12:05 Cheltenham

Friday 15 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

British EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:06 | Winning time: 4m 4.86s

Beat The Bat²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry| OR: 125

3/1

Useful bumper winner who confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut when winning 10-runner maiden at Ascot (19.3f, good) 21 days ago, edging ahead again final 50 yds. Open to further improvement.

Form: 210-21

Kintail³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

14/1

Confirmed debut promise when landing a Warwick bumper in May, despite still looking a shade rough around the edges. Had more in hand than the margin implies when following up on hurdle bow there (19f, heavy) last month and there's better to come.

Form: 2-11

Meatloaf³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

8/1

Dual bumper winner who overcame greenness to make a successful debut over hurdles in 9-runner novice at Wincanton (15.2f) 34 days ago. Sure to progress.

Form: 1251-1

Soldante^t1¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: E Walsh⁽³⁾| T: Ciaran Murphy

40/1

Placed in bumpers and made a successful debut over hurdles in 12-runner maiden at Tramore (16.2f, soft) 17 days ago, leading near finish. Tongue strap on for 1st time and more required to follow up in a better race.

Form: 32525-1

Ascension Day¹⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Danny McMenamin| T: S Lycett

200/1

Didn't show much in 3 starts between the flags but looked all set to record a big-priced debut win under Rules only to career off the course late on at Worcester 6 months ago. Others preferred in a stronger race.

Form: FP9/R

How And Ever^t⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy

200/1

Bought for £17,000 after finishing runner-up on his sole start in Irish points but showed only a bit of promise tongue tied when sixth of 16 in a Chepstow bumper on Rules bow in October.

Form: 2-6

Royal Defender^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe

200/1

Point winner who left his hurdling debut form behind refitted with a tongue strap when third in 8-runner novice at Lingfield (2m) 24 days ago. Needs a lot more in much stronger company here, though.

Form: 15B-93

Shinji³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley| BF

150/1

Looked above average when a bumper for Roger Varian (subsequently sold £60,000) on debut last year but has run a long way below that level both starts over hurdles.

Form: 130-25

Spirits Bay³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

5/1

A useful bumper winner who made a promising start over hurdles when second in a 2m Sandown maiden last month. That performance is backed up by the timefigure and he should improve.

Form: 131-2

Dysart Enos³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| D

5/6

Runner-up sole outing in Irish points looked a good prospect when winning all 3 starts in bumpers, including Grade 2 in decisive fashion at Aintree in April. Kept unbeaten record intact when making a successful start over hurdles at Huntingdon last month and should make considerable progress.

Form: 2/111-1

Brendas Asking²⁷⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

150/1

Runner-up completed start in Irish points and made a sound start to her Rules career when third of 16 in a bumper at Huntingdon (2m, good to soft) in February. However, ran below that form at Southwell the following month and looks up against it on hurdle bow.

Form: F235-

Non-Runners

Micks Jet²⁷

Weight: 10-7| Age: 5

T: P A Kirby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dysart Enos (5/6), Beat The Bat (3/1), Spirits Bay (5/1), Meatloaf (8/1), Kintail (14/1), Micks Jet (20/1), Soldante (40/1), Brendas Asking (150/1), Shinji (150/1), How And Ever (200/1), Ascension Day (200/1), Royal Defender (200/1)

A good race that will likely be form to follow. DYSART ENOS maintained her unbeaten record without much difficulty on her Huntingdon hurdle debut last month and has scope for considerable progress based on her strong bumper form, so she's taken to extend her winning sequence to 5 under Rules. Spirits Bay finished his race off well at Sandown and is a likely improver, while Kintail and Beat The Bat are others to take seriously.