Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:16 | Winning time: 5m 2.00s

Dr Sanderson³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

9/4

Amateur claimer negates one of the penalties that this dual hurdles winner has to shoulder (won his sole bumper for Stuart Crawford). Ground out a win over 2m last time (this trip will suit far better); looked awkward right-handed over hurdles.

Form: 1-141

Rapper⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H D Daly| OR: 121| CD

11/4

Form of his C&D maiden win (third hurdles start) has worked out well with the second and fourth winning next time out. Failed to follow up that form however in a deeper contest at Fakenham when last seen struggling from a long way out.

Form: 346316

Smackwater Jack²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| OR: 128| CD

6/5

Back in calmer waters after finding his handicap debut (wore first-time cheekpieces) on softer ground too exacting last time. Prior two starts including his C&D win if repeated would be good enough to win this back on a better surface.

Form: 2-F3120

Fontley House^t1¹³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R GeorgeWS

12/1

Had shown promise in his only bumper in Ireland when with Peter Fahey; struggled to see out his races twice with his current yard (pulled up hurdles debut). Tongue-tie plus a wind op may well see him step forward on what he shown so far.

Form: 3-8P

Quasi¹¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

100/1

Pulled up on both starts for John Groucott; showed very little progress on his first run for this yard in testing conditions at Haydock last December. Brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser Ballycasey but looks limited on the evidence so far.

Form: PP-0

Spanish Starling⁷¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Jason Dixon⁽⁷⁾| T: S-J Davies

100/1

Only seen once under Rules when finishing last of six in a course bumper (2m) in April 2017. Looked to finish amiss on that occasion and faces a stiff task here on his return.

Form: 6/

Jaunty Velocity^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley

40/1

Bumper form is modest at best and while her hurdling form doesn't look much better she did show some slight improvement last time upped in trip (3m1f) at Hereford. Needs this run for a mark; handicap project in the making.

Form: 3-6696

Forecasts

Smackwater Jack (6/5), Dr Sanderson (9/4), Rapper (11/4), Fontley House (12/1), Jaunty Velocity (40/1), Quasi (100/1), Spanish Starling (100/1)

With the exception of Fontley House who could do better on the back of a wind op this is all about the penalised horses. Dr Sanderson is saddled with a double penalty for his two wins but the main worry is that his one hurdles defeat came when going this way round before, looking rather awkward. SMACKWATER JACK should find this an easier task than last time with the better surface also to his advantage having already won over C&D. He should have the edge over the other C&D winner Rapper who struggled last time out and needs to bounce back here.