13:30 Haydock

Friday 30 December 2022

All12:3013:0013:3014:0014:3015:0015:30

Betfred TV EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 3m 57.01s

Matata^h⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| BF| D

11/10

Half-brother to 5 winners. Successful on his only point outing and made a winning start under Rules in ready fashion at Fakenham in October. Better form in defeat when second at Wetherby and he's a leading player back in a novice.

Form: 1-12

War Soldier³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ryan Mania| T: A M Thomson| OR: 116| D

2/1

Point recruit who made a successful start in bumpers at Newcastle last December. Confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when landing 8-runner maiden there (16.2f, good) last month and no surprise should he improve again.

Form: 5/317-41

Cerendipity³⁸⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Willmott⁽³⁾| T: J Parkinson & S SmithWS

20/1

Sageburg gelding from good jumping family. Finished mid-field in a pair of bumpers towards the back end of 2021 and the market can guide expectations on return/hurdling debut. Has had a wind op.

Form: 45-

Chairman Fitz¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin

300/1

€20,000 3-y-o, Califet gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to useful hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 3¾m) Fletchers Flyer. Third sole start in points but no impact in a bumper/novice hurdle recently.

Form: 300

Claras Soldier²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien

150/1

Only ninth at Ascot first time out and went backwards from that effort at Chepstow earlier this month. Looks one for later on with attentions now switched to hurdling.

Form: 90

Playtogetaway⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

50/1

Every chance when fell 2 out sole start in Irish points (Feb 27). Failed to see things out when midfield in a Warwick bumper and folded in disconcerting fashion on his first start over timber at Hereford last month. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: F-69

Roccovango²²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

40/1

Placed on first couple of outings in bumpers but possibly amiss when last seen in May. Has since left M. M. Lynch and worth a cursory market check ahead of this hurdling debut.

Form: 32-0

Sleeping Satellite³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| D

4/1

Cost £85,000 after winning his sole start in Irish points in February and justified support switched to a bumper at Catterick (15.7f, good to soft) last month, edging ahead final 1f. Makes plenty appeal ahead of this hurdling debut.

Form: 1-1

Sonnemoser⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

12/1

Showed promise in a pair of bumpers at Chepstow and similar comment applied when finishing runner-up without being given an overly hard time at Ffos Las (15.8f, soft) last month. Better to come.

Form: 48F-2

White Rhino²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

250/1

Offered little in novice/maiden hurdle in recent weeks so tough to see him involved.

Form: 70

Maid Of The Night⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| D

50/1

Point winner at the second attempt but she hasn't made much of an impact in 3 starts under Rules, always out with the washing on hurdles bow at Bangor last time.

Form: 416-59

Forecasts

Matata (11/10), War Soldier (2/1), Sleeping Satellite (4/1), Sonnemoser (12/1), Cerendipity (20/1), Roccovango (40/1), Playtogetaway (50/1), Maid Of The Night (50/1), Claras Soldier (150/1), White Rhino (250/1), Chairman Fitz (300/1)

This could revolve around the two penalised runners MATATA and War Soldier, with preference for Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge provided he settles better. The aforementioned War Soldier got off the mark at Newcastle last month and with further progress on the cards, he looks the obvious threat. Hurdling debutant Sleeping Satellite and Sonnemoser round off the shortlist.