12:55 Wincanton

Saturday 7 January 2023

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

Virgin Bet Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 3m 48.2s

Big Jim Beam³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| CD

10/3

Fairly useful bumper winner. 11/2, hinted at promise when eighth of 16 in novice hurdle at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 34 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: P/F-18

Celtic Art⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

17/2

Useful winner at 12f on Flat. 16/1, shaped well when third of 7 in novice hurdle at Kempton (16f, soft) on NH debut 61 days ago. Seems sure to do better.

Form: 3

Dark Duomo^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White

50/1

Well held in bumper and a pair of Taunton hurdles this winter. Looks more one for the longer term.

Form: 848

Finest Hour²⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁵⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

20/1

£13,000 3-y-o, Coastal Path gelding. Half-brother to 3 winners, including fairly useful hurdle winner/useful chase winner up to 21f Le Chiffre d'Or and fair hurdler Accomplice. Made the frame in a point so this newcomer can't be ruled out.

Form: 4-U

Key Factor⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Lorcan Williams| T: Henry Oliver

200/1

Twice-raced maiden. Thirteenth of 16 in novice hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, 250/1) 60 days ago. Has lots to find.

Form: 33-PP0

King Of Lombardy^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

14/1

20/1, failed to progress from debut Exeter second when only eighth of 17 in novice hurdle there (16.7f, soft) 36 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time now and not written off.

Form: 4-28

Mardoof³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: M Hunt

4/1

Fair maiden on the Flat and showed similar form when third of 14 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, 50/1) 32 days ago. May do better still so he holds leading claims.

Form: 73

Montmartin

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

11/1

£75,000 3-y-o, Montmartre gelding. Brother to French 17f hurdle winner Fannybis and half-brother to 2 winners on Flat. Dam unraced. Of obvious interest on debut. Worth a market check.

Form:

Mullinaree⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris

5/1

Fair form in bumpers for John Walsh and showed promise for his new yard sent hurdling when third in 16.2f novice at Newcastle 42 days ago. Can do better so he needs considering.

Form: 35/3-33

Poncho⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore

9/2

Fair form shown when placed in bumpers at Market Rasen in May and Newbury six months later. Not dismissed now going over hurdles.

Form: 23

Prince Nino^p1,t⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

80/1

Well held in Kempton bumper on only outing for Paul Nicholls 22 months ago. Had a breathing operation before pulled up in novice at Taunton (19f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 8 days ago.

Form: 0/P

Prince Rhinegold⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Miss L Blackford

50/1

Has hinted at promise at Exeter in spring bumper and on hurdling bow 7 months later when fell last. Needs to build on it now.

Form: 6-F

Rock On Harry⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: T Lacey

12/1

Ffos Las bumper winner but he came in a well-held sixth of 12 in novice hurdle (8/1) at Uttoxeter (19.9f, soft) on hurdles bow 48 days ago. Down in trip with more needed.

Form: F7/51-16

Sea Village⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: O Signy

40/1

Twice raced in bumpers, much better effort when seventh of 14 at Exeter (50/1) 54 days ago. No forlorn hope on his hurdles debut.

Form: 6-7

Talimar Pearl⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Tizzard

33/1

33/1, made a promising start when fourth of 11 in novice hurdle at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) on NH debut 44 days ago, not knocked about. Should progress.

Form: 9-4

Unstoppable^h⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: Miss J S Davis

250/1

801. remote fourth of 5 in novice hurdle at Market Rasen (16.6f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 84 days ago. Big step forward needed.

Form: 4-4

Whenitrainsitpours⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Reed| T: M F Harris

80/1

Third in a point but he has offered little in bumper at Bangor and novice hurdle at Newbury this winter. In good hands but lots more is required.

Form: 3-4U

Kings Kuroshio

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

125/1

Kuroshio mare. Half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Krackatoa King, stays 29f, and bumper winner King Kayf. Market can guide for this newcomer.

Form:

Forecasts

Big Jim Beam (10/3), Mardoof (4/1), Poncho (9/2), Mullinaree (5/1), Celtic Art (17/2), Montmartin (11/1), Rock On Harry (12/1), King Of Lombardy (14/1), Finest Hour (20/1), Talimar Pearl (33/1), Sea Village (40/1), Dark Duomo (50/1), Prince Rhinegold (50/1), Whenitrainsitpours (80/1), Prince Nino (80/1), Kings Kuroshio (125/1), Key Factor (200/1), Unstoppable (250/1)

MARDOOF was a fair performer on the level and showed enough when third at Uttoxeter last month to earn the vote here in an open maiden hurdle. Mullinaree is feared most if, as expected, building on his debut Newcastle third for Milton Harris, with Big Jim Beam, Talimar Pearl and Celtic Art all open to improvement and shortlisted.