12:55 Wincanton

Saturday 8 January 2022

All11:4512:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

John Romans Park Homes Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 5m 51.32s

Flemenstide⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls

4/5

Exeter bumper winner last January and did the job well when landing a 4-runner Ascot novice (21.6f) on return/hurdles debut. Looks sure to improve and yard has won 2 of the last 3 runnings of this.

Form: 219-1

Unanswered Prayers⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122

6/4

Uttoxeter maiden winner in October and has improved since, chasing home subsequent Challow winner Stage Star at Newbury (20.5f) last time. May well have more to offer and he's a big player.

Form: 225-1D2

Angus De Bull²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: David Noonan| T: R Potter

250/1

Beaten a country mile on each of his 2 starts to date and looks set for another struggle.

Form: 00

Bold Conduct²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard

18/1

Winner of sole start between the flags and didn't shape badly back from over 3 years off on Rules debut in an Exeter novice in November. However, shaped as though amiss at the same course next time.

Form: 1/6P

Bonza Boy²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott

16/1

Stepped up on his inauspicious display in a bumper when fourth of 14 on hurdles debut at Exeter (16.7f) last month. This stiffer test should be right up his street, but will find easier opportunities.

Form: 04

Money Spinner^h1²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

66/1

No show in a couple of maiden hurdles and huge step forward now equipped with a hood.

Form: 76

Pitch It Up⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

22/1

Jumping ultimately let him down on debut in this sphere at Chepstow, and mistakes again proved costly late on when last in a 3-runner Leicester novice (20.5f) next time. Others preferred.

Form: 0-03

Takoda^t²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: H Brown

125/1

Wide-margin winner between the flags last spring and didn't shape badly on Rules debut in a bumper here. However, well held back here on last month's hurdles bow in a first-time tongue strap.

Form: 1-50

Love Actually²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J J Burke| T: Kieran Burke

50/1

Off the mark in Irish points last May and showed ability on second attempt in this sphere when fifth of 13 at Exeter (18.5f). Still, she's probably more one for handicaps further down the line.

Form: 4-1U5

Non-Runners

Blue Stello⁶⁴

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Flemenstide (4/5), Unanswered Prayers (6/4), Blue Stello (3/1), Bonza Boy (16/1), Bold Conduct (18/1), Pitch It Up (22/1), Love Actually (50/1), Money Spinner (66/1), Takoda (125/1), Angus De Bull (250/1)

Though FLEMENSTIDE's future almost certainly lies over fences, the manner of his winning hurdles debut at Ascot suggested that he can make his mark in this sphere prior to tackling the larger obstacles in due course. Unanswered Prayers chased home Flemenstide's classy stablemate Stage Star at Newbury and might have to settle for second again.