14:50 Taunton

Tuesday 26 March 2024

All14:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:5017:20

Chetwood Investment Management Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 21.65s

Diamond Dice³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

3/1

Showed promise in bumpers and left his hurdling debut form behind when landing a 15-runner maiden at Ludlow (15.8f, heavy) 34 days ago, jumping well and travelling powerfully. Has a penalty to shoulder but likely to progress further.

Form: F25661

Cave Article¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

200/1

Runner-up completed start in points but was pulled up in a maiden hurdle at Doncaster on Rules debut and again offered little at Fakenham last time.

Form: P-2P6

Diesel Line^h⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott

8/1

Attracted support and made a winning debut in good style in 9-runner bumper at Exeter in February 2023. However, has been disappointing both starts over hurdles.

Form: 1-30

El Curamach^t1¹⁰⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: R Potter

66/1

Hinted at ability when well held in a Chepstow novice hurdle (19.4f, heavy) on debut 108 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 5

Gentlieman Ross^h1¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Harriet Tucker⁽⁷⁾| T: Ella Pickard

300/1

Swerved and unseated rider first over C&D (soft, 150/1) on debut 15 days ago. Hood quickly reached for.

Form: U

Intrepide Sud^t⁶⁰⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| D

14/1

Fair bumper winner who is bred to do better in this sphere but has a 20-month absence to overcome and Ryan's Rocket appears the stable's first choice on jockey bookings.

Form: 1/621-

Katopop¹²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: S Hosie

250/1

Runner-up completed start in points but has shown nothing in 2 novice hurdles 10 months apart.

Form: 2FP-9

Pillar Rock¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

80/1

Half-brother to 3 winners, including fairly useful hurdler Monviel and French hurdler Wealth. Looks one for handicaps after this.

Form: 076

Ryan's Rocket¹⁰³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

8/13

£110,000 purchase following an Irish point win. Shaped better than the distance beaten suggests sole outing in bumpers and produced a promising first effort over hurdles when second in a C&D novice in December. Sure to improve and very much the one to beat.

Form: P/1-02

Skin Full³⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D Pipe

20/1

€8,000 3-y-o, £82,000 4-y-o, Doyen gelding. Half-brother to fair hurdler I Am Spider Man, stays 2¾m, and modest hurdler Maggie O, stays 2½m. Runner-up sole outing in Irish points (Apr 2023).

Form: 2-

Telenn D'annain³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: R T Dunne| T: Christian Williams

300/1

Well held in a brace of bumpers 8 months apart.

Form: 69

Manuelito⁵⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

11/1

Cracksman half-brother to smart hurdler Navajo Pass (2m-2½m winner). Fair maiden on Flat (stays 1¼m) for Richard Hannon who was given a considerate introduction to hurdling when a well-held third at Wincanton 54 days ago. Possibly more one for handicaps later on.

Form: 3

Nobody Told Me¹⁶⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: David Bass| T: D Faulkner

80/1

Fair handicapper on Flat, stays 13f, below form last 4 starts. Sold from Jedd O'Keeffe for only 8,500 gns in October.

Form:

Non-Runners

Kentucky Bluegrass⁵⁴

Weight: 10-9| Age: 4

T: N J Hawke J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Ryan's Rocket (8/13), Diamond Dice (3/1), Diesel Line (8/1), Manuelito (11/1), Intrepide Sud (14/1), Skin Full (20/1), El Curamach (66/1), Nobody Told Me (80/1), Pillar Rock (80/1), Kentucky Bluegrass (100/1), Cave Article (200/1), Katopop (250/1), Telenn D'annain (300/1), Gentlieman Ross (300/1)

RYAN'S ROCKET pulled clear with one verging on useful on his hurdling debut over C&D back in December and should prove hard to beat with improvement forthcoming. Recent Ludlow-scorer Diamond Dice appeals as the one to give him most to think about ahead of stablemate Intrepide Sud.