18:45 Hexham

Saturday 4 May 2024

All16:2517:0017:3518:1018:4519:1519:5020:25

Bobby Roberts Memorial Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race) (Div 1)

Off time: 18:46 | Winning time: 4m 14.5s

Wilful³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116| D

4/6

Progressive winner in bumpers and confirmed the promise of his hurdling debut in good style at Fontwell (19.2f, heavy) 37 days ago, asserting early in straight. Looks up to defying a penalty.

Form: 41221-

Bunker Bay⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond

66/1

Fair handicapper on Flat (stays 2m), won once in 2023. Sold from William Knight's yard for 13,000 gns in October but offered little on hurdling debut at Catterick in February.

Form: 8-

Conquer The Breeze^t¹⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Danny McMenamin| T: M A Barnes| OR: 96

28/1

Showed modest form in 2 maidens on the Flat for A. Slattery and similar form over hurdles for this yard. Improvement needed.

Form: 365-

Famous Liss⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Coltherd| T: W Coltherd

12/1

£6,000 4-y-o, Famous Name gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Little Mixup, stays 2½m. Off mark in Irish points at sixth attempt (finished alone, Mar 17).

Form: 546/U21-

Grand Geste⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

125/1

Never dangerous in 2 bumpers.

Form: 70-

Le Jeune Bresil⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Henry Brooke| T: B Ellison| OR: 113

6/1

Imposing sort who got off the mark in Irish points at the second attempt. Shaped with plenty of encouragement on his second hurdles start at Wetherby (19.7f, heavy) in November but has since shaped as though amiss at Aintree and Catterick. Bounce back called for.

Form: F1/F3PP-

Rock On Jet³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Jonathon Bewley| T: G Bewley

14/1

Jet Away gelding. Brother to fair hurdler/fairly useful chaser Jet Legs. Runner-up both starts in points and shaped better than distance beaten suggests in a Cork bumper only outing for Ms M. M. Gannon.

Form: 225-

Sovereign Star³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

14/1

Placed in Irish points back in 2022. Too free when last of 6 in a bumper at Ayr but offered something to work on sent hurdling when fifth of 15 at Wetherby (2m) 37 days ago.

Form: 3P2/65-

Walk On Quest^t⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: D R Fox| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

7/2

£100,000 buy after finishing runner-up in an Irish point in March and, with a tongue tie fitted (also had wind op), shaped encouragingly when filling same spot in a Kelso maiden hurdle on Rules debut. Proved to be a disappointment when well beaten at Wetherby next time but it's still early days.

Form: 2/25-

Belladinotte⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M Walford

150/1

Well held in bumper/novice hurdle.

Form: 95-

Bettybea⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Callum Bewley| T: S Waugh

250/1

Down the field in a pair of bumpers and was pulled up on Catterick hurdling debut.

Form: 00P-

Paywave³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: Samantha & Jacqueline Coward

250/1

Isn't much on looks or pedigree and could hardly have shown any less at Wetherby (16f, heavy) on debut 37 days ago.

Form: 0-

Forecasts

Wilful (4/6), Walk On Quest (7/2), Le Jeune Bresil (6/1), Famous Liss (12/1), Rock On Jet (14/1), Sovereign Star (14/1), Conquer The Breeze (28/1), Bunker Bay (66/1), Grand Geste (125/1), Belladinotte (150/1), Bettybea (250/1), Paywave (250/1)

WILFUL completed a simple task with ease at Fonwell last time and this looks a good opportunity for him to follow up under a penalty. Le Jeune Bresil has shaped as if amiss the last twice but can pose the main threat if returning to his Wetherby form after a break. Walk On Quest is another with a bit to prove but can't be written off just yet.