12:30 Wincanton

Tuesday 14 December 2021

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Merry MansionBet Christmas Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:31 | Winning time: 3m 43.13s

Braveheart^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

7/2

Pulled up in sole point but showed some ability switched to a bumper when runner-up at Sedgefield (16.8f). Filled same spot in a tongue strap on Taunton hurdle debut and open to progress.

Form: P-22

Gorcombe Moonshine^h¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Max Kendrick| T: J D Frost

300/1

Twice runner-up in small-field bumpers this year, but probably didn't achieve a great deal in the process and went with no promise on completed start over hurdles at Taunton last time.

Form: 8224B7

Great D'Ange^t1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R GeorgeWS

28/1

Cost €82,000 after winning at the third attempt in Irish points in the spring, but was beaten quickly in a Bangor bumper on Rules debut in October. Tongue tie added now hurdling. Also had wind op.

Form: P31-7

Hartnoll Hero^h²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall

25/1

Fair in bumpers but ran below that level sent hurdling in a first-time hood after 9 months off when last of 3 in a 2m Kempton novice 22 days ago.

Form: 423-3

Honestlyntrufully⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

50/1

Built on debut promise when third in a 2m Warwick bumper (heavy) in May. Left Pam Sly for £32,000 but failed to meet expectations when pulled up on yard/hurdling debut at Newton Abbot.

Form: 0-3P

Huflower⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF| D

11/4

Dual bumper winner in France last winter who shaped as if needing the run on the back of a wind operation sent hurdling at Exeter (16.7f) 42 days ago. Better to come and has to be of interest.

Form: 11-5

Island Run¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Is bred to be useful but has merely hinted at ability in a bumper/Sandown maiden hurdle so far.

Form: 95

Jump Over The Moon⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

Showed only greenness prior to being pulled up in a novice hurdle at Exeter on debut 42 days ago.

Form: P

Mister Splash⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

100/1

€62,000 Shantou gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Coconut Splash, stays 21f. Didn't offer much in a Ffos Las bumper on debut in October but ought to do better somewhere down the line.

Form: 8

Natty Night¹⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

13/2

Fairly useful on Flat, stays 12.5f, below form in 2021 having left William Muir. Yard going well so well worth market check on hurdle debut.

Form:

Robbie Dazzler³⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore

150/1

Not badly bred but has offered next to nothing in a bumper/novice hurdle so far.

Form: 84

San Giovanni³⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H Fry

25/1

Some promise on first of 2 starts in bumpers for Emma Lavelle last winter. Has since moved yards ahead of hurdle debut but others appeal more all the same.

Form: 50-

Storm Dennis⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| BFWS

3/1

Fairly useful and progressive in bumpers but has run a long way below that level both starts over hurdles. More needed down in trip after wind surgery.

Form: 62U-135

Barford Diva

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: M Hunt

300/1

Kingston Hill filly. Dam (c94/h110), 2m-2½m hurdle winner, half-sister to fairly useful chaser (3m-25f winner) Graduation Night. Looks best watched.

Form:

Holly⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

7/2

Triple French bumper winner who shaped as if better for the run switched to hurdles after 11 months off when fifth of 12 in a warm mares maiden at Uttoxeter (15.8f) 45 days ago. Should improve.

Form: 1115-5

Hot In The City¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: R Walford

200/1

Has made little impact in a bumper/2 hurdle starts so far but should do better in handicaps over further.

Form: 4/60

Miss Marette^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

200/1

Much improved when fourth at Taunton on her final bumper outing, but has been held back by her attitude both starts over hurdles.

Form: 784-00

Rubys Reward²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Ben Godfrey⁽⁵⁾| T: A J Honeyball

150/1

Showed more than first time up over hurdles when fifth in a 2m Chepstow novice last time, but is still learning jumping-wise and probably won't come into her own until tackling longer trips.

Form: 45-05

Forecasts

Huflower (11/4), Storm Dennis (3/1), Holly (7/2), Braveheart (7/2), Natty Night (13/2), San Giovanni (25/1), Hartnoll Hero (25/1), Great D'Ange (28/1), Island Run (33/1), Honestlyntrufully (50/1), Mister Splash (100/1), Rubys Reward (150/1), Robbie Dazzler (150/1), Jump Over The Moon (150/1), Hot In The City (200/1), Miss Marette (200/1), Barford Diva (300/1), Gorcombe Moonshine (300/1)

HUFLOWER and Holly both come from races working out well, but slight preference is for the former, who seems sure to do much better with that run under his belt. Venetia Williams is in good form at present, so Natty Night, a fairly useful performer on the Flat, is far from discounted on this switch to hurdles.