13:50 Wincanton

Sunday 14 April 2019

All13:5014:2515:0015:3016:0516:3517:10

Transport Systems Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 3m 47.5s

Heatstroke^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

9/4

Useful sort on the Flat when with Charles Hills; made a successful hurdles debut for this yard on the back of a 22 month absence plus a wind op. Well below that form when last seen (looked amiss) at Kempton; needs to bounce back here.

Form: 14

Highly Prized^h1¹⁷⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| BF

20/1

Hooded (first-time) for stable debut having been fairly useful on the Flat in the USA (had one hurdle race in that country; favourite, finished fifth). Back from a fair absence but judged on Flat form may be able to make an impression.

Form: 5

No Hidden Charges²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

16/1

2-10 in Irish point-to-points he shaped far better than his finishing position when fourth on hurdles debut (suffered severe tack problems); first run back from wind op. Drops down substantially in trip on very different ground this time.

Form: S24114

Nordenfelt⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Gardner

100/1

Modest Flat maiden (0-9) who has shown next to nothing in a pair of Chepstow novice hurdles over this trip. Needs this run for a mark and only likely to be seen in a better light when participating in low-grade handicaps.

Form: 70

Postman²³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Sansom⁽⁵⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Twice a French AW winner at up to 1m4f showing some fair form on occasions (2-16 overall); well below form when last seen. Makes his GB\stable debut without much being expected of him over timber as yet.

Form:

Tiffin Top¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 122

6/5

Fairly useful on the Flat with John Gosden (rated 78) but still a maiden; got off the mark over hurdles at the third attempt (Hereford, 2m, good). Won readily with the subsequent win of the second adding substance to the form; leading player.

Form: 431

Ballycaines^t²⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: James Bowen| T: N J HendersonWS

15/2

Only lightly-raced in Flat maidens in Ireland with his best effort coming over 1m2f. Now switched to hurdles for a top-class yard for his debut in this sphere; gives the trainer a decent 1-2 punch within this contest.

Form:

Johni Boxit¹²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: B Barr

100/1

Only fair on the Flat (sole win came in a selling handicap over 1m) he only shown very modest form so far in two efforts in this sphere. May well appreciate this better surface for his qualifying run; handicaps await after this.

Form: 96

Olympic Odyssey⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

11/2

Fair on the Flat when with George Scott he's starting to look expensive (cost 100,000 guineas) over hurdles for this yard. Shown very little aptitude for hurdling so far, may make more impact in handicaps; leap of faith required to support here.

Form: 84

Binn Boru¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Looks a long-term project based on the impression of her two runs so far where she has shown something to work on but progress will be slow. Didn't jump very fluently last time and finished last; hard to construct a cogent case for her.

Form: 60

Forecasts

Tiffin Top (6/5), Heatstroke (9/4), Olympic Odyssey (11/2), Ballycaines (15/2), No Hidden Charges (16/1), Highly Prized (20/1), Postman (50/1), Binn Boru (100/1), Johni Boxit (100/1), Nordenfelt (100/1)

If Heatstroke could be guaranteed to show his debut form over hurdles he would be the clear pick here but his run last time left a lot to be desired and it remains to be seen if he can bounce back. Ballycaines gives trainer Nicky Henderson a decent back up but he might just need this first experience over hurdles having been lightly-raced so far. The form of TIFFIN TOP stands up to close inspection and he’s taken to follow up his Hereford victory. Highly Prized is an interesting newcomer making the switch from the USA to hurdling in this country; his Flat form gives him a chance if he takes to timber.