12:45 Leicester

Thursday 5 December 2019

All12:1012:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Knighton Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:48 | Winning time: 3m 57.24s

Alnadam¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Shoemark| T: D Skelton| D

6/1

Improved plenty on debut for the yard to score at Uttoxeter last time, although was pretty much all out to hold on in the closing stages; clearly useful and acts in the heavy ground, but may need more under the penalty.

Form: 1-81

Hold That Taught¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| D

8/13

Backed as if defeat was out of the question at Lingfield and so it proved, as he came home 2l too good for his opponents, showing a willing attitude in the process. Likely to progress again, acts in the ground, and the one to beat today.

Form: 1-1

Shanacoole Prince²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| D

11/4

Point-to-point winner earlier in the year and flew home on Rules debut to grab the prize at Hereford last month, getting up in the shadow of the post. This galloping track should suit and with progression likely, has each-way chances at worst.

Form: 3/F31P-1

Dont Tell The Wife³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey

100/1

Sent off huge prices on both hurdles starts to date and has yet to beat a horse home, which hardly augurs well for his chance here.

Form: 480-P

Gallic Geordie¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: S Drinkwater

100/1

Little promise in two starts, a bumper and a novice hurdle, tailed off both times. Faces an uphill struggle again today.

Form: 6-6

Present Chief²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| D

25/1

Has a win to his name, that coming in a Worcester bumper in early September, but it wasn't much of a contest and he's not gone on from that in two hurdles starts either. Needs this for a handicap mark, where he'll be of more interest.

Form: 5-2166

Rootless Tree⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

12/1

Winner on debut at Huntingdon at the turn of the year but not really gone on from that, merely running to a similar level in two subsequent starts, and a rather disappointing favourite on hurdles debut last time. Early days so could do better.

Form: 15-4

Skylanna Breeze¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: J & A O'Neill

66/1

Placed in a couple of Irish point-to-points but yet to catch fire under Rules and there's only been a glimmer of promise in three starts. May be of more interest in handicaps after today.

Form: P32-078

The Garrison⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones⁽⁵⁾| T: G Harris

100/1

Placed in a couple of point-to-points in the summer but nothing to report in two bumper starts, and likely to find himself in hot water again today.

Form: PP2-278

Winged Affair

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: P R Webber

40/1

Winged Love gelding that makes his debut in quite a hot little race, bred to want fences in time and yard not known for debut winners so best watched unless market says otherwise.

Form:

Zlatan^h¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Benjamin Poste| T: E De Giles

100/1

No slouch on the Flat (rated in the 80s) but has been too keen for his own good in two hurdles starts and as such, hasn't been able to finish his races off. Another that needs this for a handicap mark, and may be best watched today.

Form: F-0

Forecasts

Hold That Taught (8/13), Shanacoole Prince (11/4), Alnadam (6/1), Rootless Tree (12/1), Present Chief (25/1), Winged Affair (40/1), Skylanna Breeze (66/1), The Garrison (100/1), Dont Tell The Wife (100/1), Gallic Geordie (100/1), Zlatan (100/1)

A few of these will be of more interest once getting a mark and going into handicaps - Zlatan and Skylanna Breeze head that list up - but this may concern the three penalised runners. With Alnadam needing to improve on what he achieved at Uttoxeter, HOLD THAT TAUGHT, who created a very good impression when successful at Lingfield, may be the one to with. He looks destined for better races than this and can take this en route. Shanacoole Princelooked a thorough stayer when winning at Hereford and will enjoy the long run for home here.