12:35 Hereford

Saturday 14 December 2019

All12:0012:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

Santa's Mini Racers Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 12:35 | Winning time: 5m 9.60s

Shantou Vow²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: H Whittington

15/8

Built on a couple of promising bumper efforts when winning by 6L in a maiden hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Southwell (heavy) a month ago. Looks likely to appreciate this step up in distance.

Form: 341

Bobmahley¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

50/1

Struggled in two hurdles starts so far most recently when 46L seventh at Plumpton (2m, soft) earlier this month. Others make more appeal on this occasion.

Form: 07

Butler's Brief¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph

50/1

Beaten 53L when seventh in a 2m5f novice hurdle at Ludlow (soft) last time out. Likely to be of more interest once tackling handicaps.

Form: 97

Eau Top²⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

50/1

Promising 10L fifth in a bumper over an extended 2m1f at Fontwell (good-to-soft) in February but failed to build on that when 26L sixth of seven at Carlisle (2m1f, good-to-soft) the following month. Probably best watched on hurdles debut.

Form: 56-

Elleon²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

9/2

Stepped up on debut effort when winning a heavy ground bumper over 2m at Uttoxeter by a head last time out. Interesting runner upped in distance on first start over hurdles.

Form: 81

Enry Iggins²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: R Walford

33/1

Point-to-point winner over 3m at Bangor (soft) in March but has failed to shine in two starts over hurdles since joining this stable. Others make more appeal at present.

Form: 21-00

Escrime D'Art³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: R Walford

40/1

Heavy ground bumper winner over 1m4f in France back in February 2018 and has placed in that sphere subsequently. Returning from a long absence when well beaten on hurdles and stable debut at Exeter (2m1f, soft) last time out however.

Form: 145/29-0

Evenstevens¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph

66/1

Best effort in two starts so far came when finishing 43L sixth in a soft ground C&D novice hurdle at the end of last month. Others hold more obvious claims.

Form: P6

Full Of Roque³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: Tim Vaughan

20/1

Placed in a point-to-point bumper and a 3m point-to-point earlier this year. Followed up a bumper fifth on Rules debut in October with a 22L sixth at Ffos Las (2m, soft) on hurdling debut last month. Interesting to see how he performs.

Form: 22-256

Funambule Sivola⁴³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

3/1

Showed good form in France last autumn finishing runner-up in two three-year-old hurdle races. Changed stables since and is a notable runner on debut for a stable with a 22% strike-rate (4/18) in the last fortnight.

Form: 22-

Little Ginge¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams

33/1

Failed to build on a fair 36L fourth in a 2m5f novice hurdle at Ludlow (good) in May when beaten 81L over this C&D on soft ground last month. Probably best watched on this occasion.

Form: 88-49

Loco Coco³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| D

40/1

Point-to-point winner over 2m4f at Bonvilston (good) in April but failed to figure on Rules debut in a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las (2m4f, soft) last month.

Form: 31-5

Normandy Soldier²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁷⁾| T: R Mitford-Slade| D

11/2

Point-to-point winner over 2m4f on good ground in March and has shown ability in both starts under Rules so far. Beaten 33L when seventh to a useful looking rival over this trip at Chepstow (soft) last month and is worth a check in the market.

Form: 51-57

Sabbathical¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Placed in a point-to-point at Garthorpe (3m, good) in March. Failed to build on a promising bumper effort at Cheltenham (heavy) in October in two subsequent hurdles starts and others make more appeal.

Form: 2-8P7

Upton Encore

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

100/1

Unraced Kadastrof gelding out of a mare who won 26 times in point-to-point races. Probably best watched on first racecourse appearance.

Form:

Miss Jeanne Moon³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

25/1

Decent 12½L sixth in a 2m bumper at Warwick (good-to-soft) when making her debut last month. Worth a check in the market on first start over hurdles.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Shantou Vow (15/8), Funambule Sivola (3/1), Elleon (9/2), Normandy Soldier (11/2), Full Of Roque (20/1), Miss Jeanne Moon (25/1), Enry Iggins (33/1), Little Ginge (33/1), Escrime D'Art (40/1), Loco Coco (40/1), Eau Top (50/1), Butler's Brief (50/1), Bobmahley (50/1), Evenstevens (66/1), Sabbathical (100/1), Upton Encore (100/1)

FUNAMBULE SIVOLA showed good form when placed in two starts in France and he can make a winning debut for this yard by taking this big field novices' hurdle event. The selection can see off his rivals here with hurdling debut winner Shantou Vow capable of taking second place ahead of Elleon who was the winner of a bumper on his most recent outing.