13:35 Ayr

Monday 28 October 2019

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

EBF Stallions/Weddings At Western House 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 3m 52.34s

Ballydonagh Boy²⁰⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss P Robson

16/1

Placed in two Point-to-points in Ireland in the spring both on good to soft. Bought for £14,000 since and now debuts under rules.

Form: 23-

Corrieben Reiver²³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: A C Whillans| D

10/1

Off the mark in second go in a Bumper last season and looked a real stayer that day at Newcastle. Disappointing to see him pull on last run here in March but this trip should suit now he goes over hurdles.

Form: 3144-

Ebony Jewel²⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lucy Alexander| T: N W Alexander| CD

11/10

Showed ability all three runs on soft ground in bumpers last term culminating in a sixth when sent off just 11/2 in Grade 2 at Aintree having got off the mark here in March. Interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: 216-

Elu Secret¹³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: R M Smith| D

66/1

Won a pair of bumpers on contrasting ground and joined this yard in July for £13,000. Has plenty of experience but not easy to get a handle on what he has achieved so probably best watched for hurdling debut.

Form: 9/52-510

Farran Dancer¹⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: R M Smith

125/1

Won a Point-to-point at sixth attempt but showed nothing on hurdling debut at Perth last spring and readily passed over.

Form: 4/6UP19-

Largy Perk²¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson

25/1

Similar level of ordinary form in pair of bumpers when with Stuart Crawford and needs to improve plenty now switching to hurdles for new yard.

Form: 53-

Mannochmore^h1¹⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

100/1

Beaten just a single rival in each of his Bumper runs to date and first time hood needs to transform him now going hurdling.

Form: 6-0

Old Jewry⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: William Shanahan⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss L A Perratt

50/1

Very ordinary form in Point-to-points and bumpers and appeared to show much improved form on chase debut last month though may have been flattered as one of fancied runners fell early and now goes hurdling.

Form: P45-473

Order Of Thistle²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Blair Campbell⁽³⁾| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

13/2

Colours normally seen on the Flat but stepped up on debut last spring with a soft ground Sedgefield Bumper win a month ago and although that form has yet to be tested he did it nicely and interesting now going hurdling.

Form: 4-1

Portstorm¹⁹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D R Fox| T: I A Duncan

25/1

50/1 when third on debut here last spring in Bumper but didn't really build on that in pair of subsequent runs and needs to improve now going over timber.

Form: 327-

Schiehallion Ridge¹⁸⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Mrs J Stephen

150/1

40/1 when showing nothing in Perth Bumper last April finishing tailed off last and huge improvement needed now going over hurdles.

Form: 7-

Scullys Forge¹⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Mrs J Stephen

80/1

Improved for the switch to good ground when getting off the mark at third attempt in Point-to-points in May and joined current set up for £10,000 afterwards. Likely to need more of a trip now hurdling.

Form: P5-1

Taking Flight¹⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards

5/1

Showed a little ability in pair of bumpers last spring, both times looking as though a longer trip than this would suit. Now going hurdling and any market move worth noting.

Form: 34-

Walkin In The Rain²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: J S Goldie

50/1

Poor form in both starts since switching to hurdles and hard to make a case for handicaps an option after this.

Form: P4P/46

Wilhelm Vonvenster²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R D Day| T: N G Richards

33/1

Was sent off odds on for sole Bumper run last November but very disappointing and no better since switched to hurdles so plenty to prove at present. Yard also runs Taking Flight.

Form: 4-75

Witness Protection²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: M Keighley

8/1

Took six goes to get off the mark in Point-to-points before joining this yard. Similar level of form in pair of bumpers since and now goes hurdling. Rare runner here for Gloucestershire based trainer.

Form: 3FP1-34

Forecasts

Ebony Jewel (11/10), Taking Flight (5/1), Order Of Thistle (13/2), Witness Protection (8/1), Corrieben Reiver (10/1), Ballydonagh Boy (16/1), Largy Perk (25/1), Portstorm (25/1), Wilhelm Vonvenster (33/1), Walkin In The Rain (50/1), Old Jewry (50/1), Elu Secret (66/1), Scullys Forge (80/1), Mannochmore (100/1), Farran Dancer (125/1), Schiehallion Ridge (150/1)

Interesting novice hurdle though little form to go on as plenty of these are making the switch from bumpers. The market should prove useful and narrow preference goes to EBONY JEWEL who arguably has shown the best form in that discipline. Order Of Thistle won nicely at Sedgefield, and along with Witness Protection makes most appeal.