16:25 Newton Abbot

Tuesday 1 September 2020

All15:5016:2517:0017:3018:0018:3019:0019:30

John George Wilson 20 Years Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 16:27 | Winning time: 4m 26.60s

Celestial Force^p³¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

13/8

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 2m for Tom Dascombe in 2019 and of obvious interest on hurdle debut having joined Paul Nicholls. Often wore these cheekpieces on the Flat.

Form:

Chazza¹⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

2/1

Winning pointer who made a successful bumper debut at Bangor in December. Ran to only a modest level when well-held second on Hereford hurdle debut but he is open to improvement.

Form: F41/12-

Ivorsalegend^t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: P GundryWS

250/1

Well beaten in 2 bumpers here in July so can't make a case for now hurdling. Has had wind surgery.

Form: 89

Lakeside Lad

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

50/1

Alkaased gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner Oscars Boss. Likely best watched on debut.

Form:

Punkawallah³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 105

22/1

Regressive on the Flat. Runner-up on hurdle debut last October but below that level since, including when fourth on 21.5f course reappearance 39 days ago.

Form: 264-4

Technological⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: M F Harris

22/1

Useful at best on Flat (stays 2m) for George Margarson, with most of his best form coming on AW. Off 14 months, well held on Kempton return in July so has a bit to prove now hurdling.

Form:

Fiston De Baune

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Nicky Martin

12/1

€6,000 Spanish Moon gelding. Dam 17f/2¼m chase winner, also winner on Flat. Betting should help guide to expectations on debut.

Form:

Smarter³³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle

13/2

Fairly useful Flat winner for William Haggas. Interesting recruit to hurdles for Emma Lavelle.

Form:

Redbridge Gold^t²⁶¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

13/2

Bumper winner. Fourth on good-ground Ludlow hurdle debut last autumn and presumably failed to cope with heavy ground when pulled up at Southwell in December. Off since.

Form: 1210/4P-

Forecasts

Celestial Force (13/8), Chazza (2/1), Redbridge Gold (13/2), Smarter (13/2), Fiston De Baune (12/1), Technological (22/1), Punkawallah (22/1), Lakeside Lad (50/1), Ivorsalegend (250/1)

Those with hurdle experience don't set the bar high so this may be dominated by Flat recruits, with CELESTIAL FORCE getting the nod to make a winning start for Paul Nicholls ahead of the Emma Lavelle-trained Smarter. Bumper-winner Chazza is likely better than he showed when a well held second on his hurdle debut and may prove best of the remainder.