14:30 Taunton

Monday 9 January 2023

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

Invest Southwest Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 24.8s

Atlantic Fleet³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

22/1

€50,000 purchase who shaped better than the result when down the field on his Chepstow bumper debut, fading after making headway out wide early in the straight. Quickly switches to hurdles.

Form: 0

Champagne Mesdames^b1³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

28/1

No show in a bumper and 2 novice hurdles. Needs first-time blinkers to spark major improvement.

Form: 7-9P

Danton³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry

7/2

Showed ability when fifth of 14 in bumper at Exeter on debut in November, not ideally placed. Pulled up afer reportedly losing his action on Utoxeter hurdle debut. Retains potential and could be the one to give Afadil most to do.

Form: 5P

Knowwhentorun^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R A Teal

10/1

Fair maiden on Flat but has run well below that level in 2 hurdles in recent months.

Form: 58

Mammies Boy¹⁹

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

9/1

22/1, hinted at ability when 36 lengths eighth of 14 in 2m Hereford novice hurdle on debut 19 days ago. May do better.

Form: 8

Russies Dream³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Davies| T: C J Down

80/1

Little encouragement in a couple of bumpers and a C&D novice hurdle.

Form: 90-8

Tellairsue³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Paul O'Brien| T: D G Bridgwater

25/1

In need of experience when well held in a bumper and maiden hurdle in recent months.

Form: 08

Via Dante^h⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

50/1

Maiden pointer who is likely to need more time judged on what he showed in C&D novice (good to soft) on November's Rules debut.

Form: 548

Afadil²¹⁰

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

8/15

French Flat winner in June. Starts out over hurdles in a weak race and he ought to take a bit of stopping, particularly if the betting vibes are strong. Has had wind surgery.

Form:

Forecasts

Afadil (8/15), Danton (7/2), Mammies Boy (9/1), Knowwhentorun (10/1), Atlantic Fleet (22/1), Tellairsue (25/1), Champagne Mesdames (28/1), Via Dante (50/1), Russies Dream (80/1)

This would appear to represent a good chance for the Paul Nicholls-trained French Flat recruit AFADIL to make a winning start over hurdles, with confidence in his chance increased should the betting vibes be strong. Danton had an excuse on hurdle debut and showed plenty of ability in a bumper prior to that so he's the obvious one for the forecast spot.