15:40 Newton Abbot

Saturday 3 April 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5217:2518:00

Sky Sports Racing On Sky 415 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 34.1s

Elyaqim¹⁰⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Harrison Beswick⁽⁵⁾| T: R Bandey

25/1

Successful sole start between the flags, but has failed to make an impact in 2 starts under Rules so far.

Form: 1/5-6

Forever Des Long¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121

2/1

Remains a maiden following half-a-dozen starts in this sphere, but he has found just one too good on 3 occasions, including at Fontwell (17.7f) a fortnight ago. Major player.

Form: 32-8522

Grove Ash

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke

80/1

Great Pretender gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler (stayed 3m) Luccombe Down. Yard rarely strikes with newcomers and he's probably best watched this time.

Form:

Jet Plane²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

18/1

Runner-up in Irish points at second attempt in November, but could finish only eighth on Rules debut in a 14-runner Warwick bumper last month.

Form: P-28

Our Surprise²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: H Fry

10/11

£50,000 buy after winning Irish point in October. Stepped up on Rules debut effort when second in 16.8f Exeter novice on hurdles bow last time and this stiffer test may help unlock improvement.

Form: 2132

Scardino¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood

400/1

Shaped as if amiss when well held in Hexham bumper on sole outing for Harry Whittington in October, and fared no better on recent Uttoxeter hurdles debut for new yard.

Form: 8P

The Worthy Brat^p²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 112

6/1

Overcame inexperience to make a winning debut in a 3-y-o bumper at Exeter in October. However, appears to have gone the wrong way in this sphere and questions to answer now.

Form: 13554

Stanley Stanley¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

12/1

Down the field on her introduction in a Kempton bumper, but showed more spark when fourth on hurdles debut at Doncaster (16.6f). In good hands and likely to do better in time.

Form: 94

Non-Runners

Morning Gloria²⁵

Weight: 10-9| Age: 5

T: K Woollacott J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Our Surprise (10/11), Forever Des Long (2/1), The Worthy Brat (6/1), Stanley Stanley (12/1), Jet Plane (18/1), Elyaqim (25/1), Grove Ash (80/1), Morning Gloria (100/1), Scardino (400/1)

There was distinct promise in OUR SURPRISE's hurdles debut second at Exeter and, with improvement on the cards, he is taken to go one better this time. Forever Des Long is the clear main danger, while Stanley Stanley should build on her fairly encouraging start over hurdles at Doncaster in due course.