13:00 Taunton

Saturday 30 December 2023

All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:55

Luke Sergeant Christmas 2023 Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 5m 2.1s

Bingo Little³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling

66/1

Has folded tamely in a bumper/both starts over hurdles so easily passed over.

Form: 6-0P

Centara²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| C

10/11

Mirrored her dam by making an impressive winning bumper debut at this course in March. Ruined his chance by refusing to settle in a Grade 2 at Aintree a month later but should have learnt plenty from last month's Newbury hurdling debut when badly in need of the experience.

Form: 1P-4

Guivinec³⁶

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

33/1

£55,000 buy after landing the second of his 2 starts in Irish points but no more than hinted at ability in Ascot bumper and fared little better sent hurdling at Chepstow last month.

Form: 31-06

Long Draw²⁷⁹

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

9/2

€22,000 3-y-o, £60,000 4-y-o, Affinisea gelding. Dam unraced sister to fairly useful but moody chaser (stayed 25f) Viking Splash. Runner-up on completed start in Irish points (Mar 26) and needs considering on Rules bow for good yard.

Form: F2-

Mersey Street¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Smith⁽⁷⁾| T: J & A O'Neill

18/1

Second in an Irish point and has shown promise in bumpers/over hurdles but looks the type to do better when sent handicapping (needs this for a mark).

Form: 2/34-5U

Native Moon³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall

40/1

Down the field in a bumper/maiden hurdle and won't be of interest this side of handicaps.

Form: 67

Outside Adesa⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: M Hunt

50/1

Runner-up both starts in Irish points but well held completed start over hurdles.

Form: 22-P6

Owl Of Athens

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

33/1

€27,000 3-y-o, Court Cave gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler Townhill Penny, stays 3m. Dam unraced half-sister to Grand National runner-up Pleasant Company. Market for clues.

Form:

Perfect Nelson³³

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

15/2

Fair form when twice runner-up in bumpers in Ireland for Peter Fahey in May. Shaped as if in need of the run after 5 months off when sixth in a Wincanton novice hurdle in October but was beaten in a share of fifth when crumpling on landing last at Kempton last time.

Form: 5-226F

Super Sabre Sam⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: N P Mulholland

66/1

Black Sam Bellamy gelding who is likely to need time and distance and shaped accordingly in a Sandown bumper on debut 48 days ago.

Form: 6

Thunder N Lightnin^t⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

11/2

Placed on both of his starts in points and shaped like a stayer when sixth of 13 in a Kempton novice (21f) on debut in November. This looks less competitive.

Form: 32/6

Dora's Addrezz^t²²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Shane Quinlan⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price

200/1

Offered little tongue tied in a Newton Abbot bumper on only outing for Brian Barr.

Form: 7

Miss Popalong³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

100/1

Finished tailed off in a Ludlow bumper on debut last month. Most likely one for later on.

Form: 0

Nila⁵⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe

28/1

Dam half-sister to useful hurdler/chase winner (stayed 2½m) Nexius. Fair on Flat in France, won 1¾m claimer on final 3-y-o start (claimed from Peter Schiergen €21,000 after). One to consider on hurdle debut.

Form:

Forecasts

Centara (10/11), Long Draw (9/2), Thunder N Lightnin (11/2), Perfect Nelson (15/2), Mersey Street (18/1), Nila (28/1), Owl Of Athens (33/1), Guivinec (33/1), Native Moon (40/1), Outside Adesa (50/1), Super Sabre Sam (66/1), Bingo Little (66/1), Miss Popalong (100/1), Dora's Addrezz (200/1)

Course bumper winner CENTARA should have derived plenty from last month's hurdling debut at Newbury when badly in need of the experience, so he's selected to open his account at the second time of asking in this sphere. Thunder N Lightnin offered something to work on at Kempton on his belated Rules debut and may improve, with Long Draw and Nila others to consider.