14:30 Warwick

Friday 24 February 2023

All14:0014:3015:0015:3516:1016:4017:15

Oakman Racing Club EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:31 | Winning time: 4m 40.70s

Henri The Second²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133

11/10

Useful in bumpers and quickly reached a similar level over hurdles, off the mark at second attempt in Sandown Grade 2 in December. Similar form when fourth at Cheltenham (20.2f) since and he's a player returned to calmer waters.

Form: 11P-214

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Hall Lane⁶⁰

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

40/1

Mount Nelson gelding. Showed ability in a Kempton bumper on debut last spring and defied market weakness to make winning hurdles debut at Wetherby (19.7f) in October. Disappointed at Huntingdon on Boxing Day but still early days and type to bounce back.

Form: 5-18

Pachacuti^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

13/2

Came clear with a course specialist when second at Hereford (21.7f) on penultimate start and he ran out an emphatic winner of handicap at Fakenham (20f) next time, making running and staying on well. Open to further improvement but this no easy task back in novice company.

Form: 862-521

Pikar^t1²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 129

6/4

Showed plenty of promise in three starts last term and comfortably bagged 2m novice hurdle at Chepstow on his return in October. Below best next start but quickly back on track when third in Cheltenham handicap (16.8f) last month. Big player equipped with first-time tongue tie.

Form: 2F5-163

Ballinoulart^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: A Ralph

300/1

Made frame both starts in Irish points but no real short-term encouragement to glean from opening pair of maiden hurdle runs in recent months. Handicaps likely to be more his bag.

Form: 4-4P7

Cedar Row¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

150/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in point bumpers but likely longer-term project judged on pair of novice hurdle runs 3 months apart this winter.

Form: 31-P5

Democritus¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Page Fuller| T: Miss J S Davis

300/1

Brother to fairly useful 19f hurdle winner Universal Dave who shaped better than first time up when seventh in 11-runner Warwick bumper in September. Still, this looks a pretty hot hurdles introduction.

Form: 67

Divine Inspiration⁸⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey

40/1

Half-brother to useful hurdler Beauport. Irish point winner who couldn't build on his hurdles debut fourth at Worcester when well beaten at Uttoxeter in December. Another who will hold more chance in handicaps.

Form: 21-40

Dunstall Rambler⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

250/1

Walk In The Park gelding who shaped like a stayer on his sole outing in bumpers at this venue. Upped in trip and offered little on Chepstow hurdling debut, though.

Form: 69

Hey Mister Dj²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph

200/1

€36,000 3-y-o, Jukebox Jury gelding. Showed more than on debut in a Ludlow bumper when staying on gradually into midfield in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle (15.7f) 4 weeks ago. Type to do better further down the line.

Form: 06

Idealdes Villerets⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 114| BF

9/1

Ex-French bumper winner who made a promising hurdles debut (fair form) when second in a Uttoxeter novice (15.7f) in November. Failed to progress when fourth at Hereford since but he definitely remains with potential.

Form: 134-24

Kelsey Park³²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

150/1

Walk In The Park gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner/fairly useful 17f hurdle winner Induno. Dam (h135) 2m-3m hurdle winner. Pulled up sole start in points but has joined a top yard and market should guide.

Form: P-

King's Threshold¹¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

20/1

Bred to stay well and having shaped accordingly on first of 2 starts in bumpers, he showed up well when third on hurdles bow at Uttoxeter (20f) in October. Entitled to progress.

Form: 38-3

Minella Choice²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams

100/1

No real impact in Thurles bumper during early 2021, nor a point later that year but he did hint at ability on belated return/hurdles bow for new yard at Chepstow 3 weeks ago. Can do better in due course for shrewd yard.

Form: 62/7

Key Instinct^t²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King

250/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points (May 2021) and she's displayed ability without seeing her race out in pair of bumpers this winter. Still, likely best watched on hurdles bow. Up in trip.

Form: 2-89

Forecasts

Henri The Second (11/10), Pikar (6/4), Pachacuti (13/2), Idealdes Villerets (9/1), King's Threshold (20/1), Hall Lane (40/1), Divine Inspiration (40/1), Minella Choice (100/1), Cedar Row (150/1), Kelsey Park (150/1), Hey Mister Dj (200/1), Dunstall Rambler (250/1), Key Instinct (250/1), Ballinoulart (300/1), Democritus (300/1)

A number look likely longer-term projects, but PIKAR arrives having run just about his best race to date when third in a Cheltenham handicap 4 weeks ago and he could be worth siding with to get back to winning ways back up in trip. Henri The Second, returned to calmer waters, is a lead threat though, with Idealdes Villerets and Pachacuti others fancied to make the frame.