13:15 Hexham

Wednesday 17 November 2021

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

British Stallion Studs EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 4m 14.49s

Andante¹⁹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Coltherd| T: S Corbett

18/1

Califet gelding who was well ridden to make a winning bumper debut at Newcastle (14.3f) last December. Seemingly didn't get home when fifth at Ayr (2m) in May and he may be best watched now hurdling.

Form: 1-5

Ashover Hills³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

7/1

Modest form on first of 2 starts in bumpers last season and ran as if his hurdling debut at Uttoxeter was needed for fitness and experience in October. Probably one for handicaps later on.

Form: 57-6

Azof Des Mottes¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: G Bewley

100/1

Placed on both completed starts in Irish points in the spring but proved too free and dropped away quickly when eighth of 10 in a Carlisle bumper last month. Hurdles debut.

Form: U-328

Bollin Phoenix¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: T D Easterby

80/1

Unplaced in trio of bumpers last season and offered little on back of 7 months off in a 20f novice hurdle here 12 days ago. Best watched.

Form: 040-8

Captain Quint³⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin

5/2

£110,000 4-y-o, Flemensfirth gelding. Half-brother to fair chaser Speedy Cargo. Second sole outing in Irish points (Nov 2020) and interesting making Rules/hurdles debut now. Market should guide.

Form: 2-

Jack Of All Shapes^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: G Boanas

15/2

Arcadio gelding who has progressed with each start in bumpers, keeping on well to finish runner-up over 2m at Ayr last month. Worth a second look for all a stiffer test may suit ideally moving forward

Form: 0-42

Kiltorcan Boy

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison

40/1

€32,000 3-y-o, Stowaway gelding. Dam (c77/h72) 3m/3¼m hurdle/chase winner out of 2m-2½m hurdle winner Sillymore. Worth a check in the betting on debut for clues.

Form:

Luke²¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: M & D Easterby

28/1

Lucarno gelding who was noted doing best work at the finish when 8 lengths fourth of 9 in a C&D bumper on debut back in April, despite carrying his head awkwardly. Still, not ruled out now hurdling.

Form: 4-

Tartan Cookie¹⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ewan Whillans

12/1

Steadily progressive in bumpers and showed more than on hurdles bow when fourth in a C&D novice in June, finding the test inadequate. Likely type for handicaps.

Form: 553-P4

Tim Pat¹⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

18/5

£28,000 3-y-o, Mahler gelding. Dam unraced sister to fairly useful hurdler (stayed 25f) Resolute Bay. Placed twice from 5 starts in Irish points and starts out for new yard going very well. Player.

Form: P2/62-P

Twoshotsoftequila^h²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies

5/1

Fair form in a couple of bumpers and offered something to work on when third in a C&D novice on hurdles bow last month. Overfaced at Cheltenham next time and this rates more suitable.

Form: 54-34

Where's Hector

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁷⁾| T: M & D Easterby

80/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Half-brother to useful hurdler/smart chaser Does He Know. Dam (c114/h114) 2m-25f hurdle/chase winner. Makes appeal on paper and interesting to see what the betting makes of him.

Form:

Maid Of Houxty^t²⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Danny McMenamin| T: D W Whillans

10/1

Didn't offer much only bumper start last winter but more like it when third in a mares' novice hurdle at Newcastle (16.2f) in February. Improvement not ruled out this campaign on that evidence.

Form: 63-

Non-Runners

Fortescue Wood²⁴⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: N W Alexander J: C O'Farrell

Forecasts

Captain Quint (5/2), Tim Pat (18/5), Twoshotsoftequila (5/1), Ashover Hills (7/1), Fortescue Wood (7/1), Jack Of All Shapes (15/2), Maid Of Houxty (10/1), Tartan Cookie (12/1), Andante (18/1), Luke (28/1), Kiltorcan Boy (40/1), Where's Hector (80/1), Bollin Phoenix (80/1), Azof Des Mottes (100/1)

Those with previous hurdles experience don't set a tall standard and it may pay to side with a newcomer in the shape of CAPTAIN QUINT. A £110,000 purchase from the pointing field, he makes appeal on paper and could be worth chancing. Tim Pat, another point recruit, and Jack Of All Shapes, who was progressive in bumpers, head up the dangers, ahead of Fortescue Wood and Maid of Houxty.