12:50 Warwick

Thursday 12 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Bethan-Megan-Elin Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 5m 43.70s

Clondaw Promise³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill

14/1

Ran well in point-to-points and also on hurdles debut at Kempton last month, staying on nicely without being knocked around; will improve, although likely to face different ground conditions today.

Form: 3F-4

Dom Garo Cateline²⁶⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J M Quinlan| T: T Gallagher

100/1

Two starts to date have seen him finish well beaten in a Lingfield bumper and then falling early at Sedgefield; likely to find this company a bit too hot.

Form: 4F-

Firak⁴⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

7/2

Point-to-point winner in April and turned in a very solid first effort over hurdles when fourth to Severano at Chepstow, form that is working out very well; of obvious interest here, with more improvement likely.

Form: 21-4

Hacksaw Ridge³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

16/1

Point-to-point winner in May, too keen for own good on debut at Kempton (finished behind Clondaw Promise) and will need to settle better here, especially if the ground gets any slower. Best watched today.

Form: P-16

Major Dundee³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

40/1

Winner of a bumper on his debut at Southwell but only limited promise to be taken from his down-the-field effort at Newbury last time. Early days though, and has scope, so could do better now seeing some obstacles.

Form: 10

Richie Valentine^h1,t³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Edward Austin⁽⁷⁾| T: J G M O'Shea

100/1

Second in a weak maiden hurdle at Fontwell in the spring but little to recommend his chance other than that.

Form: 7/82-0

Sleight Of Hand²⁹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

8/1

Brother to a wining hurdler, has made a solid start to his career, placed twice from two starts in bumpers and looking in need of further; represents powerful connections and one to be interested in today.

Form: 34-

Some Detail⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Hawke| BF

8/1

Ran above his 100-1 odds to finish seventh in last year's Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and on that, a bit disappointing on hurdles debut at Carlisle in October; early days and could easily bounce back, so not discounted.

Form: 22317-4

Somekindofstar¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Maxime Tissier⁽⁵⁾| T: L Wadham

33/1

Ran well here last time out, second to the improving Present Ranger, staying on nicely in the closing stages and clearly this sort of trip will suit; this is a hot race on paper and he may need more, but that's far from impossible.

Form: 2/F-32

Straw Fan Jack³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis

66/1

His fourth in a Hereford novice hurdle last time was a run full of promise, and there are races to be won with him down the line, but he may find this a bit too much at this stage of his career. One to watch.

Form: 204

Towards The Dawn³⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

25/1

Brother to dual winner Awake At Midnight that showed plenty of ability on debut at Ludlow at the turn of the year, finishing third to the useful Smackwater Jack. Yard getting going after a slow start and he's worth a second look.

Form: 3-

Welsh Saint³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| C

11/10

Full brother to the classy Irish Saint that has shown improved form on each of his bumper/hurdles starts, although latest form has taken a couple of knocks. Clear chance on form but may represent little value.

Form: 421-F2

Writteninthesand³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

66/1

Point-to-point winner back in April although form of that race open to question, and he was well beaten in a Wincanton bumper last month. May need more time.

Form: 31-9

Agent Valdez²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

50/1

Only moderate form shown in her three starts to date and she was never really in the hunt here on her hurdles debut last month; needs a lot more.

Form: 4/145-9

Cobra Angel²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

100/1

Well beaten in point-to-points but there was a glimmer of ability on her only start under Rules, that coming at Exeter last month, and there might be a small race to be picked up with her down the line.

Form: P/6-246

Non-Runners

Apple Rock³⁸²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: B Pauling J: Adrian Heskin

Kalooki³⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: P Hobbs & J White J: T J O'Brien

Top Of The Morning⁹¹⁹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: T Lawes J: L P Aspell

Forecasts

Welsh Saint (11/10), Firak (7/2), Some Detail (8/1), Sleight Of Hand (8/1), Kalooki (10/1), Clondaw Promise (14/1), Hacksaw Ridge (16/1), Apple Rock (16/1), Towards The Dawn (25/1), Somekindofstar (33/1), Major Dundee (40/1), Agent Valdez (50/1), Writteninthesand (66/1), Straw Fan Jack (66/1), Top Of The Morning (66/1), Dom Garo Cateline (100/1), Richie Valentine (100/1), Cobra Angel (100/1)

On the figures Welsh Saint has a first-rate chance of getting off the mark but his latest form doesn't look as strong as it did at the time, and maybe FIRAK can improve past him. His form, on the other hand, got a big boost when the winner took a competitive Newbury novice hurdle next time and he wouldn't need much more to come out on top here. Clondaw Promise might have to face different ground than he did at Kempton but there was no mistaking his promise there, and he cannot be dismissed. Kalooki and Somekindofstar are both worth a second look.