12:55 Taunton

Monday 8 January 2024

All12:5513:2513:5514:2515:0015:3016:05

Farmers Friend Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:56 | Winning time: 4m 52.45s

Insurrection^t³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 132

4/6

Irish point winner who showed plenty sole start in bumpers and, following wind surgery, scored on return/hurdles bow at Exter (16.7f) in November. Excellent second in small field Grade 2 since and big player returned to calmer waters.

Form: F14-12

Lucky Place²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 130| D

13/8

Runner-up only start in bumpers back in May and having filled same spot on hurdles debut at Huntingdon (15.8f) in November, he took a marked step forward to open his account in big-field Doncaster novice (19.4f) 24 days ago, quickening clear impressively. Lead claims with more to come.

Form: 221

Azolo²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones| T: Ben Clarke

200/1

Big prices and well held in bumper/2 starts over hurdles to date.

Form: P2-0P0

Brucie Bonus⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: Miss Sarah Robinson

500/1

Showed little in bumpers and similar story in 2 hurdle starts to date.

Form: 9P/98

Come On Paddy Mac^p⁴³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland

100/1

Off mark in Irish points at fourth attempt but offered little in 2 hurdle starts for Laura Young last year. Can only be watched now starting out for new yard.

Form: PP51/PP-

Guivinec⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: A J Honeyball

125/1

£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 not built on that in pair of hurdle attempts in recent months. Possibly one for low-grade handicaps.

Form: 31-06P

Last In Line¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: James Davies| T: G Deacon

300/1

Saddler's Rock gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Norse Legend. Well held in bumper/novice hurdle 9 months apart.

Form: 8-P

Nordic Storm²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

125/1

£45,000 Norse Dancer gelding. 12/1, never figured when tenth of 15 in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f) 26 days ago. One for the longer term.

Form: 0

Owl Of Athens⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

€27,000 3-y-o, Court Cave gelding. 33/1, showed ability when midfield in 14-runner C&D novice on hurdles debut 9 days ago, keeping on gradually without being knocked about. Type to do better further down the line.

Form: 7

Pescatorius²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: H Dickin

200/1

No show in bumpers and well held in fourth on Wincanton hurdles bow 3 weeks ago. Another likely type for handicaps in this sphere.

Form: 0-74

Golden Ace²⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J ScottWS

9/2

Successful on bumper debut at Wincanton last winter and having run to a similar level when fifth at Ascot next time, she took a step forward when second in 20-runner Aintree Grade 2 on final outing in the spring. Had wind op ahead of return/hurdles debut and she's not out of things.

Form: 152-

Forecasts

Insurrection (4/6), Lucky Place (13/8), Golden Ace (9/2), Owl Of Athens (66/1), Come On Paddy Mac (100/1), Nordic Storm (125/1), Guivinec (125/1), Pescatorius (200/1), Azolo (200/1), Last In Line (300/1), Brucie Bonus (500/1)

LUCKY PLACE created a taking impression when opening his account over hurdles at Doncaster 24 days ago, and with the prospect of more to come, he earns the vote to follow up under a penalty. Insurrection, who finished runner-up in Grade 2 company latest, rates the chief threat. Golden Ace, who was fairly useful in bumpers, is another to note now hurdling.