19:40 Ffos Las

Thursday 20 June 2019

All18:0018:3519:1019:4020:1020:4021:10

Velindre Cancer Charity Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 19:45 | Winning time: 4m 59.30s

Clever As A Fox¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland| D

9/4

Made short work of a Worcester maiden hurdle (2m4f, good; 11-8f) on stable debut/first jumping test this month. Penalised now, obvious contender with improvement likely.

Form: 68/34-1

Young Wolf²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130| BF

5/6

Suited by the switch to handicaps and a longer trip when scoring at Ludlow (3m, good/firm) in April; travelled strongly. Odds-on casualty when second at Cartmel since, though the winner's easy Fontwell win next time suggests that was a good effort.

Form: 2/4331-2

Diamond Reggie¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

25/1

Modest form under rules in 2017, including wide-margin defeat here over timber on sole attempt at this game. Fell on point-to-point return recently and hard to make case for.

Form: 3787/F

Lechlade Magician²²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D Faulkner

40/1

Was the 12L winner of a Wincanton bumper in December 2017, but subsequently well beaten in two further starts and last November on hurdles bow here (2m, heavy). Back from latest break, needs to improve.

Form: 103/7-

Moonlight Camp^t1¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: N P MulhollandWS

40/1

Made a promising debut at in a bumper here in December when he was third but his two starts since then have been poor. First run back since a wind-op. Much more needed to be competitive.

Form: 30P-

Sunset Showdown^b1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 124| BF

9/2

Irish point-to-point winner produced decent effort in a Worcester novice hurdle (2m7f, good; 4-6f) last month in first-time cheekpieces, though still settled for second prize in four-runner race. Expensive to follow, blinkers tried now.

Form: 24/0P-U2

Coal Stock³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: James Bowen| T: S Thomas| OR: 115

8/1

Progressed in three runs in maiden/novice hurdles this spring but rather disappointing on handicap bow at Ludlow (2m, good; 13-2) last month when pulled up. Immediately upped in distance.

Form: 862-P

Control Me^t1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: D A Rees| D

40/1

Wasn't unfancied for Exeter bumper in April 2018 but beaten to the tune of 32L and hasn't been spotted since. Starts hurdles career for new trainer and likely best watched.

Form: 14/F-3

Forecasts

Young Wolf (5/6), Clever As A Fox (9/4), Sunset Showdown (9/2), Coal Stock (8/1), Diamond Reggie (25/1), Moonlight Camp (40/1), Control Me (40/1), Lechlade Magician (40/1)

Clever As A Fox and YOUNG WOLF appear the two to concentrate on. The former was a good winner of a Worcester maiden hurdle last time and will be suited by this trip but the form of the selection's Cartmel second has been boosted in no uncertain terms since and he's fancied to regain the winning thread. Sunset Showdown has proved expensive to follow but does possess ability.