13:20 Hereford

Monday 6 November 2023

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:20

NAF Racing Best Turned Out League 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 13:21 | Winning time: 4m 53.12s

Banteer²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F NichollsWS

7/2

Westerner gelding who made a pleasing start when second in an Exeter bumper (16.7f) in February. Not in same form at Stratford (16.3f) in April but he's undergone wind surgery ahead of return/hurdles debut and no surpise to see him get back on track.

Form: 25-

Kick Up A Storm^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

12/1

£78,000 purchase as a 3-y-o but low-key start in a Wincanton bumper 12 months ago. Shaped as if better for the run following wind op/11 months off when third in 7-runner Worcester novice hurdle 25 days ago but this should reveal more.

Form: 6-3

Magic Seven³²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| BF| C

1/1

Useful form when impressively making his second start in bumpers a winning one here (16.2f) 12 months ago. Not in same form when fourth back here a month later but he returns with potential firmly intact now attentions switch to hurdling. One to consider.

Form: 414-

Meranti²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis

50/1

Mid-field both starts over hurdles in Ireland and signed off time for Stuart Crawford with fourth-place finish in a bumper in May. No match for superior rival in 2-runner C&D novice on yard debut last month and handicaps entitled to be more his bag.

Form: P0-642

Face d'Music¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: G Sheehan| T: Katy Price

11/2

Finished third on only outing in Irish points in May and subsequently sold for £100,000. Another worth monitoring in the betting for positive vibes ahead of Rules/hurdles debut.

Form: 3

Gentleman Jacques³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon

7/1

Promise on first 2 starts in bumpers and step forward back from 6 months off when keeping on for third at Warwick (2m) 32 days ago. No reason why he won't make his mark over hurdles and not out of things.

Form: 49-3

Prairie Diamond⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: M Keighley| C

22/1

Well backed and the confidence was justified when winning 6-runner bumper here (16.2f) in February. Entitled to be sharper for his reappearance run at Worcester (2m) in September now attentions switch to timber.

Form: 1-4

Gladys Eva Jane¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Max Kendrick| T: J Coulson

200/1

Showed fair form in bumpers whilst looking ungenuine. First run for yard after leaving Peter Bowen for only £5,000 in August.

Form: 48-23

Non-Runners

Steel Ally²³²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: S Thomas J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Pearl Island¹⁹⁴

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: H D Daly J: R Patrick

The Winslow Boy¹⁹⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 4

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Sammy's Guarantee¹¹

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: T Lacey J: Stan Sheppard

Forecasts

Magic Seven (1/1), Banteer (7/2), Face d'Music (11/2), Gentleman Jacques (7/1), Pearl Island (7/1), Steel Ally (8/1), Kick Up A Storm (12/1), The Winslow Boy (16/1), Prairie Diamond (22/1), Meranti (50/1), Sammy's Guarantee (50/1), Gladys Eva Jane (200/1)

MAGIC SEVEN displayed useful form when landing the second of his 3 starts in bumpers at this venue last winter and he could be the way to go now hurdling back from 10 months off. Fellow hurdles debutant Banteer may emerge as the chief threat, with Steel Ally and Gentleman Jacques a couple of others to consider.