13:15 Taunton

Thursday 30 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:30

Newton King Estate Agents Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 48.7s

Brave Kingdom^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| BF| D

8/13

Landed a bumper for Harry Whittington last winter and ran out an impressive winner on Chepstow hurdle debut for new stable. Not disgraced up in grade at Sandown since, and looks the one to beat.

Form: 3/1-13

Mr Tambourine Man^p,t⁷¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-5| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 116WS

14/1

Fair winning hurdler who has hit the frame on each of his four outings for David Pipe but looks vulnerable returning to novice company in a strong event.

Form: 3-12424

Ballyblack⁶⁸

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

28/1

Shirocco gelding. Half-brother to fair 2½m hurdle winner Quarry Girl. Dam unraced. Off mark in Irish points at fifth attempt last time (Oct 23). Not a forlorn hope.

Form: P5P-P1

Groom De Cotte²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: S Curran

150/1

Bred to need time and down the field in bumper at Warwick 3 weeks ago, so hard to make a case for switched to hurdling.

Form: 9

Here Hare Here⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

100/1

Promising start when third in a Taunton bumper on debut in April but failed to build on it in two subsequent outings. Will probably have an educational hurdling debut.

Form: 3-55

Justified¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

14/1

Fair stayer on the Flat for Mark Johnston and made a positive start for his current yard when third in a novice hurdle at Fakenham. Place claims.

Form: 3

Kayf Baha⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: Alexandra DunnWS

66/1

€50,000 3-y-o, Kayf Tara gelding. Dam modest 2m hurdle/chase winner. Won second of 2 starts in Irish points last time (Oct 17). Worth a market check

Form: 41

Last Royal⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 121| BF

11/4

Had wind op and off 15 months before promising third of 15 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) on return, then yet to be asked for effort when fell at Huntingdon 4 days ago. Big player.

Form: 12-3F

Monviel⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White

28/1

Half-brother to a couple of winners and showed something to work on when sixth at Ascot 40 days ago. Longer trip should suit but this is a tough assignment first up over hurdles.

Form: 6

My Rockstar¹⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs H E Rees

200/1

Placed on first of 2 starts in Irish points. Disappointing in a bumper/novice hurdle for Sam Thomas, though, so up against it on first outing for a new yard.

Form: 36-45

Social City²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

33/1

Five-time Flat winner who lost his form for Tony Carroll and was fourth in a novice at this course on his first go over hurdles. Looks more of a handicap type.

Form: 4

Sure Listen²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: Mrs F M Shaw

300/1

Fourth in a point but no show on either start under Rules to date.

Form: 4-90

Wolfspear²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| BF

9/1

€110,000 Fame And Glory gelding who cosily landed a bumper before shaping a bit better than the result in a novice at Uttoxeter on hurdling bow, not having a hard time. Should have learned from that.

Form: 14

Scealoghan²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Gray

250/1

Looked rather limited in Irish bumpers, and was pulled up on stable/hurdling debut at Chepstow 26 days ago.

Form: 3944P

Forecasts

Brave Kingdom (8/13), Last Royal (11/4), Wolfspear (9/1), Mr Tambourine Man (14/1), Justified (14/1), Ballyblack (28/1), Monviel (28/1), Social City (33/1), Kayf Baha (66/1), Here Hare Here (100/1), Groom De Cotte (150/1), My Rockstar (200/1), Scealoghan (250/1), Sure Listen (300/1)

BRAVE KINGDOM looked a bright prospect when winning his first two starts and, although he came up short in a Grade 2 at Sandown last time, he was far from disgraced, so he's capable of doubling his tally over hurdles back in calmer waters. Last Royal's third at Chepstow on his last completed outing is very strong form, so he's feared most.