14:50 Fontwell

Saturday 2 October 2021

All14:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:4018:10

bet365 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 56.10s

Ask The King¹⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: P G Murphy

200/1

Hard to warm to ahead of this Rules debut on the back of two very low-key displays between the flags earlier this year.

Form: P9-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Getastar²⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen

22/1

Shaped well when third of 10 on last October's debut in a Ffos Los bumper, but failed to build on that in 3 subsequent starts and opposable now switched to hurdles.

Form: 3349-

Midnight Wave^t¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Kimber⁽⁷⁾| T: W G M Turner

250/1

Little impact in bumpers and he didn't fare much better starting out over hurdles at Worcester last month.

Form: 060/37

Nelsons Rock¹²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard

12/1

Dual point winner who failed to measure up to market expectations when fifth in an 8-runner Ffos Las bumper on Rules debut in May. Still, better can be expected now upped in trip for this hurdles bow.

Form: P311/5

Nickle Back¹⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs S J Humphrey

11/4

Rubbished his 66/1 SP when chasing home a useful type on Rules debut in 20.4f Southwell novice in March. Unexposed and open to improvement, he's high on the shortlist here.

Form: F2-

Quiet Flow²²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

16/5

Related to several winners and has shown ability in two bumpers 15 months apart, latterly finishing fourth at Doncaster in February. In good hands and one to note in the betting now tackling hurdles.

Form: 5/4-

Storm Dennis¹⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: C Gordon

16/5

Progressed with each of his completed starts in bumpers, off the mark over 2m at Warwick when last seen in May. That form doesn't amount to much, but merits respect on this hurdles debut all the same.

Form: 62U-1

Voyage De Retour²⁰³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: T Lawes| OR: 118

5/1

Point winner who improved on previous Rules form when runner-up in Southwell novice hurdle on debut for this yard in February. Absent since struggling on chase bow the following month.

Form: 163/824-

Where's Tom¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M Goldstein| T: M Madgwick

10/1

Ascot bumper winner a couple of years ago and successful on the Flat in February 2020. No impact sole previous start in this sphere, though, and others make more appeal.

Form: 45510/

Liberty Power³⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey

80/1

Showed ability on the Flat for Tim Easterby last year, but not enough to suggest that he will be a force here starting out over hurdles for new yard on the back of a 12-month absence.

Form:

Forecasts

Nickle Back (11/4), Storm Dennis (16/5), Quiet Flow (16/5), Voyage De Retour (5/1), Where's Tom (10/1), Nelsons Rock (12/1), Getastar (22/1), Liberty Power (80/1), Ask The King (200/1), Midnight Wave (250/1)

The vote goes to NICKLE BACK, who finished a long way clear of the rest when second to the useful Cadzand on debut in this sphere at Southwell. Sarah Humphrey's charge will take plenty of stopping if able to build on that promising effort. Storm Dennis did the job well in a Warwick bumper during the spring and he is second choice ahead of Quiet Flow, Nelsons Rock and Voyage de Retour.