12:40 Market Rasen

Tuesday 26 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:4714:2214:5715:32

North Lincs Components Ltd Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 4m 6.59s

Asta La Pasta^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| CD

11/8

Course bumper winner in February and impressed with how readily he picked up the runner-up from the last when following up on Uttoxeter hurdles debut (15.8f) in October. Disappointing at Exeter but got back on track switched to a handicap when third at Sandown (2m) 18 days ago. Sets the standard.

Form: 41-133

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Macanogue⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R Newland| OR: 115

9/4

Improved when landing a gamble in 14-runner maiden hurdle at Kilbeggan (2m, good to soft) in May. Sold out of Luke Comer's yard for £30,000 and ran to a similar level behind an above-average one at Stratford 54 days ago. Likely to make his presence felt again.

Form: 0/959-12

Askmore²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: R Menzies| BF

10/1

Successful on second of 2 starts in Irish points. Finished only mid-filed in his sole bumper but stepped up on that effort sent hurdling when second in 6-runner novice at Carlisle (19.3f) 23 days ago.

Form: P1-62

Daaris^p²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lee Edwards| T: K Frost

22/1

Fair Flat winner who improved on his first run in this sphere when third in 9-runner novice at Doncaster (16.6f) 24 days ago. That form has a rather muddling look to it, though.

Form: 73

Geordie Night^h⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁷⁾| T: N Kent

40/1

Half-brother to numerous winners but very little encouragement to be gleaned from both outings in bumpers and on C&D hurdle debut.

Form: 80-9

Nick The Greek²⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gregory| T: O Murphy

20/1

Clovis Du Berlais gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser (2¼m-19f winner) Adagio des Bordes. Unplaced completed start in points in April but has joined a top yard and would be all the more interesting if backed.

Form: F4-

Taras Halls²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

4/1

Bumper winner for Lucy Wadham who was backed as though expected to go close when falling third in a novice at Wetherby on hurdling debut 27 days ago. Retains potential.

Form: 120-F

Foursome⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: Olly Williams

100/1

Belatedly off the mark on Flat at Nottingham in October. Backed that up when second at Redcar 9 days later but beaten a long way on last month's Huntingdon hurdle debut.

Form: 9

Forecasts

Asta La Pasta (11/8), Macanogue (9/4), Taras Halls (4/1), Askmore (10/1), Nick The Greek (20/1), Daaris (22/1), Geordie Night (40/1), Foursome (100/1)

ASTA LA PASTA got back firmly on track switched to a handicap in a first-time tongue strap (retained here) when third at Sandown 18 days ago, despite being left with too much to do, and this looks a good opportunity for him to defy a penalty. Taras Halls didn't get very far on his Wetherby hurdle debut but was backed as though expected to go close and retains potential. Macanogue is likely to make his presence felt, too.