13:15 Leicester

Wednesday 7 December 2022

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:16 | Winning time: 5m 20.1s

Grozni²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Byrnes⁽⁵⁾| T: C Byrnes| OR: 109

4/1

Easy winner of a competitive 23.3f Punchestown handicap hurdle in October and wasn't disgraced when only fourth (having been very easy to back) in a novice at Plumpton last time. Respected.

Form: 031014

Stony Man¹⁹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer| OR: 119

14/1

Fair form in bumpers and built on previous encouragement over hurdles when landing a 5-runner novice at Bangor 6 months ago. More on his plate under a penalty after 6 months off.

Form: 34/345-1

Carlo Du Berlais²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien

50/1

Picked up for £80,000 after finishing second in a point. Showed fair form on the second of 2 starts in bumpers but has run below that level so far over hurdles.

Form: F2/56-87

Hermes Du Gouet¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

7/2

Point winner who was sent off favourite for both of his starts in bumpers last winter, finishing runner-up on both occasions. Shaped as if he would strip fitter for his hurdling debut in a novice at Chepstow recently, so not a forlorn hope.

Form: 122-6

Hilnamix²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: Mrs L Hill

150/1

Winning pointer who didn't offer a great deal when sixth in a novice at Lingfield on hurdling debut. Will probably need more time.

Form: 1232-36

Let's Go Amigo²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| BF

33/1

Fetched £52,000 as a 3-y-o and showed plenty when fifth in a bumper at Warwick on debut. Jumping was erratic over C&D on hurdling debut but could make an impact if he's more accurate in that department.

Form: 52

Mystic Man²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁷⁾| T: O Sherwood| D

80/1

Winning pointer who made a pleasing start under Rules when runner-up in a Stratford bumper (for Philip Rowley). Disappointed on recent hurdling debut at Southwell, however.

Form: 5P1-P24

Not A Light⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

Ex-pointer who was third in an Irish bumper and shaped with encouragement when sixth in a novice at Chepstow on hurdling debut. That form is working out well and he's open to improvement.

Form: 332-6

Safe Destination²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

40/1

Third sole start between the flags but has shown only minor promise in a bumper/over hurdles so far. Probably more one for handicaps.

Form: 3-546

Scamallach Liath²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood

7/2

Successful on last of 3 starts in Irish points and plenty to like about his hurdling debut in a novice at Plumpton. Fancied to open his account if this provides enough of a test (looks a stayer).

Form: FP1-3

Scene One²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| OR: 111

7/2

Third in a well-contested novice at Newbury in March and left the impression he would be fitter for his return when filling the same position in a similar event at Lingfield. One to consider.

Form: 3-3

Forecasts

Scamallach Liath (7/2), Hermes Du Gouet (7/2), Scene One (7/2), Grozni (4/1), Not A Light (9/2), Stony Man (14/1), Let's Go Amigo (33/1), Safe Destination (40/1), Carlo Du Berlais (50/1), Mystic Man (80/1), Hilnamix (150/1)

SCAMALLACH LIATH has already tasted success between the flags and there was enough encouragement in his hurdling debut at Plumpton to think he can get off the mark at the second attempt under Rules. Not A Light shaped well at Chepstow on his first go over hurdles and Scene One is likely to have a bigger effort in him, so they're both dangers in what could be an above-average novice.