12:55 Catterick

Tuesday 17 December 2019

All12:2512:5513:2513:5514:2514:5515:25

Old Red House Thirsk Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 0.70s

Aleatoric²⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: E J Walsh| T: Martin Smith

150/1

Long odds and well held in all three Flat starts, as well as last month's hurdles debut at Huntingdon. Can only watch at present.

Form: P

Artistic Language^p²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Dr R D P Newland

2/1

Made the frame on three occasions on the Flat, when with Brian Meehan. Acts with cut. Didn't find as much as he might have on his Wetherby hurdles debut, but was keen there, and has a squeak here if settling.

Form: 2

Beat Box²⁰²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Ewart

20/1

36-1 on debut in a French Flat race (1m3f), but outshone those odds with a 1L second. Since joined this trainer, and looks well worth a market check to gauge any confidence ahead of his hurdles debut.

Form:

Best Haaf⁵⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby

100/1

Showed a modicum of promise in just one of his Flat starts (1m2f) in the spring. Well held in two handicaps on heavy ground since then, and is hard to have confidence in on his hurdles debut.

Form:

Bullion Boss²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin⁽⁵⁾| T: N G Richards

13/2

Placed multiple times on the Flar when with Michael Dods. Disappointed on hurdles/stable debut at Musselburgh and a similar effort last time leaves him needing improvement here.

Form: 64

Cawthorne Lad¹⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: T D Easterby

28/1

Took him eight races to break his duck on the Flat, scoring over 7f (soft) at Musselburgh in October. Not as good as some of these opponents in that code, but half-brother to 2m hurdle winner and wouldn't take much imagination to see him going well.

Form:

Extreme Force¹³³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

28/1

Placed twice on the Flat (7f, including on soft) last year, but since lost his way. Probably one to watch on hurdles debut with stamina to prove, unless market vibes strong.

Form:

Fasterkhani²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby

66/1

Positive that his best Flat run so far was at this venue, and he also improved from a modest first hurdles run to his second. However, that form will still need stepping up on even to be competitive here.

Form: 97

Fiery Mission⁹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant

33/1

Began with a bit of promise on the Flat for Sir Michael Stoute, but couldn't kick on. Sold for 18,000gns in August. Half-brother to 2m-2m1f hurdle winner, so may take to this on his stable debut. Interesting.

Form:

Fume^h⁷³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joe Colliver| T: J D Bethell

14/1

14-race maiden on the Flat, where he has been best at around 7f-1m. In good hands and given his Flat ability, it would be no surprise if he is able to get involved on his hurdling debut.

Form:

Glorious Dane¹²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

11/2

1m4f Flat winner (good) in the spring, when with Stef Keniry. Hasn't shown that sort of ability over hurdles just yet, but his second run was better than his first. Not written off.

Form: 55

My Strong Man²⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby

16/1

Not devoid of promise on his hurdles debut at Wetherby, but didn't go on from that when back there last time. Significant improvement required to get competitive.

Form: 45

Sea Art^v⁷⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: J & S Quinn

9/4

Took him 12 starts to break his duck on the Flat (1m5f), dropping right down to Class 6 level to do so. Changed hands for 28,000gns since then, and although others have superior Flat form, he could go very well on his hurdles debut.

Form:

The Rutland Rebel⁶²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Billy Garritty⁽⁵⁾| T: Micky Hammond

66/1

Pontefract maiden handicap winner (1m2f, good) on the Flat, but beaten a long way on his hurdles debut since then, and soft ground is a concern.

Form: 6

Smashing Lass⁴⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: M E Sowersby| C

125/1

Scored here in a 7f seller last year, when with Ollie Pears, but has been well beaten in both hurdles starts so far. Others make more appeal.

Form: 77

Non-Runners

Pour Me A Drink⁷⁰

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: K Dalgleish J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Artistic Language (2/1), Sea Art (9/4), Pour Me A Drink (11/4), Glorious Dane (11/2), Bullion Boss (13/2), Fume (14/1), My Strong Man (16/1), Beat Box (20/1), Extreme Force (28/1), Cawthorne Lad (28/1), Fiery Mission (33/1), The Rutland Rebel (66/1), Fasterkhani (66/1), Best Haaf (100/1), Smashing Lass (125/1), Aleatoric (150/1)

Not much to go on here in terms of hurdling form. Fiery Mission and Fume both look to be newcomers to note, but the suggestion is SEA ART, who may not be as good as some of these on the level, but is in good hands and looks an interesting recruit to this code. Glorious Dane, Cawthorne Lad and Artistic Language are more likely than most to get involved at the business end.