12:37 Taunton

Thursday 10 December 2020

All12:0712:3713:1013:4214:1514:4715:1715:47

Racing To School Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 12:37 | Winning time: 4m 13.22s

Grey Spirit^t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Fergus Gregory⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 128| D

5/2

Fairly useful performer on Flat who has already scored twice over hurdles this season and ran well when third at Kempton last time, a late blunder handing the initiative to Pink Sheets. Will go well.

Form: 631123

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Atholl Street^t²⁸

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

8/11

Well held sole start in bumpers but proved a different proposition when making a successful hurdling debut over C&D last month, despite still looking very rough around the edges. Sure to progress.

Form: 6-1

Fontana Ellissi³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

33/1

Flat bred but showed ability when 17 lengths third of 10 in a Stratford bumper on debut last month.

Form: 3

Gentleman Kap³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

66/1

Showed more temperament than ability when down the field in a Hereford bumper on debut last month. Hurdle bow.

Form: 0

Heart Of A Lion¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| D

12/1

Made an impressive winning bumper debut at Southwell in July 2019. Stepped up on hurdling debut when second at Huntingdon (15.8f) 19 days ago, though was readily left behind by winner from 2f out.

Form: 1-82

Investment Manager²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard

25/1

€70,000 Nathaniel gelding. Dam 11f-13f winner. Just modest form in a pair of bumpers so improvement needed if he's to have a say on hurdle debut.

Form: 65

Jersey Wonder⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: O Sherwood| D

13/2

Useful stayer on Flat. Below form when last seen at Chester back in September, but should be up to making his presence felt in a race of this nature now hurdling for new stable.

Form:

Mayne³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Philip Armson⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

22/1

Fairly useful on Flat, runner-up twice from 3 starts. Has yet to better modest form over hurdles though, pulling too hard at Market Rasen last time.

Form: 46

Mister Moretti²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: B Barr

250/1

Maiden pointer who offered little in a Wincanton novice hurdle on debut 3 weeks ago.

Form: F/30

Presuming Ed^h¹⁴

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

28/1

Little impact in a pair of bumpers but showed more sent hurdling in a hood when third over C&D in March. Looked awkward prior to unseating his rider at the last here 14 days ago, though.

Form: 493-U

Sam Miguel²⁸⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: C Heard

200/1

Little promise both starts last season (bumper/maiden hurdle).

Form: 9P-

Mosambo²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George

125/1

Well held in a Market Rasen bumper/Ludlow maiden hurdle 8 months apart. Needs more time.

Form: 0-6

Non-Runners

Treacys Jim²⁷⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: J D Frost J: Kevin Jones

Forecasts

Atholl Street (8/11), Grey Spirit (5/2), Jersey Wonder (13/2), Heart Of A Lion (12/1), Mayne (22/1), Investment Manager (25/1), Presuming Ed (28/1), Fontana Ellissi (33/1), Gentleman Kap (66/1), Treacys Jim (100/1), Mosambo (125/1), Sam Miguel (200/1), Mister Moretti (250/1)

GREY SPIRIT and Atholl Street stand out in this novice. The latter appeals as the type to go on improving for his top yard but it is the former who boasts the stronger form, so he's given another chance to defy a double penalty, especially with the Olly Murphy yard back amongst the winners. Of the rest, Jersey Wonder is worth a second look on this switch to hurdling given his Flat ability.