12:30 Fontwell

Sunday 19 November 2023

All12:3013:0013:3314:0414:4315:1915:50

Bet Clever BetGoodwin Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:30 | Winning time: 4m 39.72s

Berlais Du George²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins

17/2

Safely held starting out in a Kempton bumper in February but did at least show a bit more when fourth switched to hurdling at Plumpton last month.

Form: 8-4

Classic Lord²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 116

16/5

Useful on Flat. Yet to get anywhere near that level over hurdles but stepped up on reappearance run/debut for current connections when third in 15-runner novice at Ludlow (15.8f) last month. Slight step up in trip will help, too.

Form: 440-73

Highway One O Four¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon

80/1

Better effort in bumpers 11 months apart at Plumpton on return, forced wide for effort but holding second for most of straight. Started out over hurdles in a warm event at Ascot and showed nothing.

Form: 0-30

Intimate²⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V WilliamsWS

85/40

Picked up for €30,000 having finished ½-length second in bumper at Le Lion d'Angers for Alain Couetil last April. Low-key start for current yard, including over hurdles but he's in excellent hands and has since undergone breathing surgery.

Form: 662/88-

Kotari²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

18/5

Fair maiden on Flat (stays 10.5f), left Jean-Claude Rouget/off 12 months before promising effort last time. Switched to hurdles in an ordinary race and stable has superb record here.

Form:

No More No^t1¹⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Mrs Izzie Hill⁽⁷⁾| T: Mrs L Hill

40/1

€12,500 3-y-o, eighth foal, half-brother to 2 point winners, dam ran twice over hurdles. Unplaced completed start in points (May 14). Tongue tie on for Rules debut.

Form: P-7

Sabyinyo²⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West

12/1

Fairly useful at up to 1m on the Flat. Offered little on hurdling/stable debut at Sandown in December but left that effort behind when fifth of 10 at Warwick 2 months later.

Form: P5-

Grangeclare North¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Reed| T: J & S Best

150/1

Limited impact in bumpers/novice hurdle.

Form: 3530-P

Step It Out Goldie²⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon

11/2

€8,000 3-y-o, Soldier of Fortune mare. Dam unraced half-sister to useful hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 21f) Emily Gray. Failed to complete all 3 starts in points but did display some ability when third in a Cork bumper in March. Since transferred to Chris Gordon and market can guide.

Form: PFU3-

Forecasts

Intimate (85/40), Classic Lord (16/5), Kotari (18/5), Step It Out Goldie (11/2), Berlais Du George (17/2), Sabyinyo (12/1), No More No (40/1), Highway One O Four (80/1), Grangeclare North (150/1)

KOTARI's stable debut on the level last month was pretty encouraging, and switched to hurdling in an ordinary race, he has plenty to recommend him. Classic Lord is an obvious threat having been pulled out of his engagement at Uttoxeter on Saturday, with Step It Out Goldie one to monitor in the market starting out for Chris Gordon.