14:45 Wincanton

Thursday 1 February 2024

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 3m 49.90s

Dartmoor Pirate²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 121| CD

15/8

Finished midfield in pair of well-contested bumpers but looked considerably better prospect when making winning hurdles debut over C&D in December. No match for an exciting prospect at Huntingdon since but he remains the type to do better.

Form: 7-712

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

American Land^t1¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 108WS

15/2

Placed both starts in bumpers and promising hurdles introduction when third in a big-field Warwick novice (2m, soft) last winter. Shaped as if needing his reappearance run when fourth at Exeter (18.5f) in October and undergone wind surgery since. Tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 323-4

Hawk Stone¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Murray Dodd⁽⁷⁾| T: H Dickin

50/1

Has shown signs of ability in 2 bumpers/first of 2 starts in maiden/novice hurdles this term. However, low-grade handicaps more likely to be his bag.

Form: 0667

Paddy In The Caddy³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White

40/1

£55,000 buy after finishing runner-up on his sole start in Irish points in May. However, finished well held when tenth of 16 in novice hurdle on Rules debut at Exeter (18.5f) on New Year's Day.

Form: 20

Salvatore⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

10/3

Useful on Flat for Peter Schiergen in 2022 (won 2 of his 4 starts) and showed some promise on belated return/hurdles debut for new yard when seventh of 18 in maiden at Newbury (16.3f) in December, looked after when chance had gone. Likely to improve.

Form: 7

Steel Ally⁵¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| BF

7/4

Unlucky not to make a winning start over hurdles at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) in November (landed very awkwardly at the last). Proved a let-down over the same C&D a month later but he's far from one to be writing off.

Form: 257-2P

Galactic Jack^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Harry Reed| T: Anthony Charlton

80/1

Useful on Flat for Andrew Balding and whilst he's yet to feature over hurdles there were some signs of encouragement despite being pulled up in a Kempton juvenile (2m) 3 weeks ago. Not one to write off but handicaps could be more his bag.

Form: P7P

Kentucky Bluegrass^h1¹¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh| T: N J Hawke

66/1

Fairly useful dual winner on Flat (stays 1¼m), signing off time with David O'Meara with a creditable fourth at Ayr (10f) in October. 22,000 gns acquisition later that month and market may prove a useful guide now attentions switch to hurdling. Hood on 1st time.

Form:

Manuelito²³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

33/1

Cracksman half-brother to smart hurdler Navajo Pass (2m-2½m winner). Fair maiden on Flat (stays 1¼m) for Richard Hannon, well held last time. Feasible to think he could have a future in this sphere and worth noting if market vibes are positive.

Form:

Non-Runners

Hugo Alko¹³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: Mrs H R J Nelmes J: Charlie Price

Forecasts

Steel Ally (7/4), Dartmoor Pirate (15/8), Salvatore (10/3), American Land (15/2), Manuelito (33/1), Paddy In The Caddy (40/1), Hawk Stone (50/1), Kentucky Bluegrass (66/1), Hugo Alko (66/1), Galactic Jack (80/1)

STEEL ALLY weakened out of things pretty quickly when last seen at Ffos Las in December yet, he'd previously shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up on his hurdles debut at that venue in November (despite bad mistake last) and is worth another chance to get back on track. C&D winner Dartmoor Pirate rates the chief threat, ahead of Salvatore and American Land.