13:45 Stratford

Saturday 16 October 2021

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:4017:15

Jo Huxtable Birthday Celebration 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:46 | Winning time: 5m 25.1s

Beccaccino^b⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Miss H C Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss J S Davis

33/1

Comfortably held in 2 bumpers this summer. Outsider on hurdle debut.

Form: 07

Don Alvaro¹⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| BFWS

11/2

Well held in Cheltenham bumper for Philip Hobbs last autumn and beaten 25 lengths into second at Chepstow for this yard 6 months later. Clearly early days, though, and had wind op ahead of hurdle bow.

Form: 02-

Harde Fashion²⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: D Bourne

17/2

Fair form in bumpers for Kim Bailey last season. Should be up to playing a part in a race like this now hurdling for a new yard.

Form: 234-

Pollards Fen¹⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽⁵⁾| T: G Howell

80/1

Winning pointer but last of 5 on Warwick hurdle debut in May.

Form: 64-15

The Wise Traveller¹⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: C E LongsdonWS

13/2

Successful on his sole outing in points but no show in a bumper/maiden hurdle under Rules last spring. A subsequent wind op needs to have had a positive effect.

Form: 19-P

Ballintubber Boy¹⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

5/1

Decent pedigree and he showed a bit when fifth in a Warwick bumper in May. Starts out over hurdles in an ordinary race and interesting to see if there's any confidence behind him in the betting.

Form: 5

Don't Stop Now^p²²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

3/1

Fair in bumpers but achieved only modest form in a couple of hurdles at Worcester last month.

Form: 326264

Turnaway

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

9/4

£40,000 Getaway gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fair hurdler (2½m winner) Shar Whats Therush. In top hands and may not need to be anything special to make a winning debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Turnaway (9/4), Don't Stop Now (3/1), Ballintubber Boy (5/1), Don Alvaro (11/2), The Wise Traveller (13/2), Harde Fashion (17/2), Beccaccino (33/1), Pollards Fen (80/1)

Given all 7 with experience haven't set the world alight a chance is taken on Dan Skelton debutant TURNAWAY, with confidence increased should the market vibes be strong. Ballintubber Boy did show a bit in his sole bumper and is bred for the job so he's feared most ahead of Don Alvaro in an opener where the betting could prove informative.