16:30 Uttoxeter

Saturday 8 August 2020

All16:3017:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:3020:0020:30

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 49.20s

Enemy Coast Ahead^t²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 129

8/13

Bumper winner on debut for Tom George prior to moving to this yard (2-2 over hurdles for them). Both wins at odds-on at Southwell (15.8f), beat fields with no depth both times, confirmed he's a useful prospect, should overcome double penalty.

Form: 1/2-11

Ahead Of Schedule¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Nixon⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans

300/1

No joy in seven Irish point-to-points (placed three times), readily brushed aside in a 14f bumper and two novice hurdles since joining this yard. Made a little more impact last time when stepped up in trip (21.6f), longer-term handicap prospect.

Form: 5P360-5

Arcadian Spring²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: H Whittington

20/1

Fair pedigree but badly needed the experience in bumpers (slipped up on debut). Offered little on his hurdling debut (made plenty of basic jumping errors) over 23.3f here, likely to need some practise over hurdles.

Form: S7-5

Arctic Valley^p1,t²⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: G Hanmer

28/1

Off the mark straight way on bumper debut winning by 7L (predictably beaten under a penalty soon after). Beaten again on third bumper start, now makes hurdling debut with blinkers added to usual tongue-tie, likely to need the experience.

Form: P5/130-

Elleon¹⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| C

13/2

Bumper winner (15.8f) here in November showing the benefit of his debut, shown some promise on his two hurdling starts so far. Not quite there with his jumping he'll need to be ready for this test facing a race-fit market leader.

Form: 8195-

Oi The Clubb Oi's³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 122

2/1

Hurdles form looks fairly useful arrives here having had a recent Flat run (looked rusty), two-time winner in that sphere. Not seen over hurdles since being pulled up last March (Fred Winter), can be given a chance at weights on prior hurdles form.

Form: 223P/

Crimson King²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: M Appleby

66/1

Fair if rather temperamental sort on the Flat (only win came over 12f on AW in March). Well held on hurdling debut at Market Rasen (16.6f) when taking a strong hold, dropped away, reported to have lost a shoe and finished lame.

Form: 0

Midnight Jewel¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: K Woollacott

300/1

Well held in two bumpers in testing conditions at Wincanton and Warwick earlier in the year. Showed very little (pulled up) when returning from a break on less testing ground for his hurdling debut, hard to see him getting involved.

Form: 00-P

Leeswood Lily¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Quinlan| T: J Candlish

16/1

Irish point-to-point winner, brought along very steadily under Rules (four bumper runs and three novice hurdle runs) so far. Yet to be given a mark for handicaps (would look interesting in that sphere), returns to a longer trip today.

Form: 61326-8

Forecasts

Enemy Coast Ahead (8/13), Oi The Clubb Oi's (2/1), Elleon (13/2), Leeswood Lily (16/1), Arcadian Spring (20/1), Arctic Valley (28/1), Crimson King (66/1), Ahead Of Schedule (300/1), Midnight Jewel (300/1)

Connections look to have found a good opportunity for ENEMY COAST AHEAD to defy a double penalty having won two weak Southwell novice hurdles over shorter trips (this will be his first try at 2m4f). A winner by 11L last time he’s on course to complete his hat-trick here. On ratings and at the weights Oi The Clubb Oi’s would have a good chance of defeating the selection but he’s not run over hurdles for quite some time and may be short of match practice. Of the others course bumper winner Elleon will need to brush up his jumping technique before he’s of interest over hurdles. Leeswood Lily needs watching with a view to the future and handicaps once she gains a mark.