14:00 Wincanton

Thursday 2 February 2023

All13:3014:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:45

JenningsBet Christchurch Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:03 | Winning time: 3m 40.11s

Celtic Art²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 116| CD

10/3

Useful winner at 12f on Flat and all the better for hurdles debut when accounting for 17-rivals in a C&D maiden 26 days ago, wandering run-in and driven clear. Possible he can do better again moving forward.

Form: 31

Matata^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 120| BF

13/8

Point winner and made a successful start under Rules in ready fashion at Fakenham in October. Runner-up both subsequent starts, latterly at Haydock (15.6f) 5 weeks ago and a repeat here gives him sound claims once more.

Form: 1-122

Aurigny Mill^h,t⁸⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall

28/1

Poor form in couple of bumpers during 2021/22 but showed a bit when fourth in 11-runner Sandown maiden on return/hurdles bow in November. Entitled to progress but handicaps could be more his bag further down the line.

Form: 04-4

Broomfields Cave²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland

80/1

Point winner who has shown fair form in bumpers and when fourth of 12 on his hurdles debut in novice at Taunton (16.5f) in December. Not in same form at Chepstow (2m) since but handicaps could see him in a better light.

Form: 1-12648

Daany^h³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: M G Nolan| T: J Tickle

250/1

Modest on the Flat/in bumpers and made an unpromising start over hurdles at Exeter (16.7f) on New Year's Day.

Form: 93/5-0

Dear Ralphy³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball

100/1

Showed ability in bumpers and shaped bit better than being pulled up suggests over hurdles in an Exeter maiden (18.5f) 32 days ago, dropping away before 3 out. This should reveal more.

Form: 64-9P

Eye Knee^t¹¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: S Hosie

66/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 1¾m) for Tim Easterby. Changed hands for 3,000 gns in October. Watching brief is advised on hurdle debut.

Form:

Far Sight^h1,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

28/1

Made a winning start to his career in a Newton Abbot bumper in June. Definite encouragement when third on return/hurdles bow at Exeter in November but not in quite the same form at Taunton (19f) latest. Hood added to tongue tie now.

Form: 137

Galactic Glow^h,t³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Best| T: J Tickle

250/1

Modest on Flat nowadays and he offered little on hurdles bow at Exeter (16.7f) on New Year's Day.

Form: 0

Gyenyame¹⁰²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

50/1

Fair Flat winner for Andrew Balding who bagged 2m handicaps at Kempton and Ffos Las last summer. Acquired for 42 000gns after but got no further than the second on hurdles bow at Ffos Las in October. This should reveal good deal more.

Form: U

Keepitfrombecky^t³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryan Carver| T: A J Honeyball

200/1

Offered little in bumper/maiden hurdle to date.

Form: 0P

Killaloan^t⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

7/1

Showed fair form in a trio of Irish Flat maidens for Johnny Murtagh in 2021. Off 19 months/had wind op noted doing good late work when third in a Plumpton novice (15.9f) in December and he's a likely improver for his leading stable.

Form: 3

Montmartin²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

80/1

£75,000 3-y-o, Montmartre gelding. Brother to French 17f hurdle winner Fannybis. Not unduly punished when tenth in big-field C&D maiden on hurdles bow last month and this promises to reveal more.

Form: 0

Rocco Royale¹⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan| T: J & A O'Neill

66/1

€30,000 3-y-o, Shirocco gelding. Dam unraced sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 23f) Slieveardagh. Easy to back, never figured when midfield in Worcester bumper (2m) on debut in October.

Form: 6

Shuil Ceoil³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: N P Mulholland

50/1

Still every chance when fell last sole start in Irish points in April and showed a bit in a C&D bumper on Boxing Day. Bred to be more of a stayer.

Form: F-7

Spartan Army^t³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King

7/4

Progressive on Flat and, having changed hands for 170,000gns, he looked a good recruit for new yard when taking a Wetherby juvenile in November. Only midfield in Grade 2 next time but he returns to calmer waters with potential firmly intact. Sound claims.

Form: 15

Tuscan Rose³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N P Mulholland

200/1

Closely related to 4 winners, including useful hurdler/smart chaser King's Odyssey. Easy to back (sent off at 40/1) and offered little in a C&D bumper in December. Probably best watched now hurdling.

Form: 0

Mister Upton⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

66/1

Norse Dancer gelding. Dam unraced. Dropped away home turn when eighth in 12-runner C&D bumper at the start of December. Likely best watched now attentions switch to timber.

Form: 8

Forecasts

Matata (13/8), Spartan Army (7/4), Celtic Art (10/3), Killaloan (7/1), Far Sight (28/1), Aurigny Mill (28/1), Gyenyame (50/1), Shuil Ceoil (50/1), Rocco Royale (66/1), Mister Upton (66/1), Eye Knee (66/1), Montmartin (80/1), Broomfields Cave (80/1), Dear Ralphy (100/1), Tuscan Rose (200/1), Keepitfrombecky (200/1), Daany (250/1), Galactic Glow (250/1)

Having impressed when scoring on his hurdles bow at Wetherby, SPARTAN ARMY couldn't build on that in a Chepstow Grade 2 over Christmas. Still, he wasn't given a hard time when his chance had gone and remaining with potential back in calmer waters, he can take advantage of his handy 4-y-o allowance and get back to winning ways. Matata, Cetic Art and Killaloan head up the dangers, in that order.