13:05 Taunton

Wednesday 30 December 2020

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

C & D Southwest Juvenile Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:06 | Winning time: 4m 24.35s

Can't Stop Now^h³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 124| D

7/2

Fair maiden on Flat who came good at third time of asking over hurdles when making all at Fakenham last month. Not entirely straightforward (got left at start penultimate run) but still respected.

Form: 3P1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Fighting Tiger^t1

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: Nick WilliamsWS

12/1

Half-brother to 2 winners, including yard's ungenuine but useful hurdler Flying Tiger. Had a breathing operation ahead of debut (also wears a tongue tie). Needs a betting check.

Form:

Iron Heart^p¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe

6/4

Fairly useful Flat winner for Andrew Balding. Little better than modest form in 2 juvenile hurdles for current yard but that Flat ability provides hope for better at some point.

Form: 35

Masterdream²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

80/1

Bought for 56,000 gns after showing fair form on the Flat in Ireland but made an inauspicious start over hurdles when last of 8 at Sandown (heavy) 25 days ago.

Form: 8

Numberoneson^b1,t³⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington

25/1

Fairly useful Flat winner but little promise in 2 runs over hurdles. First-time blinkers are now added to the tongue strap he wore last time.

Form: 60

Presgrave^t¹³⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Le Clerc| T: J D Frost

80/1

Fair form at up to 11f on the Flat in Ireland for Joseph O'Brien. Betting perhaps the best guide as to what's expected of him on hurdle debut.

Form:

Shutupshirley³⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: R Walford

20/1

Better effort in juvenile hurdles in recent months when sixth of 9 at Exeter 38 days ago. Will need to step up again to go close.

Form: 46

Siempre Rapido^h1¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Nick Mitchell

50/1

Fair 12f maiden on Flat for Stuart Kittow. Goes hurdling now and no forlorn hope. Has a hood on for the first time.

Form:

Theocrat⁴⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

40/1

Fair maiden on Flat (best efforts at 1½m). Showed an aptitude for hurdles when fourth of 9 at Ludlow in October but dropped away tamely back there 5 weeks later.

Form: 47

Wightman¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: C O'Farrell| T: M R Channon

10/1

Fairly useful 1m Flat winner. 50/1, hinted at promise when sixth of 11 in juvenile at Newbury (2m, soft) on hurdle debut 14 days ago. Potential improver.

Form: 6

Zellerate^b,t1²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Burton⁽⁵⁾| T: Mark Gillard

150/1

Didn't achieve much of worth when 49 lengths second in Fontwell juvenile in first-time blinkers 22 days ago. Tongue strap also added now. Needs to find plenty of improvement.

Form: 0P2

Volkovka^h²⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106

11/4

Fairly useful Flat winner in France and going the right way over hurdles, cutting out the errors which had been holding her back when winning at Market Rasen (heavy) 4 weeks ago. More to come.

Form: P51

Impetuous¹⁶⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard

250/1

Poor ex-Irish maiden on Flat for Edward O'Grady. Has plenty to prove for new yard on hurdling bow.

Form:

Forecasts

Iron Heart (6/4), Volkovka (11/4), Can't Stop Now (7/2), Wightman (10/1), Fighting Tiger (12/1), Shutupshirley (20/1), Numberoneson (25/1), Theocrat (40/1), Siempre Rapido (50/1), Masterdream (80/1), Presgrave (80/1), Zellerate (150/1), Impetuous (250/1)

There was plenty to like about VOLKOVKA's Market Rasen win at the beginning of the month and she can make light of a penalty with further progress on the cards. Wightman can build on his recent Newbury hurdle debut and may provide the chief threat ahead of Fakenham-winner Can't Stop Now. Fighting Tiger is a newcomer to keep an eye on in the betting.