13:55 Taunton

Monday 9 January 2023

All12:5513:2513:5514:3015:0015:3516:10

Invest Southwest Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 4m 17.6s

Bascule⁹

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

7/1

Useful on the Flat, successful 4 times on the AW at up to 1¾m. Hasn't shown much in a couple of runs in this sphere at Newbury, albeit the races he contested there were probably significantly stronger than this and he's worth another chance.

Form: 4-8

Blazing Court⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: M Keighley

125/1

Showed only poor form in a pair of bumpers and fared no better on hurdles debut in November.

Form: 559

Freddy Boy⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: D G Bridgwater

200/1

Very green when well held in a Huntingdon bumper in March, and having had a wind op, beaten a long way out when pulled up in novice at Hereford on hurdling debut in November.

Form: 0-P

King's Castle^t¹⁰²

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

14/1

Fair performer on that Flat (stays 1¾m), performing with credit in handicaps at Epsom and Salisbury for new yard in September. Stamina won't be an issue now switched to hurdles and could have a part to play if his jumping passes the test.

Form:

Moodofthemoment¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

15/2

Successful (beat sole other finisher) on last of 4 starts in Irish points. Bettered Rules debut effort when fourth of 15 in a heavy-ground Ffos Las maiden hurdle (15.8f) recently and possibilities here if able to build on that.

Form: P4P1-74

Parc d'Amour³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| BF

10/1

Won Doncaster bumper on debut last spring and there was promise in his hurdles debut third at Uttoxeter (15.8f) on return in November. Disappointing over the same C&D since but it's too soon to write this 6-y-o off.

Form: 1-37

The Scorpion King⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy

28/1

Showed ability in a couple of bumpers last season, particularly when runner-up at Sedgefield, but there have been very few positives to glean from his efforts over hurdles so far.

Form: 42-P7

Uncle Arthur^h³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| D

20/1

Confirmed his debut promise when landing a 6-runner bumper at Worcester (2m) in June. Poor both starts since switched to hurdles, though, and now has plenty to prove.

Form: 3199

Rare Middleton⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

2/5

Fairly useful form in 2 starts on the Flat in Ireland for Andrew Oliver, winner of a 1¼m Leopardstown maiden in October (second has won since). Picked up for 215,000 gns later that month and he's an interesting recruit to hurdling for top yard.

Form:

Birdie Putt¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

150/1

Winless following 5 attempts on the level for the Johnstons and, having changed hands for just 2,000 gns last month, she got no further than the first flight on her recent hurdles debut at Doncaster.

Form: U

Forecasts

Rare Middleton (2/5), Bascule (7/1), Moodofthemoment (15/2), Parc d'Amour (10/1), King's Castle (14/1), Uncle Arthur (20/1), The Scorpion King (28/1), Blazing Court (125/1), Birdie Putt (150/1), Freddy Boy (200/1)

The eyes are immediately drawn to RARE MIDDLETON, who showed plenty in a couple of runs on the level in Ireland for Andrew Oliver and is a potentially useful recruit to this sphere for the Paul Nicholls yard. The weight-for-age allowance he receives from the majority of these is another positive factor. Though well held both starts over hurdles to date, Bascule remains of interest given his Flat ability and Parc d'Amour isn't written off but Moodofthemoment is preferred for forecast purposes.