16:00 Wincanton

Wednesday 5 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:05

Blackmore Vale Hurdle 1867 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 2)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 3m 50.0s

Alfie Sharp

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: R Mitford-Slade

40/1

£9,000 3-y-o, Scorpion gelding. Dam unraced. Best watched.

Form:

Diamond Egg^t1³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

5/2

Opened his account in bumpers at Huntingdon in May but has proved to be a disappointment over hurdles so far. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 53-1U43

Gallopade^h¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: W Greatrex| OR: 103

11/10

Schiaparelli gelding who won both bumper starts last season and left hurdles debut effort behind when third in Ludlow novice. Improved again when close second in similar event there 2 weeks ago and is the pick on form on that effort.

Form: 11-632

Hoodlum¹²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

150/1

£15,000 3-y-o, Aizavoski gelding. Dam (h97) made frame only start over hurdles. No promise when last of 13 in bumper at Chepstow on NH debut 123 days ago.

Form: 0

Royal Max⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/1

Comfortably held in 2 bumpers in the first half of 2022 but he was prominent in the betting on both occasions and showed an aptitude for hurdling after 10 months off when fifth of 15 in Ludlow maiden 6 weeks ago, not unduly punished. Should progress.

Form: 0-65

Smart Casual¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

16/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding who shaped well when fifth of 11 in bumper at Ffos Las but well held switched to hurdles at Taunton 16 days ago.

Form: 59

West End Boy²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

7/1

Westerner gelding who proved easy to back and shaped like a longer-term project when sixth in an 8-runner Sandown novice on debut. In the process of showing similar form when falling 2 out there next time.

Form: 6F

My Lady Phoenix²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: J Scott

100/1

Well held in 2 bumpers and maiden hurdle.

Form: 508

Non-Runners

Coogan's Bluff⁴⁷

Weight: 11-6| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gallopade (11/10), Diamond Egg (5/2), Royal Max (4/1), West End Boy (7/1), Smart Casual (16/1), Coogan's Bluff (16/1), Alfie Sharp (40/1), My Lady Phoenix (100/1), Hoodlum (150/1)

Dual-bumper winner GALLOPADE is getting the hang of things over hurdles now and this looks a good opportunity. Royal Max showed something to work on when fifth in a Ludlow maiden 6 weeks ago and is the obvious threat in what looks a weak maiden.