14:55 Wetherby

Tuesday 19 February 2019

All13:5514:2514:5515:3016:0016:3517:05

Every Race Live On Racing TV Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:56 | Winning time: 5m 4.10s

Coolanly⁵²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 142

8/15

Won a Grade 2 at Cheltenham in November (2m5f, good). Not disgraced behind Champ in the Grade 1 Challow last time, and although conceding weight all around, he should have too much class for this field.

Form: 205-F15

All Hail Caesar⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽⁵⁾| T: R Menzies

50/1

Comes into this hurdles debut after two good efforts in defeat in bumpers at the end of last year. In good hands, but this is a tough ask first time in this discipline.

Form: 8-022

Archippos³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Dowson⁽³⁾| T: P A Kirby

20/1

Stepped up on a respectable debut with a better effort in a C&D maiden hurdle (good) last time. Should be capable of better, but this is a tough race. Not ruled out of the frame, but handicaps are more likely to be prosperous.

Form: 76

Article Fifty⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 120| D

13/2

Debut point and bumper winner, but well beaten on the last two visits to the racecourse when fresh, including at Exeter last month. The positive is that his second run last year was a significant improvement. Frame claims.

Form: 13662-7

Farocco^t¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Dale Irving⁽³⁾| T: M A Barnes| OR: 110WS

66/1

Placed at both Hexham and Perth last summer, bettering that at Kelso in September. Has not gone on from there, however, and now returns after wind surgery.

Form: 2P4P76

Jamessaintpatrick⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Lucy K Barry⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss A Murphy

40/1

Point winner who showed some ability on his second start in a bumper. Now tries hurdles and that could help with further improvement. In good hands, and could get significantly more competitive.

Form: 41-74

Moon Rua²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs S A Watt

150/1

100-1 and well beaten on debut in a Newcastle novices' hurdle (2m6f, soft) last month. Drops in trip slightly, but one to watch for now.

Form: 4426

Nelson Road¹⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: T Davidson

28/1

Won a 2m2f Flat handicap on testing ground in Ireland in 2017, the sole success of a 21-race career in both codes. Well held on sole hurdles run. Stable debut here, and in good hands, but this is tough on his first run since September.

Form: 0-

Peter's Portrait¹²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

20/1

Cost £37,000 soon after winning a maiden Irish point on debut last October. Fifth foal. Dam unraced half-sister to 2m4f hurdle winner Battery Park, out of sister to the dam of useful 2m hurdler Annie's Answer. Market check suggested.

Form: 1

Schiehallion Munro^h⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁷⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 117| BF| D

10/1

Has posted three decent efforts over hurdles so far, winning the second of those at Sedgefield under this rider in December. Bettered that when 3L second under a penalty last time, and should be battling for a place in the frame again.

Form: 43-212

Theatre Legend⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: B S Hughes| T: C Grant| BF

12/1

Dual Sedgefield bumper winner who returned to that venue to make a decent hurdles debut last time. Has the potential to improve, but hard to see him being good enough to win this.

Form: 7/1170-3

Thelongwayaround⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Danny Cook| T: J Parkinson & S Smith| OR: 115

16/1

Irish point winner (second start) who has run well over hurdles here twice, without success. Below par at Kelso last time, but not ruled out of the frame if able to put that behind him.

Form: P12528

Vintage Glen¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: R Dobbin

200/1

Showed a bit of ability in a Kelso bumper this time last year, but has not come up with much over hurdles yet and is readily opposed here.

Form: 54-890

Forecasts

Coolanly (8/15), Article Fifty (13/2), Schiehallion Munro (10/1), Theatre Legend (12/1), Thelongwayaround (16/1), Archippos (20/1), Peter's Portrait (20/1), Nelson Road (28/1), Jamessaintpatrick (40/1), All Hail Caesar (50/1), Farocco (66/1), Moon Rua (150/1), Vintage Glen (200/1)

Fergal O'Brien looks to have found a good opportunity to get another win under the belt of COOLANLY, who may not be up to winning a Grade 1 such as the Ballymore entry that he holds just yet, but should have too much class for a field that is otherwise nothing out of the ordinary. Peter's Portrait looks worth noting in the market on debut, but even if he goes well, he is likely to be playing for places, along with Article Fifty, Nelson Road, Schiehallion Munro, Theatre Legend and Thelongwayaround.