13:10 Fakenham

Friday 15 March 2024

All13:1013:4514:2515:0515:4516:2517:05

Robert Case Memorial Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 5.1s

Bluegrass^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 106

5/6

Useful on the Flat for Aidan O'Brien earlier in his career (placed in the 2022 Dante). Not at that level over hurdles but again shaped well when second in 5-runner handicap at Huntingdon (15.8f, heavy) 12 days ago and this looks an excellent opportunity to go one better.

Form: 220-732

Cave Article²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

80/1

Court Cave gelding. Dam unraced half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 25f) Casey Jones. Runner-up completed start in points but was pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Doncaster on Rules debut 23 days ago.

Form: P-2P

Daniel Deronda^h,t²²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: Mrs S J Humphrey| OR: 92

20/1

Modest maiden hurdler who ran below form at Yarmouth when last seen on the Flat in August.

Form: 24/5675-

Juan Bermudez²⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard| T: D Skelton| D

7/2

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat for Andrew Balding, stays 2m. Ran poorly final 2 outings in that sphere but still warrants plenty of respect starting out over hurdles at an ordinary level.

Form:

Rumoursareflying²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alex Edwards| T: Mrs P Sly| OR: 106

10/3

Down the field in bumpers but has run to a fair level last 2 starts over hurdles, including when second in 9-runner novice at Southwell (15.8f, heavy) 26 days ago. Good claims.

Form: 50-8442

Drill To Dream^p¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: P & J Clutterbuck

100/1

Modest maiden on the Flat who was well held tried hurdling at Huntingdon 12 days ago.

Form: 7

Sceptic⁷⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams

28/1

Useful handicapper at best on Flat, stays 1m, folded tamely last time. Remains to be seen whether he's got the stamina for this discipline.

Form:

Sir Cilia⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Benjamin Poste| T: M Crawley

16/1

Modest maiden on the Flat who was well held on Warwick hurdle debut 53 days ago.

Form: 5

Bubblecraft^t¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Sean Quinlan| T: M Wigham

125/1

Fair at up to 13f on the Flat in France but was pulled up on hurdles debut at Leicester in November and has shown nothing back on the level subsequently. Tongue tied for first time over hurdles.

Form: P

Non-Runners

Galactic Jack⁴³

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: Anthony Charlton J: Bradley Harris

Forecasts

Bluegrass (5/6), Rumoursareflying (10/3), Juan Bermudez (7/2), Galactic Jack (14/1), Sir Cilia (16/1), Daniel Deronda (20/1), Sceptic (28/1), Cave Article (80/1), Drill To Dream (100/1), Bubblecraft (125/1)

BLUEGRASS has been shaping up well in handicaps lately and this looks an excellent opportunity for him to open his account as a hurdler. Rumoursareflying probably should have won at Southwell last time and is an obvious threat, with fairly useful Flat recruit Juan Bermudez also worthy of consideration.