy²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

125/1

Has not shown anything in three starts under rules that suggests he will be coming good just yet.

Form: 477

Airton¹¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| D

20/1

Rated 76 on the Flat for James Bethell, for whom he was a reasonable stayer. Changed hands for 14,000gns in October, and in good hands for his hurdles debut. Not a bad record when fresh, so check the market for reappearance/stable debut clues.

Form:

Dadsinluck^t⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

100/1

Not devoid of promise in bumpers, but would have liked to have seen more than when 66-1 and pulled up on his hurdles debut.

Form: 78P

Nocturnal Myth¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

33/1

Showed some promise in bumpers, but not yet backed that up over hurdles. Should be assessed by the handicapper after this and is likely to be of greater interest then.

Form: 65-74

Oscar Maguire²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David England| T: O Murphy

100/1

Made a promising start in a Uttoxeter bumper, but well below that level over hurdles so far. Another more likely to appeal when his trainer has a handicap mark to work with.

Form: 807

Ourmullion^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

100/1

AW Flat rating of 74 suggests that there is some ability to be harnessed over hurdles, but he has yet to show it in two starts. Much more needed.

Form: 59

Spiny Norman⁶⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn

250/1

25-1 and beaten the proverbial country mile on debut at Ludlow in May 2017. Can only watch on this belated reappearance.

Form: 8-

Montestrel^h1⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| BF| D

2/1

Looked decent when springing a 20-1 surprise at Chepstow on debut, when he beat Saturday's Victor Ludorum winner Quel Destin. However, last behind that rival in a Grade 2 next time. Strong claims here if he can bounce back.

Form: 16

Swallow Dancer^h1⁶²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Nick MitchellWS

250/1

Moderate Flat maiden in 2017 for Harry Dunlop. Has since has wind surgery and changed hands. Looks one to watch on her hurdles/stable debut.

Form:

Scaramanga²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF

6/4

Useful on the Flat (OR 85) for James Fanshawe, despite his maiden status. Beaten at odds-on on stable/hurdles debut at Ludlow last month, when not always fluent. Should come on for that and likely to be a contender this time.

Form: 3

Non-Runners

Anniversary Gift³⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: C L Tizzard J: S Bowen

Penny Poet⁵⁵

Weight: 10-9| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: James Best

Forecasts

Scaramanga (6/4), Montestrel (2/1), Sofia's Rock (7/2), Envole Toi (7/1), Penny Poet (8/1), Airton (20/1), Nocturnal Myth (33/1), Anniversary Gift (33/1), Oscar Maguire (100/1), Ourmullion (100/1), Dadsinluck (100/1), Agent Westy (125/1), Spiny Norman (250/1), Swallow Dancer (250/1)

Scaramanga should benefit from his initial hurdling experience and clearly has to be afforded plenty of respect here, but SOFIA'S ROCK is better on the Flat, and looks worth sticking with over hurdles after a winning debut. Montestrel and Penny Poet both look leading contenders, while Envole Toi is far from ruled out.