14:30 Hereford

Tuesday 15 October 2019

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4017:15

Catherine Kellett In Aid of IJF Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 4m 50.75s

Statuario^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 122

8/1

Ran respectably on the Flat over the summer when with Richard Spencer having been successful for this yard over hurdles at Ffos Las in April. Took some credit from his return over hurdles under a penalty at Southwell; up in trip today.

Form: 3281-32

Cage Of Fear¹⁷²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

7/1

Cost £50,000 after finishing runner-up in an Irish point-to-point (beaten 8L) before running in two bumpers a couple of months apart. Had the run of the race at Perth when last seen in April; no surprise to see him feature here.

Form: 2/63-

Don't Shout¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

4/1

From a yard in good form he offered something to work on from his hurdles debut having shown ability in two bumpers prior to that debut. Looks the sort to improve in time especially over longer trips; could well trouble the principals.

Form: 62-3

Hidden Depths^p,t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

40/1

A fair maiden on the Flat (0-12) he's already with his third stable having had just three starts for this yard. Now makes his debut over hurdles; given a fairly stiff test and wouldn't be one of the leading fancies.

Form:

Little Jack²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: W Greatrex

6/1

Won a bumper by 15L on his debut but hasn't really built on that promise with his temperament looking to be rather fragile. Having refused to race on his hurdles debut his next two runs (the latest after a wind op) have been unimposing.

Form: 13R75-

Red Nika¹⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey

13/8

18L winner on his only point-to-point at Woodford, odds-on favourite (left clear at the last). Yard does well with this sort though and he's a half-brother to two winners; this will be more of a test but has to be respected given his connections.

Form: 1-

The Domino Effect²²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

7/1

Cost €95,000 (June 2017); made an appealing bumper debut earlier in the year at Southwell, showing ability over 2m before getting outpaced (stayed on at the finish). Would expect there to be more to come over hurdles; makes debut.

Form: 4-

Timber Jack^t1³¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Kieran Burke

40/1

Runner-up on his Irish point-to-point debut before being pulled up on his next start in that sphere under more testing conditions. Only cost £2,000 in May (€45,000, 3yo); tongue-tie fitted for his hurdles/Rules debut.

Form: 2P-

Dancing Hearts³⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: M Scudamore

100/1

Well held in a brace of bumpers at the start of her career her hurdles form hasn't shown any improvement. Pulled up lame after the first last time; would be a surprise winner.

Form: 0/006P-

Non-Runners

Calvinist⁴¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: K Frost J: J J Burke

Mercy Mercy Me²⁰⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Happy News¹⁸⁷

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: J Groucott J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

Red Nika (13/8), Mercy Mercy Me (13/8), Don't Shout (4/1), Little Jack (6/1), Cage Of Fear (7/1), The Domino Effect (7/1), Statuario (8/1), Calvinist (14/1), Hidden Depths (40/1), Timber Jack (40/1), Happy News (100/1), Dancing Hearts (100/1)

There is no doubt that Mercy Mercy Me has the best form in this contest but he’s failed to convert an opportunity like this before and the wearing of a tongue-tie after a wind op suggests that there still may be a residual problem. Conditions may also not be ideal and it may be best to look elsewhere with his former stable providing a useful sort in CAGE OF FEAR who has already shown ability under Rules and is taken to get off the mark. Red Nika is an interesting newcomer who can’t be ignored whilst The Domino Effect and Don’t Shout add to the depth of this contest.