15:25 Fontwell

Sunday 29 January 2023

All13:0513:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:35

Cazoo Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:25 | Winning time: 5m 8.1s

Birdman Bob³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: A Irvine

80/1

Acquitted himself better than odds of 150/1 suggested that he might when fourth of 12 on debut in a 2m novice at Lingfield in November but finished well held back there a month later, leading until 4 out. Others make more appeal.

Form: 40

Byron Hill²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: D A Jacob| T: R Hughes

16/1

Fairly useful stayer on the level. Shaped better than end result would suggest on last month's hurdles bow at Plumpton but since finished well held back on the level.

Form: 7

Doyen For Money⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

8/1

Posted encouraging fifth of 13 in bumper at Chepstow (16f, good to soft) in November but failed to meet expectations switched to hurdles at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) a month later. Step up in trip should be in his favour.

Form: 1-54

Heresmax^t1²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: P Gundry

200/1

Modest maiden handicapper on Flat for Micky Hammond but too inexperienced to make any impact starting out over timber at Exeter recently. Tongue tie on.

Form: 0

In d'Or²⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams

9/2

Down the field on sole outing in bumpers but has shown fairly useful form over hurdles, placed in newcomers event/juvenile at Auteuil in 2021/22. Left E. Grall for €140,000 in May and is an obvious contender on UK/yard debut.

Form: 23-

Mullins Bay³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

4/1

Fetched £165,000 as a 3-y-o and boasts a good jumps pedigree. Never looked like justifying favouritism on debut at Newton Abbot in October and shaped similarly to his debut 11 weeks later at Huntingdon on Boxing Day. Couldn't be in better hands now hurdling.

Form: 34

Ohnodonttakemehome⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: P G Murphy

11/1

Runner-up twice in bumpers last season but has failed to convince with his jumping on both outings over timber so far. May do better with more experience.

Form: 22-84

Our Champ⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 111

13/8

Successful sole start in points and showed plenty when finishing close fourth on Rules/bumper debut at Killarney in May. Similar story over hurdles, finishing runner-up twice at Plumpton in 3 starts and he should be in the mix with a repeat effort.

Form: 1-4252

Rivers Corner³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

20/1

From a good jumping family but well held in 2 bumpers last month and may need more time. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 75

Stans The Man⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: James Best| T: Ella Pickard

10/1

Lightly raced and was on trainer number 3 for third outing when successful in a Chepstow bumper in October. Just a modicum of promise in both outings over hurdles so far though, so likely he will find a few too strong.

Form: 3/4-173

Sister Saint³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

50/1

Well-bred sort in top hands but failed to see her race out in a Chepstow bumper and has looked very limited so far on both outings over hurdles. May need more time.

Form: 8-97

Forecasts

Our Champ (13/8), Mullins Bay (4/1), In d'Or (9/2), Doyen For Money (8/1), Stans The Man (10/1), Ohnodonttakemehome (11/1), Byron Hill (16/1), Rivers Corner (20/1), Sister Saint (50/1), Birdman Bob (80/1), Heresmax (200/1)

A few in with a squeak but IN D'OR has already run to a fairly useful level in France, and having changed hands for €140,000 in May last year, he's fancied to make a winning start on UK/yard debut. Mullins Bay was placed on both starts in bumpers and he may emerge as the main danger on hurdling debut, with Our Champ rounding off the shortlist.