12:50 Taunton

Thursday 30 November 2023

All12:1712:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

Taunton Racecourse Business Club 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:51 | Winning time: 4m 3.21s

Matterhorn^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 128| CD

4/9

Went the right way last season and defied a penalty in fine style following a breathing operation and 7-month break over C&D 2 weeks ago. Type to go on improving and has leading claims despite double penalty.

Form: 3/P12-1

Ballee¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

9/2

Showed fairly useful form when second on the better of his 2 bumper runs for Gerald Quinn and was given a considerate introduction to hurdling for new yard when third of 9 at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) 19 days ago. Open to improvement.

Form: 52-3

Bruce Gobbler⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: P Hobbs & J White

200/1

Last of 4 sole start in point bumpers and again failed to beat a rival in a Newton Abbot bumper on Rules debut last month.

Form: 4-9

Captain Bill^p1³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

250/1

No encouragement in a bumper/maiden hurdle 7 months apart. Cheekpieces on for 1st time.

Form: 0-P

Contramar³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

150/1

Looked one for the longer term when well held on last month's debut at Wincanton.

Form: 0

Ferret Jeeter¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: A J Honeyball

200/1

Showed fair form on the first of 2 runs in bumpers but has been well held both starts over hurdles 6 months apart. Low-grade handicaps likely to be on the agenda after this.

Form: 28-76

Getuptheyard^t1⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke

200/1

Getaway gelding who has been well held in a brace of bumpers 7 months apart. Tongue tied for hurdle debut.

Form: 7-4

Go To War³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| BF| D

9/4

Made a winning bumper debut at Uttoxeter and built on that promise when eighth of 20 in Grade 2 event at Aintree in April. Looked set to be involved in the finish when jinking/unseating his rider approaching 3 out on his hurdles debut at Exeter and retains plenty of potential.

Form: 18-U

Heard That⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

66/1

Comfortably held sole outing in bumpers and just modest form in 2 novice hurdles at Warwick. Needs this for a handicap mark.

Form: 52-485

Sangiovese²⁴

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

80/1

Runner-up in a Newton Abbot bumper in July and seems to be being brought along with handicaps in mind over hurdles, sixth of 11 in a novice at Plumpton (20.5f, good to soft) 24 days ago.

Form: 256

Senor Diaz¹⁹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: J W Mullins

150/1

Showed a bit when third of 6 in a bumper at Southwell (15.8f, good) on debut in May but more required now switching to hurdling.

Form: 3

Solstice Saint¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: A J Honeyball

150/1

Half-brother to 4 winners but went backwards from his debut when last of 17 in a Warwick bumper 19 days ago, folding as if amiss. Now goes hurdling.

Form: 50

Birdhouse²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| D

150/1

Made second bumper start a winning one at Fakenham in February but lacks the physique and pedigree for jumping and has shown little in a brace of novice hurdles.

Form: 71-8P

Lady Balko¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D Pipe

100/1

Successful on her sole outing in Irish points in February but went with little encouragement switched to Rules at Exeter 10 days ago.

Form: 1-6

Forecasts

Matterhorn (4/9), Go To War (9/4), Ballee (9/2), Heard That (66/1), Sangiovese (80/1), Lady Balko (100/1), Birdhouse (150/1), Solstice Saint (150/1), Contramar (150/1), Senor Diaz (150/1), Getuptheyard (200/1), Ferret Jeeter (200/1), Bruce Gobbler (200/1), Captain Bill (250/1)

MATTERHORN wasn't extended to land the odds on his return over C&D a fortnight ago and, providing this doesn't come too soon, he looks up to defying a double penalty. Go To War looked set to be involved in the finish at the very least when jinking and unseating his rider approaching 3 out on his hurdles debut at Exeter and retains plenty of potential based on his bumper exploits, while Balee should have benefited from a considerate introduction to hurdling at Wincanton and can fill the places.