14:15 Taunton

Thursday 2 March 2023

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

Rowcliffes Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:15 | Winning time: 4m 49.02s

Bob Bank³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Ellis Collier⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams

80/1

Soldier of Fortune gelding. Dam (b78), ran once in bumper, half-sister to smart hurdler/very smart chaser (stayed 3¼m) Cooldine and useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 25f) Fists of Fury. Bred to stay well and shaped in kind in bumpers 4 months apart. Up in trip now hurdling.

Form: 96

Exmoor Lad⁸⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott

33/1

Arvico gelding. Dam unraced. Shaped as though in need of the run in a Chepstow bumper on debut in December.

Form: 0

Final Encore³²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: D A Jacob| T: H Morrison| C

13/8

Half-brother to smart hurdler Third Wind for these connections and left his opening bumper run firmly behind when landing 8-runner contest at this venue in April. Off since but this trip will suit now hurdling and he demands a close look.

Form: 71-

Imprevu Du Large²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls

40/1

In top hands but looks pretty limited on early evidence.

Form: 089

Matterhorn^t¹¹⁶

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

5/6

Showed plenty when 11 lengths third of 15 in listed newcomers race at Auteuil in 2021, in lead when landing very awkwardly at the last. Heavy ground and an absence seemed to find him out at Sandown in November but since had a breathing op and much better expected here.

Form: 3/P

Ventara

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

8/1

€52,000 3-y-o: second foal, dam (h96), dual bumper winner, half-sister to unreliable but smart hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 3m) Value At Risk (by Kayf Tara) out of fairly useful staying chaser (won Midlands Grand National) Miss Orchestra. Interesting newcomer.

Form:

Elsieanne¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Bannister| T: D J S Ffrench Davis

100/1

Well beaten in bumpers and similar story over hurdles.

Form: 48079

Lillywave⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

Gentlewave mare. Half-sister to numerous winners, including smart hurdler Attaglance, stayed 3m, and useful hurdler/chase winner Hi George. Dam (h68) bumper winner. Makes plenty of appeal on paper but she didn't show much on January's debut at Hereford.

Form: 8

Archie Macdart³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: James Davies| T: Joe Ponting

28/1

Minor promise only both starts in juvenile company around 2m.

Form: 47

Faded Fantasy¹⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

33/1

Modest maiden on the Flat for Ger Lyons. Market should prove a good guide on his hurdling debut for new yard.

Form:

Forecasts

Matterhorn (5/6), Final Encore (13/8), Ventara (8/1), Archie Macdart (28/1), Lillywave (33/1), Faded Fantasy (33/1), Exmoor Lad (33/1), Imprevu Du Large (40/1), Bob Bank (80/1), Elsieanne (100/1)

FINAL ENCORE managed to do what his smart half-brother Third Wind (for the same connections) failed to achieve when winning a bumper in the spring and with this trip sure to suit now hurdling, he's just about the most persuasive option. Matterhorn shaped very well on his sole start in France and this good type could be a different proposition away from the Sandown mud fitted with a tongue tie, so he's a big threat. Ventara is one to note on his debut.