13:10 Taunton

Thursday 28 November 2019

All12:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:2015:50

Annual Membership 2020 Available Today 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 15.10s

Bon Calvados^h¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: O Murphy

17/2

Runner-up in a Market Rasen bumper in May and twice finished third over timber Ludlow and Uttoxeter (good/heavy) since returning to action. Needs a bit more to improve on those placings but could well have it.

Form: 6-235

Dog Of War^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

16/1

Hasn't really threatened to start repaying the €95,000 paid for him as a three-year-old and didn't jump fluently on hurdles bow at Huntingdon (2m3½f, good; 14-1) this month. Will have to sharpen up in that department.

Form: 73-9

Dogon^h1⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 125

11/4

Chase winner in France but 0-4 since joining Britain's champion trainer. Pulled up in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March but also well held in presentable opportunities at Wincanton (February) and Fakenham (41 days ago). Hooded now.

Form: 31P2P-3

Floating Rock²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey| D

7/2

Took a good ground Catterick bumper backing in February but has to improve on form in maiden/novice hurdles at Hexham and Chepstow (both 2m, soft) since returning to action. Still early days.

Form: 1-56

Forever Des Long¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

Sent off 9-1 on debut in a bumper at Wincanton this month but never able to muster any sort of challenge. Could be more to come now going over timber and champion jockey stays on board.

Form: 0

San Rumoldo²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B J Geraghty| T: A King| D

5/2

From the family of dual Irish Gold Cup winner Carlingford Lough, he won a Southwell bumper on debut in March and looked as if needing the run at Ascot early this month on sole start since. Can do better going jumping.

Form: 1-0

Wasdell Dundalk²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'Neill

40/1

Nicely-related sort, has shown some ability in couple of bumpers so far and not a major surprise should he improve for switch to hurdling; watch betting.

Form: 47

Who Shot Jr¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽³⁾| T: C L Tizzard

20/1

Represents an in-form Colin Tizzard team but yet to convince in two starts over hurdles. Had previously shown some promise in bumper and Jonjo O'Neill takes over here.

Form: 93-07

Celtic Tara²¹⁸

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

50/1

Proved to be hugely underwhelming on rules debut when sent off 13-8f, only to finish last of seven in a bumper at Southwell (2m; good) back in April. Must be given another chance, as she is evidently thought capable of much better.

Form: 7-

Fantasia Storm²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: J Scott

14/1

Mahler filly, made winning start in Irish point-to-point in May and travelled well for a long way on first run for this trainer in Fontwell maiden hurdle (2m1½f, soft; 14-1) this month. Should be fitter now.

Form: U-14

Miss Gemstone¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

14/1

Remote second at Ludlow in May on hurdles bow over 2m5f and couldn't match that on return to action this month at Exeter (2m2½f, soft; 28-1). More required dropped in trip again.

Form: 77-25

Sheeza Legend^h,t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Mrs E Bishop

100/1

Was back from a break and second wind operation when tailed off on hurdles bow at Uttoxeter (2m, soft; 50-1) early this month. Plenty to work on for now.

Form: 636-0

Forecasts

San Rumoldo (5/2), Dogon (11/4), Floating Rock (7/2), Bon Calvados (17/2), Fantasia Storm (14/1), Miss Gemstone (14/1), Dog Of War (16/1), Who Shot Jr (20/1), Forever Des Long (20/1), Wasdell Dundalk (40/1), Celtic Tara (50/1), Sheeza Legend (100/1)

Bon Calvados has twice made the frame over timber and should give another good account here, with Fantasia Storm another to keep onside after going well for a long way at Fontwell on hurdles bow. Celtic Tara is likely better than we've seen to this point while Who Shot Jr may improve under his capable conditional rider. SAN RUMOLDO just shaped as if needing the run in an Ascot bumper early this month and Alan King's charge could have plenty more to say now tackling obstacles for the first time.