14:07 Wetherby

Saturday 3 February 2024

All13:0013:3214:0714:4215:1715:5016:25

Wilmot-Smith Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:07 | Winning time: 5m 28.34s

Jo Arengeot Bey Aa³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard| T: D McCain Jnr

25/1

Fetched £50,000 after winning his sole start between the flags. Offered something to work sole outing in bumpers and did the same sent hurdling when third in a 6-runner novice at Haydock (15.6f, heavy) 35 days ago. Longer trip will suit, and he's entitled to do better.

Form: 1-33

Kinder Kid²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss T Jackson

150/1

Third in a point but hasn't offered much in a pair of novice hurdles.

Form: 3/65

Leading Choice⁴⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 115| BF

5/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who showed plenty when placed both starts over hurdles in late 2022. Not seen since but remains the type to do better.

Form: 15/32-

Rock Steady Eddie²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Edward Austin⁽⁵⁾| T: S Corbett

66/1

Placed in a couple of points but looks one for the longer term on early evidence under Rules.

Form: 373-36

Tarras Wood⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls| C

9/4

Overcame inexperience when making a winning debut in a C&D bumper in December 2022. Suffered an irregular heartbeat when pulled up on Warwick hurdle debut 11 months later and shaped better when runner-up at Wincanton (19.8f) last time. Must enter calculations.

Form: 1-P2

To Chase A Dream³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr John Dawson⁽³⁾| T: Paul Collins| OR: 114

6/5

Point bumper winner who has filled the runner-up spot on all 3 outings over hurdles, jumping none too fluently at Kelso (22.7f) on latest occasion. Just about sets the standard.

Form: 81-222

Walk On Quest^t³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell| BF

15/2

£100,000 buy after finishing runner-up in an Irish point in March and, with a tongue strap fitted (also had breathing op), shaped encouragingly when filling same spot in a Kelso maiden (16.2f, heavy) 36 days ago. Sure to progress with the longer trip likely to suit.

Form: 2-2

Non-Runners

Ronnies Reflection²¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: B I Case J: Non Runner

Forecasts

To Chase A Dream (6/5), Tarras Wood (9/4), Leading Choice (5/1), Walk On Quest (15/2), Jo Arengeot Bey Aa (25/1), Rock Steady Eddie (66/1), Ronnies Reflection (100/1), Kinder Kid (150/1)

WALK ON QUEST was caught out by inexperience to a degree when runner-up on his Rules debut at Kelso in December and, with improvement anticipated over this longer trip, he's selected to go one better. Leading Choice hasn't been seen for 14 months but he showed plenty on both his starts in this sphere in late 2022 and remains likely to do better, while To Chase A Dream and Tarras Wood are others to consider.