13:53 Taunton

Wednesday 21 December 2022

All12:5313:2313:5314:2314:5315:2315:53

Cornish Rock Gin Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:53 | Winning time: 4m 42.0s

American Sniper²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| C

7/4

Runner-up sole in Irish point who has made a promising start under Rules, showing a good attitude when landing Chepstow maiden and Taunton novice last month. He can do better still now racing beyond 2m so rates a player.

Form: 2-22U11

Lallygag¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| D

4/6

Has made an excellent start over hurdles this season, recording back-to-back Exeter wins before very good second there under a double penalty 19 days ago. Holds good form claims.

Form: 212-112

Afta Party^h,t³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie

28/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Alice Haynes. Changed hands for 15,000 gns and made an encouraging start when fourth of 10 in 2m Huntingdon maiden last month. Can build on it now.

Form: 4

Call Me Tlalok^t²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke

150/1

Had wind op before tailed-off ninth of 10 to American Sniper in novice hurdle here 27 days ago. Hard to warm to.

Form: 8P-9

Gabriel's Getaway³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball

40/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 66/1, excellent sixth of 12 in novice hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f) 30 days ago, not knocked about. Open to progress now his stamina is drawn out more.

Form: 7048-6

Ipsos Pierji³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin

100/1

150/1, tenth of 15 in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, good to soft) 37 days ago. Needs another big step forward.

Form: P-90

Silver Atom¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

50/1

80/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time when remote fifth of 10 in novice hurdle at Sandown (16f, soft) 18 days ago. More is required.

Form: 9-55

St Patricks Bridge²⁵

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

66/1

Found just one too good back in a Market Rasen bumper in September but hasn't shown much in this sphere the last twice.

Form: 35-206

Urban Soldier⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

8/1

€28,000 Soldier of Fortune gelding who shaped well on his hurdling debut when second of seven in novice over C&D last month. Winner ha gone in again so he's much respected.

Form: 8-2

Non-Runners

Lunar Contact³⁴

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: A King J: Thomas Bellamy

Forecasts

Lallygag (4/6), American Sniper (7/4), Lunar Contact (6/1), Urban Soldier (8/1), Afta Party (28/1), Gabriel's Getaway (40/1), Silver Atom (50/1), St Patricks Bridge (66/1), Ipsos Pierji (100/1), Call Me Tlalok (150/1)

AMERICAN SNIPER has shown a really likeable attitude in scoring twice this term and with this longer trip a plus he is taken to edge out market rival Lallygag, who has also started life well over hurdles and seems sure to go well once more. Both Urban Soldier and Lunar Contact shaped promisingly on their respective debuts in this sphere and need considering too in a competitive maiden hurdle.