14:50 Wetherby

Friday 31 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2515:5516:2516:55

racingtv.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 5.9s

Cruz Control⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

30/100

Fairly useful in bumpers (a winner on second start) and made the perfect start in this sphere with a stylish victory at Newcastle (16.9f, soft) on Boxing Day. Jumped none too fluently when seventh in Cheltenham Grade 2 next time but fancied to get back on track returned to calmer waters.

Form: 217-17

Call Him Now¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

125/1

Maiden Irish pointer who finished well held in pair of novice hurdles at Carlisle/Newcastle during second half of last year. Handicaps over further entitled to be his bag in due course.

Form: P59-96

God's Own Getaway⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

15/2

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser Indian Hawk. Stepped up on low-key debut effort despite still looking rough around the edges when midfield in 14-runner C&D bumper in February and interesting what the market makes of him now sent hurdling.

Form: 97

Iheardupainthouses¹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Paula Smith

250/1

Modest form sole start in bumpers and following an unsuccessful stint in points, he's offered little both starts in novice/maiden hurdles for present yard.

Form: 6-3578

Montmartin⁵⁷

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

33/1

£75,000 3-y-o, Montmartre gelding. Brother to French 17f hurdle winner Fannybis. Made a fairly low-key start in finishing well held in pair of big field Wincanton novice hurdles so far this year and he's another best watched until tackling handicaps.

Form: 00

Percy Willis¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Jedd O'Keeffe

28/1

In reasonable heart on the level over the winter but he remains with little form over hurdles, again not convincing with his jumping when well beaten at Sedgefield 17 days ago.

Form: P-47

Thistlebuffs⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

7/2

Fame And Glory gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Millen To One, stays 2¾m. Showed plenty to work on amidst greenness when fourth of 12 in novice hurdle at Kelso (16.2f, heavy) on debut in January and he's very much the type to improve.

Form: 4

Belleloise^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: G Hanmer

150/1

Showed little in bumpers and essentially fared no better for switch to hurdling to date.

Form: 550-986

Delgany Dreamer¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: C Brace| T: D Skelton

25/1

Blue Bresil mare. Dam, French 2m hurdle winner. Easy to back, shaped as if she'd come on for the experience when fifth in 6-runner Huntingdon bumper on debut 16 days ago. This ought to reveal more now sent hurdling. Yard also saddle God's Own Getaway.

Form: 5

Non-Runners

Nab Wood

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: N G Richards J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Cruz Control (30/100), Thistlebuffs (7/2), Nab Wood (7/2), God's Own Getaway (15/2), Delgany Dreamer (25/1), Percy Willis (28/1), Montmartin (33/1), Call Him Now (125/1), Belleloise (150/1), Iheardupainthouses (250/1)

An impressive winner on hurdles debut at Newcastle in December, CRUZ CONTROL jumped none too fluently and ultimately never figured at Grade 2 level at Cheltenham a month later. However, the return to calmer waters rates an obvious plus and he ought to play a lead role despite conceding weight all round. Thistlebuffs, on the back of his encouraging debut effort at Kelso, newcomer Nab Wood and God's Own Getaway head up the dangers.