14:20 Hereford

Saturday 7 March 2020

All14:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Enjoy The Cheltenham Festival With MansionBet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 14:20 | Winning time: 4m 57.0s

Northofthewall^t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| C

5/6

Course winner in December and recorded a second hurdles success when winning by 24L in a 2m3f novice event at Taunton (soft) at the start of last month. Strong claims for a top yard despite carrying a double penalty.

Form: 232161

Bretney³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly

16/1

Improved on sole bumper effort when finishing 42L third to Northofthewall in a 2m3f contest at Taunton (soft) on last months hurdling debut. Plenty to find with that rival if he's to take this race.

Form: 03

Captain Aulmes¹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn

33/1

Bumper winner in France back in October 2016 and was absent until finishing 70L ninth in a maiden hurdle over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (heavy) in December. Held in two subsequent starts and others hold more obvious claims.

Form: 1/987

Chazza⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

11/8

Impressive point-to-point winner at Lingstown (3m, good) in November 2018 and made a winning Rules debut when taking a bumper over an extended 2m at Bangor (heavy) in November. One to note on hurdling debut following a break.

Form: F41-1

Donladd³⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: O SherwoodWS

11/1

Showed fair form in bumpers last season most recently when 38L seventh in a valuable event over an extended 2m at Newbury (good-to-soft) just under a year ago. Worth a check in the market on hurdling debut and first start since wind surgery.

Form: 587-

Felton Bellevue²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: B I Case

20/1

Placed in a point-to-point and ran well when finishing 11½L fourth in a soft ground bumper at Warwick on Rules debut in November. Probably best watched swtiched to hurdles having disappointed over the same C&D subsequently.

Form: P-240

I Am Plastered^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint

33/1

Best effort in two hurdles starts came when finishing 38L sixth in a heavy ground 2m novice race at Chepstow at the end of January. Others make more appeal stepping up in distance.

Form: 4-866

The Rosary Flyer¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

50/1

Well beaten in two hurdles starts this campaign including when 56L seventh at Huntingdon (2m, soft) last month. Looks to be the stable second string in this race.

Form: 077

Jeans Genie^h³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: S Drinkwater

66/1

Fair fourth over an extended 1m5f at Fontwell (good) last April. Changed yards prior to finishing down the field at Huntingdon (2m, good-to-soft) last month and hood worn for the first time that day is retained on hurdling debut.

Form: 4-0

Forecasts

Northofthewall (5/6), Chazza (11/8), Donladd (11/1), Bretney (16/1), Felton Bellevue (20/1), Captain Aulmes (33/1), I Am Plastered (33/1), The Rosary Flyer (50/1), Jeans Genie (66/1)

NORTHOFTHEWALL looks capable of defying a double penalty to take this opening novice hurdle. The selection has won two of his last three starts and can get the better of hurdling debutant Chazza who showed a liking for heavy ground when taking his bumper in the autumn. Third place can go the way of Bretney who filled the same position when well held last time out.