14:32 Chepstow

Saturday 4 December 2021

All11:3812:1212:4713:2213:5714:3215:0915:45

UHY Hacker Young Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 5m 2.51s

Kenyan Cowboy¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Max Kendrick| T: N B King| OR: 99| CD

12/1

Modest hurdler who produced a career best to land a C&D handicap 15 days ago but now looks firmly up against it conceding weight to much classier types.

Form: P3-07F1

Ballycorr³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: Henry Oliver

40/1

No great shakes between the flags and modest form in 2 bumpers in Ireland in March. More encouragement when second in novice at Hereford on hurdling/stable debut, but much more is required.

Form: FPP65-2

Broadoak

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: Mrs F M ShawWS

40/1

Kayf Tara gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to smart hurdler (stayed 3¼m) Flight Leader. Likely to need time.

Form:

Colonial Empire²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

80/1

Perfect start when 10-length winner of an Exeter bumper in April. Stepped up on hurdling debut and caught the eye when fourth of 11 in a novice at Ffos Las 27 days ago. Step up in trip should suit.

Form: 1-444

Complete Unknown²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| BF

5/2

Impressive winner of a bumper at Thurles on Rules debut and, having been picked up for six figures, made a satisfactory hurdling/stable debut when third at Warwick a month ago. Should improve.

Form: U/1-3

Concrete King²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland

28/1

Multiple Irish point winner who has also shown ability under Rules, not knocked about when fourth in a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter 3 weeks ago. Might prove to be more of a handicap type.

Form: 13131/4

Iberio²²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

22/1

Overcame inexperience to land a Newton Abbot bumper on debut in October, but jumped ponderously switched to hurdling at Worcester the following month.

Form: 14

Last Royal⁴⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran BurkeWS

8/1

Made a winning debut in an ordinary course bumper in July and might well have followed up had he jumped with more fluency in a novice at Uttoxeter on hurdling bow. Off 15 months since, though.

Form: 12-

Ree Okka⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

11/10

Irish point winner who made a highly encouraging Rules debut when second in a novice at Aintree 41 days ago. That form is working out, so he's worth a chance to go one better.

Form: P-12

Seventeen O Four^p1⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

150/1

Fair on the Flat (albeit below form last time) and bred to take to hurdling, so not completely discounted starting out for a new yard.

Form:

T'Araison

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

14/1

Buck's Boum gelding. Brother to 2 winners, including two-time Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Al Boum Photo, and half-brother to Al Amaison. Dam unraced. Well-bred type worth a market check.

Form:

The Plimsoll Line³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 119

9/1

Third both starts in bumpers at Exeter last term and solid efforts both starts to date over hurdles. Others have a bit more potential, though.

Form: 33-33

Tout Paris^h²⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Mrs L J Young

250/1

Showed little over fences for Sean Thomas Doyle and, consequently, makes no appeal on first hurdling outing for a new yard after 7 months off.

Form: 3/57S-P3

Dancing Dani²⁰¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Mrs N S Evans| OR: 110

100/1

Winning pointer who exceeded market expectations when runner-up from the front in a mares' novice hurdle at Newton Abbot. Failed to back it up, though, and she'll probably need this return.

Form: 35/31-24

Scealoghan^h1¹¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Lewis Stones⁽⁷⁾| T: C J Gray

250/1

Looked rather limited in Irish bumpers, so hard to fancy on hurdling/stable debut.

Form: 3944

Non-Runners

Pilgrims King¹⁸⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: P & M Bowen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Ree Okka (11/10), Complete Unknown (5/2), Last Royal (8/1), The Plimsoll Line (9/1), Kenyan Cowboy (12/1), T'Araison (14/1), Iberio (22/1), Pilgrims King (25/1), Concrete King (28/1), Ballycorr (40/1), Broadoak (40/1), Colonial Empire (80/1), Dancing Dani (100/1), Seventeen O Four (150/1), Tout Paris (250/1), Scealoghan (250/1)

REE OKKA posted an excellent first outing under Rules when second in a novice hurdle at Aintree and, with that form having been boosted numerous times since, he may well prove capable of going one better for all this strikes as another above-average event. Complete Unknown is a threat on the back of a solid start for Paul Nicholls and The Plimsoll Line isn't without a chance.