12:41 Taunton

Thursday 26 November 2020

All12:4113:1113:4114:1114:4115:1115:41

Setsquare Recruitment 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:42 | Winning time: 4m 10.85s

Baignard^h²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Nick Mitchell

150/1

Maiden pointer who went with no promise fitted with a hood on Fontwell Rules debut 20 days ago.

Form: 33323-8

Confirmation Bias³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

3/1

Fairly useful bumper winner from good NH family who was easy to back and disappointed on Ayr hurdling debut last month, but is surely capable of better judged on bumper form.

Form: 12-4

Dont Go Gentle⁷⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

18/1

Improved plenty from hurdling debut when fourth in a Newton Abbot novice (18.5f) in September, though promised even more than he delivered for much of way.

Form: 30-44

Dorking Lad¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

7/2

Proved too free in a Huntingdon bumper on debut but took well to hurdling before his absence seemingly told (off 8 months) at Sandown (2m) 18 days ago. Will improve.

Form: 4-3

Duc De Bourbon²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: P F Nicholls

16/1

In need of the experience in bumpers but was in the process of showing more when falling at the last (held in share of second) on Fakenham hurdle debut (2m) last month. Should do better.

Form: 49-F

Etoile Rebelle³⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F NichollsWS

9/1

Failed to meet expectations in a Huntingdon bumper on debut 10 months ago and has since left Olly Murphy/had a breathing operation.

Form: 9-

Grisbi De Berce^h1²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

17/2

Clear signs of ability in a bumper/Ascot novice hurdle 8 months apart but needs to settle down if he's to do better. Hooded for 1st time.

Form: 7-5

Minimalistic⁵⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost

80/1

Definite Article gelding. Dam unraced sister to bumper winner/useful hurdler (stayed 2½m) Grangeclare Lark. Multiple point winner, including last time (May 2019).

Form: 21134/1-

Presuming Ed^h²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Little impact in a pair of bumpers but offered a bit more fitted with a hood when third in a maiden hurdle over C&D in March, running on but not match for principals. Capable of better.

Form: 493-

Runswick Bay²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 116

7/4

Debut bumper winner who was just touched off on Exeter hurdle debut (18.5f) in October. Filled same spot in a hotter race there the following month and remains open to improvement.

Form: 10-22

Spanish Jump⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: J & A O'Neill

20/1

Left debut form well behind on the back of a breathing operation when third of 9 in a 2m novice hurdle at Warwick (soft) last week. Turned out again quickly but is open to further improvement.

Form: 63

The Longest Day²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden

150/1

Unplaced sole start in bumpers but showed a bit sent hurdling when 21 lengths third of 7 in an ordinary maiden at Hexham (20.1f) 20 days ago, plugging on straight.

Form: 53

Toad Of Toad Hall²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: Alexandra Dunn

250/1

Well beaten in a Newbury bumper on recent debut.

Form: 0

Valentines Jewel³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn

250/1

Flemensfirth filly. Dam unraced half-sister to useful hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 3m) Big Fella Thanks. Last of 7 in point bumper on debut in October.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Runswick Bay (7/4), Confirmation Bias (3/1), Dorking Lad (7/2), Grisbi De Berce (17/2), Etoile Rebelle (9/1), Duc De Bourbon (16/1), Dont Go Gentle (18/1), Spanish Jump (20/1), Presuming Ed (33/1), Minimalistic (80/1), Baignard (150/1), The Longest Day (150/1), Toad Of Toad Hall (250/1), Valentines Jewel (250/1)

CONFIRMATION BIAS proved a disappointment on his Ayr hurdling debut last month, but he was very promising in bumpers so could easily leave that well behind. Runswick Bay was no match for a good prospect at Exeter last time, but he pulled clear of the remainder and remains open to improvement, with Dorking Lad another firmly in the mix following an encouraging debut in this sphere at Sandown.