16:55 Worcester

Thursday 10 October 2019

All14:1014:4515:2015:5016:2516:55

Myson Radiators/EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 4m 0.53s

Catlow¹⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver

50/1

Gelding by little used sire Let The Lion Roar bought for £6,000 after finishing third in his second point-to-point at Castletown-Geoghegan. Best watched on debut under rules.

Form: 43-

Cat Tiger³¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

5/6

Stable debut for this five-year-old who won four chases in his Native France including two Grade Three events before fetching €180,000 at Arqana last November. Winless over hurdles but very likely that changes here.

Form: 131341-

Clonmonarch¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke

66/1

Similar level of ability in both runs in bumpers before being pulled up a long way from homer here over hurdles latest. Can improve but makes no appeal.

Form: 3-44P

Darling Alko¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

12/1

French bumper winner but made little impression since joining this yard in similar events and over hurdles the last twice. Looks the sort to do better once handicapping.

Form: 19/08-47

Get Busy Livin

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver

50/1

Fourth of five and pulled up in two Irish point-to-points before joining this yard for £10,000. Best watched on debut under rules.

Form:

Little Battler^t¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: T H Weston

100/1

Point-to-point winner on good ground in Ireland in March but pulled up here and last of 14 at Warwick since racing under rules so very much one to watch for now.

Form: 4P12-P0

Old Jeroboam¹⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C E Longsdon| D

11/4

Unbeaten five-year-old won bumpers at Wetherby and Southwell at the back end of last season. Didn't win with a huge amount in hand in either but nevertheless rates a promising recruit and leading player.

Form: 11-

Olly The Brave¹⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

4/1

1L second to re-opposing Old Jeroboam on debut at Southwell before making no mistake at Warwick in May where he won with plenty in hand. Likely to be ready for this hurdles bow given connections so commands respect.

Form: 2-1

Forchena^h³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey

20/1

Lone mare in the field finished third of five beaten 4L in a Southwell bumper last month. Tall order on hurdles bow but it's still very early days.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Cat Tiger (5/6), Old Jeroboam (11/4), Olly The Brave (4/1), Darling Alko (12/1), Forchena (20/1), Catlow (50/1), Get Busy Livin (50/1), Clonmonarch (66/1), Little Battler (100/1)

Already established as a high-class chaser CAT TIGER will take an awful lot of beating here back over hurdles given his 142 rating and if he is the same horse he was in France he honestly should win this with something in hand. That isn't to take anything away from bumper winners Old Jeroboam and Olly The Brave but they will have to be seriously smart to beat a horse of the selections standing first time over obstacles.