17:15 Hereford

Tuesday 15 October 2019

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

Sri Lanka The Jewel Of Asia 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:16 | Winning time: 4m 4.4s

Avoid De Master¹⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: David Dennis

20/1

Arrived at this yard after winning an Irish point-to-point at the fourth attempt in January by 3L. Wasn't a cheap purchase £75,000 but looked one for the longer-term judged on his initial Taunton bumper effort; needs a stamina test.

Form: P/U315-

Clondaw Sam¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Dickin

100/1

Failed to show much in point-to-points; two hurdles starts have also proved to be disappointing (started at 100-1 on both occasions). Latest start came after a break/wind op; beat one rival home at Warwick; best watched.

Form: 6P-P6

Court Dancer¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

40/1

Very little to show for four efforts in a bumper and three novice hurdles; looks the type to make very little appeal this side of handicaps (yet to be awarded a mark). Yard have done well with the family but hard to fancy here.

Form: 7F-76

Does He Know¹⁹²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

11/4

Cost £38,000 at Cheltenham's April Sale having maiden point-to-point at Charm Park in April defeating a next time out winner (Teescomponents Boy). By Japan Cup winner Alkaased he's an interesting debutant; worth watching in the market.

Form: 1-

Illdoittomorrow²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price

66/1

Well beaten when unfancied (33-1) on his Warwick bumper debut and now tries hurdles for the first time on the back of that uninspiring beginning. Beaten 33L and hard to fashion a case for against some useful types.

Form: 6

Let's Getaway

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee

10/1

£58,000 3yo; half-brother to two point-to-points winners. By Getaway out of a dam who was of little account (unexciting pedigree). Jockey booking takes the eye though and may well outrun his expected market odds.

Form:

Milkwood¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland

6/1

Took a while to get the hang of things in bumpers but finally managed to put all the pieces of the jigsaw together at the fourth attempt when taking a Fontwell event in April. Form only looks modest but ought to do better over hurdles (debut here).

Form: 7/521-

Rootless Tree¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

7/4

Yard doing well with those returning from breaks; this one makes his hurdles debut having won a bumper on debut and running well enough under a penalty (shaped better than the result). One to note on his hurdles debut given the yard form.

Form: 15-

Sam I⁵⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry

11/2

Shaped with promise in his only start so far, a Huntingdon bumper (second to That's A Given, runs earlier); stayed on well without looking likely to catch the winner. Appeals as a hurdler on pedigree, should make a mark if ready off an absence.

Form: 2/

Sastruga²⁰⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver

20/1

Gradually improved in Irish point-to-points finishing second on his third start (beaten 5L); sold for 6,500 soon after. Now makes his hurdles debut, doesn't look anything out of the ordinary, best watched for now.

Form: F72-

Miss Antipova¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

100/1

Down the field in three bumpers (only poor form) and offered little on his hurdles debut (100-1) at Sedgefield; first start after a wind op. Hard to think that she will make much of an impression.

Form: 5990-

Miss Mondito^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Tommie M O'Brien⁽⁵⁾| T: T Lacey| BFWS

33/1

Joined this yard after three fairly modest efforts in Irish point-to-points (stated under 5-1 on each occasion); cost £8,000 in August. Tongue-tie on for mares' bumper debut at Fontwell (flopped); now makes hurdles debut after a wind op.

Form: 4-545

Pillar Of Steel⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: J L Spearing

40/1

Showed some minor/limited promise in a couple of bumpers separated by an 11 week break but would need to make some rapid progress to make an impact in today's company on her hurdling debut.

Form: 54

Non-Runners

Fidelio Vallis¹⁸⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 4

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Fidelio Vallis (6/4), Rootless Tree (7/4), Does He Know (11/4), Sam I (11/2), Milkwood (6/1), Let's Getaway (10/1), Avoid De Master (20/1), Sastruga (20/1), Miss Mondito (33/1), Pillar Of Steel (40/1), Court Dancer (40/1), Illdoittomorrow (66/1), Miss Antipova (100/1), Clondaw Sam (100/1)

A fairly mixed bag with all bar four of these making their hurdling debuts. The best hurdles form is undoubtedly in the possession of Paul Nicholls French import Fidelio Vallis who finished second on his debut at Auteuil and he sets a good standard to aim at here. It won’t come as a surprise to see him win this but there are one or two interesting dark horses in contention not least Kim Bailey’s winning point-to-pointer DOES HE KNOW; the yard do well with this type and he’s chosen to make a winning debut. Bumper winners Milkwood and Rootless Tree are also of interest particularly the latter with Sam I also worth watching for any market support.