15:55 Stratford

Thursday 31 October 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2515:5516:25

British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 4m 4.08s

The Raven's Return¹⁵⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J McGrath| T: J W Mullins| OR: 111| D

8/1

Off the mark for connections at the fifth time of asking over hurdles when landing a Fontwell maiden over a similar trip when last seen in May on good ground. Up in class but capable of a bold bid.

Form: 16P7-41

Adjourned^t1²⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| BF| D

10/3

Needs to improve on below-par stable debut at Wincanton when last seen in April. The followed a £110,000 purchase after an impressive 6L win in a Southwell bumper 12 months ago. Worth a market check on hurdling introduction.

Form: 14-

Alnadam⁵⁴³

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

11/2

Gelding by Poliglote out of a Bonbon Rose mare. Winner on sole point-to-point start in May 2018. Yard have a 57% win and place strike rate at this venue in the last three years around October/November.

Form: 1-

Catlow²¹

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

40/1

Gelding by little used sire Let The Lion Roar bought for £6,000 after finishing third in his second point-to-point in April. Fifth of nine beaten 26L on hurdling debut at Worcester over 2m on good to soft ground earlier this month. More needed.

Form: 43-5

Eaglehill¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

25/1

Took six attempts to get off the mark in Irish point-to-points finally doing so by 8L last November. Hard to fancy on overall evidence of a couple of dismal efforts over hurdles including a heavy defeat earlier this month at Market Rasen.

Form: 621-87

Follow Your Fire²⁴

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

66/1

Well held and never nearer in a couple of career starts over hurdles, the latest of which came over C&D earlier this month when tailing off on good to soft ground and remains easy to oppose in this.

Form: 6-33547

Highate Hill¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

40/1

One pace on seasonal and hurdling debut earlier this month when finishing fifth of nine beaten over 17L on good ground in a Wincanton maiden. Profile suggests he is worth taking on again.

Form: F4314-5

Imperial Flem²⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

12/1

Showed ability when finishing 6L second in a good ground 2m4f point-to-point at Punchestown on debut in February. Bought for £40,000 at the sales four days later and worth a check in the market as post time approaches.

Form: 2-

Pinnacle Peak²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: M Keighley

50/1

Pleasing effort in a bumper here in March was followed by a disappointing hurdling debut at this track once again earlier this month when never on terms to finish eighth of 14 beaten 64L. Others hold stronger claims.

Form: 7-8

Sheshoon Sonny²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| D

5/4

Off the mark at the third attempt in bumpers when landing the spoils at Wetherby in March. Interesting recruit to hurdling representing a stable who boast a 56% win and place strike rate at this venue in the last five years.

Form: 421-

Spirit Of Waterloo⁵⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

25/1

Malinas gelding last seen finishing down the field in a 2m1f Carlisle bumper in April 2018 when in ther care of trainer Oliver Greenall. Likely to need the experience on seasonal and stable debut.

Form: 6/

Forecasts

Sheshoon Sonny (5/4), Adjourned (10/3), Alnadam (11/2), The Raven's Return (8/1), Imperial Flem (12/1), Eaglehill (25/1), Spirit Of Waterloo (25/1), Catlow (40/1), Highate Hill (40/1), Pinnacle Peak (50/1), Follow Your Fire (66/1)

The Dan Skelton yard boast a record of five winners from 23 runners at this track in the last three years around October/November and their £130,000 hurdling recruit ALNADIM can get off the mark here at the first attempt. Adjourned a £110,000 purchase after an impressive 6L win in a Southwell bumper 12 months ago can be expected to be improving over the next couple of starts while the Evan Williams-trained Imperial Flem looks an interesting hurdling debutante. The Raven's Return, winner of a Fontwell maiden hurdle when last seen in May deserves plenty of respect as does Wetherby bumper winner, Sheshoon Sonny for the Alan King yard.