12:45 Hereford

Wednesday 21 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

Hereford Motor Group Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:45 | Winning time: 5m 0.45s

Ballinoulart²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: A Ralph

125/1

£14,000 4-y-o, Court Cave gelding. Dam unraced. Made frame both starts in Irish points (latest May 15). Starts out in a warm maiden for the track but worth a precautionary market check all the same.

Form: 4-4

Bannow Bay Boy²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

33/1

Down the field in a bumper but is bred for jumping and showed an aptitude for hurdling when third of 13 in a C&D novice 4 weeks ago. This looks a warmer race but he's entitled to do better.

Form: 2-03

Big Blue Moon³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Patrick| T: T Lacey

100/1

Showed a bit in a Chepstow bumper on last month's debut but likely needs more time.

Form: 8

Captain Rose²⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

80/1

Not badly bred but was well held both starts over hurdles at Exeter last season and will likely be of more interest in handicaps after this.

Form: 57-

Getupearly³⁵

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

66/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points in April and offered plenty to work on when third in a Worcester (2½m, heavy) maiden hurdle on Rules debut. No show at Warwick since, though, and needs to get back on track.

Form: 31-38

Heezer Geezer²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

7/4

Won sole start in bumpers and has shown fairly useful form in finding only one too good both starts over hurdles, albeit possibly a shade flattered at Newbury on latest start. Leading contender.

Form: 1-22

Hot Rod Lincoln²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry

22/1

Successful on sole outing in Irish points and showed plenty to work on when fourth of 14 in a maiden hurdle (3/1) at Chepstow (19.4f) on Rules debut. There's nothing wrong with that form but he went backwards at Lingfield last time. Back up in trip and bounce back needed.

Form: 1-45

Imaginary Dragon²²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Muir & C Grassick

66/1

Pulled up in newcomers event at Auteuil on hurdling debut in March but fared much better when third of 10 in a bumper at Morlaix 2 months later. Subsequently left David Cottin for €42,000.

Form: P-3

Irish Ed^b1¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd| T: M Hunt

250/1

Related to some temperamental sorts and shaped in kind starting out in a tongue strap in a bumper at Exeter 19 days ago. Blinkers quickly reached for.

Form: 0

Issuing Authority³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| BF

1/1

Flemensfirth gelding from a good family. Runner-up in Irish points at second attempt and forged clear to land 5-runner bumper at Uttoxeter in March. Found only one too good on hurdling debut there (19.9f) on last month's reappearance and is sure to improve.

Form: 521-2

Merveillo²¹

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

33/1

Useful on the Flat (stays 16.5f) and shaped better than the distance beaten suggests tried hurdling when a remote third at Haydock (24.3f) 3 weeks ago. Bound to do better at some point (likely to benefit from drop in trip here).

Form: 3

Sandalwood^t³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

28/1

Showed fairly useful form when second on his final bumper run but unseated his rider at the fourth on his Chepstow hurdling debut/reappearance.

Form: 662-U

Shomen Uchi²⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| C

7/2

Confirmed debut promise when landing a C&D bumper in fine style in February. Ran to a similar level when sixth in Grade 2 event at Aintree when last seen and rates a useful prospect for hurdling.

Form: 216-

Student Chap³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

125/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules who went backwards from hurdling debut when eighth of 12 in a maiden at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) 31 days ago. Handicaps presumably up after this.

Form: P/54-48

Talkingtothemoon³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball| D

40/1

Off mark in points at second attempt in May and shaped well switched to Rules when third in a Chepstow bumper last month, rallying from 3f out. Longer trip will suit now hurdling.

Form: 213

Non-Runners

Lady Berlais¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 4

T: T Symonds J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Issuing Authority (1/1), Heezer Geezer (7/4), Shomen Uchi (7/2), Hot Rod Lincoln (22/1), Sandalwood (28/1), Bannow Bay Boy (33/1), Merveillo (33/1), Talkingtothemoon (40/1), Getupearly (66/1), Imaginary Dragon (66/1), Captain Rose (80/1), Big Blue Moon (100/1), Lady Berlais (100/1), Student Chap (125/1), Ballinoulart (125/1), Irish Ed (250/1)

A potentially warm maiden for the track with the vote going to ISSUING AUTHORITY, who pulled clear with another promising type on his Uttoxeter hurdling debut and looks sure to improve. Shomen Uchi was far from disgraced in a Grade 2 bumper at Aintree when last seen and rates a useful prospect for hurdling, while Heezer Geezer can't be ignored either having shown a good level of form on his both starts in this sphere.