12:15 Hereford

Tuesday 13 October 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2314:5815:3316:08

Mental Health Matters Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 4m 46.77s

Let The Heirs Walk²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Charlie Price⁽⁵⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 127

9/4

Useful-looking gelding who defied a penalty after 8 months off to make it 2 from 2 for this yard at Warwick (2m) 3 weeks ago. This is tougher but he may do better again now back up in trip.

Form: P/3631-1

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Celestial Force^p¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

5/6

Fairly useful stayer on Flat who made a successful hurdling bow at Newton Abbot (18.5f) in September. Progressed to go close under a penalty there 15 days ago and has scope for better still at 2½m.

Form: 12

Aquila Sky²¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R T Dunne| T: S Allwood

11/1

Offered little both starts for Harry Fry but improved when fourth in a Docnaster novice hurdle (19.4f) on yard debut in February, despite refusing to settle. May improve again.

Form: 984-

Ebnal Explorer^h⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: G Hanmer

250/1

Showed little sole start in bumpers and was held back by his attitude when pulled up on Southwell hurdle debut in August.

Form: 6/P

Knocknagoshel²⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd⁽³⁾| T: G Hanmer

250/1

Unpromising in Irish points and well beaten in a bumper/2 novice hurdles.

Form: F550/68-

Merchant House²¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: W S Kittow

28/1

Exeter bumper winner in 2019. Goes hurdling for new yard after 17 months off and market likely to provide the best guide.

Form: 1/544PP-

Spiritus Mundi²⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans

300/1

Little impact in Irish maiden hurdles. Has left John Queally.

Form: 900P-

Straw Fan Jack¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 107

25/1

Well held in a bumper but clear signs of ability over hurdles, in process of running creditably (in fifth) when falling at the last on Bangor reappearance. Remains with potential.

Form: 204P-F

Thais Toir²³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey

5/1

Modest in bumpers (though well backed on debut), given a considerate introduction to hurdling after a break at Huntingdon when last seen and should have more to offer now upped in trip.

Form: 575-

Munstead Moonshine⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs Tracey Barfoot-Saunt| OR: 85

125/1

Poor maiden on the Flat who showed a bit of aptitude for hurdling in a pair of Newton Abbot novices but was pulled up on Uttoxeter handicap debut last time.

Form: 34P

Non-Runners

Justgivemeareason²⁹⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: A Wintle J: James Best

Legendoire²¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: H Chisman J: Non Runner

Lifeisahighway⁵²²

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: B Pauling J: D A Jacob

Forecasts

Celestial Force (5/6), Let The Heirs Walk (9/4), Thais Toir (5/1), Lifeisahighway (6/1), Aquila Sky (11/1), Straw Fan Jack (25/1), Merchant House (28/1), Justgivemeareason (66/1), Legendoire (100/1), Munstead Moonshine (125/1), Ebnal Explorer (250/1), Knocknagoshel (250/1), Spiritus Mundi (300/1)

CELESTIAL FORCE is going the right way over hurdles and has scope for better still now tackling this longer trip, so he earns the vote. Let The Heirs Walk has to concede weight all round but may do better again with this step back up in distance unlikely to trouble him. Thais Toir should leave behind his opening effort over hurdles and is also worth a second look.