13:30 Exeter

Sunday 1 January 2023

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:50

Watch On Racing TV Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:32 | Winning time: 4m 17.3s

Hugos New Horse³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 123

8/13

Won a Worcester bumper on debut and has made a bright start over hurdles, opening account at the second attempt in a Wincanton novice in November. Followed up on handicap bow at Sandown and he's the one to beat back in a novice.

Form: 19-211

Arthalot^p,t1⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall

33/1

Fair on Flat and offered something to work on sent hurdling at Wincanton in March. More miss than hit on the level since, though, and down the field in novice hurdle at Chepstow in November. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 5-0

Awesome Foursome³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

6/1

Made a winning bumper debut in tenacious fashion at Worcester in May. After 6 months off, failed to meet expectations on hurdling bow at the same course (2m4f), but shaped a bit better when sixth of 7 in a Leicester novice next time. More needed.

Form: 166

Buckhorn Rocco³⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: J Tizzard

11/4

Off the mark at the second attempt in bumpers, finding plenty to score at Sandown in November 2021. Upped in grade, progressed again when mid-field in listed contest at Ascot the following month. Could go well on hurdling debut.

Form: 5/16-

Clay²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: N B King

100/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat for Richard Hannon, but lost his way in that sphere and well held both starts in novice hurdles for current yard.

Form: 06

Daany^h²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: J Tickle| BF

100/1

Standout effort (modest form) in a trio of bumpers back in 2021 when third of 7 at Fontwell (13.7f). Modest performer on the Flat nowadays, down the field in handicap at Wolverhampton on stable debut last month. Best watched on hurdles bow.

Form: 93/5-

Dylan's Double⁴²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: J Tizzard

25/1

Getaway gelding who made some appeal on pedigree and showed a bit when finishing mid-field in a Chepstow bumper back in November 2021, his inexperience telling in the latter stages. Should do better in time over hurdles.

Form: 8-

Galactic Glow^h,t1³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Best| T: J Tickle

200/1

Modest on Flat nowadays, mid-division in handicap at Wolverhampton on stable debut 33 days ago. Wears hood and tongue strap as he now goes hurdling.

Form:

Heresmax⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry

100/1

Dam half-sister to useful 2m/2½m hurdle winner Tervel and fair hurdler (stayed 3¼m) Romaha. Modest maiden handicapper on Flat (probably stays 2m), possibly amiss last time. Makes hurdles debut having left Micky Hammond.

Form:

Imperial Measure³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Clear signs of ability without being knocked about when mid-field in a Chepstow bumper on debut in October. Subsequent hurdles bow at Taunton wasn't particularly encouraging, though.

Form: 67

Sassified²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

12/1

Fairly useful on Flat in Ireland for Johnny Murtagh and showed more than on hurdling debut when fourth of 14 in novice at Taunton in December, not knocked about. Can get involved with further improvement to come.

Form: 64

Call Me Sainte^h⁷¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

150/1

Down the field in a bumper and pair of maiden hurdles back in 2020/21. Makes a belated return to action after 23 months off.

Form: 060/

Cast's Tasha^h1²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke

100/1

Signs of ability in bumpers but offered very little on hurdling debut in mares novice at Fontwell (19.2f) in December. Hood now reached for.

Form: 4-96

With Poise⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: C Gethings| T: C Honour

100/1

Showed a bit more on second outing in bumpers when eighth of 14 at Chepstow in October. However, much more required as she starts off over hurdles.

Form: 4-8

Non-Runners

Danton²⁶

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: H Fry J: Lorcan Murtagh

Freddy Boy³⁹

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: D G Bridgwater J: Paul O'Brien

Instant Gambler²⁴

Weight: 11-1| Age: 7

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Non Runner

Pencil³⁰

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: Nicky Martin J: Lorcan Williams

Forecasts

Hugos New Horse (8/13), Buckhorn Rocco (11/4), Awesome Foursome (6/1), Sassified (12/1), Danton (16/1), Dylan's Double (25/1), Arthalot (33/1), Cast's Tasha (100/1), Imperial Measure (100/1), Clay (100/1), Daany (100/1), Heresmax (100/1), Pencil (100/1), Instant Gambler (100/1), With Poise (100/1), Call Me Sainte (150/1), Galactic Glow (200/1), Freddy Boy (200/1)

HUGOS NEW HORSE sets a clear standard having won 2 of his 3 starts over hurdles, making a successful handicap debut at Sandown on his latest outing. He can land the hat-trick back at this level, with hurdling-debutant Buckhorn Rocco the one who can give him most to think about. Sassified completes the shortlist.