13:00 Wetherby

Wednesday 16 February 2022

All13:0013:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:22

Visit Irish Store Sales With ITM Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 15.60s

Abuffalosoldier²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: B S Hughes| T: W Greatrex| D

5/1

Strong at the finish when winning Southwell bumper and followed that up on hurdles bow at Wincanton (19.8f), showing a good attitude to dig it out after briefly looking in trouble. Respected.

Form: 311

Rafferty's Return¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Quinlan| T: R Menzies| OR: 121| D

15/8

Some promise in a brace of bumpers and made winning debut over hurdles after 10 months off at Newcastle, jumping fluently/making all. Good second under a penalty over C&D 11 days ago, clear of rest.

Form: 54-12

Viva Lavilla³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 128| D

11/10

Won 19.5f Lingfield maiden hurdle in November and progressive form in defeat in a couple of Grade 2s since, 8¼ lengths fourth in Leamington Novices' Hurdle at Warwick (21f, soft) last time. Form pick.

Form: 1-124

Autonomous Cloud²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Winner of bumper at Exeter for Colin Tizzard and encouraging start over hurdles for new yard when third at Leicester on belated return. Looks more of a stayer/chaser, though.

Form: 19-3

Baghdad Central¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent

150/1

Winning Irish pointer but well held both starts over hurdles.

Form: 0-P715

Beat The Edge¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Dowson| T: T D Easterby

150/1

Runner-up completed start in points (Dec 12) but only hinted at ability both starts over hurdles.

Form: P254

Burrow Seven⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Oakley Brown⁽⁵⁾| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

16/1

Twice-raced maiden. Better effort in bumpers when second of 12 at this course (16f, heavy) 40 days ago, no match for winner. Makes hurdles debut. Up in trip.

Form: 52

Follow Your Arrow²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: D B Hurst⁽⁷⁾| T: G Bewley

40/1

Twice-raced maiden. 150/1, Left debut well behind when third of 12 in novice hurdle at this course (16f, good to soft) 20 days ago. Back up in trip. More needed again.

Form: 4S-3PP3

Glebe Road¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon

80/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. 20/1, fourth of 9 in novice hurdle at Leicester (20.5f, soft) 14 days ago. Looks one for handicaps.

Form: 7-164

Johnson's Blue²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: M Walford

300/1

Westerner gelding. Shaped as if in need of the experience when last of 4 in novice hurdle (18/1) at Catterick. Unsuited by drop in trip next time.

Form: 49

Pileup²⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Midgley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Walford

200/1

Valirann gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to Queen Mother Champion Chase winner (stays 2½m) Put The Kettle On. Pulled up in sole start in Irish points (May 2021).

Form: P

Sir Jim^t1³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Callum Bewley| T: Ruth Jefferson

200/1

Well held in 2 bumpers and on hurdles bow. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 86-5

Non-Runners

The Player Queen⁷³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: R Dobbin J: Non Runner

Poetria²⁹

Weight: 10-0| Age: 4

T: M Walford J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Viva Lavilla (11/10), Rafferty's Return (15/8), Abuffalosoldier (5/1), The Player Queen (10/1), Autonomous Cloud (14/1), Burrow Seven (16/1), Poetria (16/1), Follow Your Arrow (40/1), Glebe Road (80/1), Beat The Edge (150/1), Baghdad Central (150/1), Sir Jim (200/1), Pileup (200/1), Johnson's Blue (300/1)

VIVA LAVILLA has acquitted himself well in a couple of Grade 2s since making a winning hurdle bow at Lingfield and can resume winning ways back down in class. Abuffalosoldier showed a good attitude when following up his bumper win in a novice hurdle at Wincanton and rates the main threat, ahead of fellow penalised-winners Rafferty's Return and The Player Queen.