14:15 Hereford

Saturday 9 March 2019

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

MansionBet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:18 | Winning time: 4m 57.40s

Esprit Du Large⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133

9/4

Impressive 11L winner of a 2m maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter (soft) in December. Good effort in finishing 9L fourth in a Grade 2 at Haydock (good-to-soft) subsequently and is one to note stepping up in distance.

Form: 714

Newtown Boy⁸⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 130| BF| CWS

5/6

Novice hurdle winner on good ground here in November and has had wind surgery since finishing third over an extended 2m at Doncaster (good) the following month. Leading contender despite carrying a penalty.

Form: 2-213

Champagne Mist^h⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph

14/1

Fair 14L fifth over an extended 2m at Newbury (good-to-soft) on Rules debut in December. Disappointed on soft ground subsequently however and probably best watched at present.

Form: PF4/59

Fortescue⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly

100/1

Placed in a good ground bumper at Uttoxeter in November but hasn't gone on from that effort and was beaten 56L over an extended 2m4f in a Leicester (good) novice hurdle last time out.

Form: 038P8

Honourmission⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: H Whittington

40/1

Beaten 28L when finishing fourth of six over 1m6f in a good ground bumper at Ludlow on debut in January. Likely to appreciate this step up in distance on hurdling debut.

Form: 4

Imperial Elysian⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: C Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Finished fifth on all three starts so far including in a 2m5f maiden contest on hurdling debut at Doncaster (good) in January. Given a break since and interesting to see how he fares.

Form: 555

Jen's Boy⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

10/1

Beaten a nose over an extended 1m7f at Towcester (good-to-firm) in a bumper last May but struggled on hurdles debut at Leicester (good) in January when returning from a break. More needed if he is to take this contest.

Form: 8-29

Lots Of Luck¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

50/1

Raced prominently prior to finishing a well beaten eighth of ten in a 2m3f novice hurdle at Warwick (good) on debut last month. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 8

The Bunnyman⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle

7/1

Promising fifth on heavy ground when debuting in a bumper last April and looked likely to place prior to falling late on at Uttoxeter (2m4f, heavy) on hurdling debut in December. Interesting if putting in a clear round.

Form: 5-F

Jaunty Soria⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: C Gethings| T: B Eckley

20/1

Placed in a bumper on good-to-firm ground in 2017 and ran well when 4L fourth at Ludlow (2m, soft) in a similar race in December. Likely more needed if she is to take this contest on hurdling debut.

Form: 42/5-4

Rollercoster⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: L Heard| T: Henry Oliver

50/1

Impressive point-to-point winner on soft-to-heavy ground in March last year but has failed to land a blow in two novice hurdles since joining this yard. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: P21-75

Saga Succes^p1⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: H D Daly

66/1

Held in two bumpers and it was a similar story in a 2m5f novice hurdle at Ludlow (soft) last time out. Returning from a break here and wears cheekpieces for the first time.

Form: 906

See What⁶⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-9| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: H James

100/1

Point-to-point winner on soft ground in March 2017 and placed in that sphere subsequently. Returning from a long absence when pulled up on Rules and stable debut in January however.

Form: U212/2-P

Non-Runners

Codeshare¹⁵

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: P & M Bowen J: R Patrick

Forecasts

Newtown Boy (5/6), Esprit Du Large (9/4), The Bunnyman (7/1), Jen's Boy (10/1), Champagne Mist (14/1), Jaunty Soria (20/1), Codeshare (25/1), Imperial Elysian (33/1), Honourmission (40/1), Rollercoster (50/1), Lots Of Luck (50/1), Saga Succes (66/1), Fortescue (100/1), See What (100/1)

The two previous winners can dominate this novice hurdle with preference for ESPRIT DU LARGE who performed well when fourth in a Grade 2 contest last time out. He looks capable of seeing off Newtown Boy who has had wind surgery since suffering an odds-on defeat last time out. Of the remainder The Bunnyman was running well prior to falling late on when debuting over hurdles last time and he can finish third.