13:35 Taunton

Thursday 12 December 2024

All12:3513:0513:3514:0514:4015:1515:50

Jetset Holidays Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:35 | Winning time: 4m 1.19s

Alexei^t²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: J Tizzard| C

4/7

Fairly useful 4-time winner on Flat in Germany (stays 1½m) and created a good impression when making a successful hurdling debut in 4-runner novice at this course (19f) 4 weeks ago. Sure to progress and looks capable of defying a penalty.

Form: 1

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Byzantium²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 110| BF

16/5

Won on his only Flat start in France in autumn 2023 and has found only one too good both starts over hurdles 9 months apart, shaping as if need of the run at Chepstow (2m) latest. Remains capable of better.

Form: 2-2

Chedington's Guest²⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke

18/1

Improved under a change of tactics when third of 8 in bumper (22/1) at this C&D (soft), having run of race. Off 8 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 643-

Clever Relation⁶⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis

250/1

Fair on Flat (stays 1¾m), won seller in August, tailed off in handicap last time. Sold from Hughie Morrison's yard for just 4,000 gns.

Form:

D'gesteevo¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott

150/1

Well beaten in bumpers but hinted at ability for the first time fitted with cheekpieces when seventh of 13 in novice hurdle at this C&D (good to soft) 14 days ago. Needs another run for a mark.

Form: 94-R7

Staff Sergeant Len¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: Anthony Charlton

250/1

Fair form standout effort in bumpers but has been tailed off both starts over hurdles.

Form: P25-60

Steel Dancer²³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Godfrey| T: A J Honeyball

150/1

Made an unpromising start to his career when sixth of 10 in bumper at Wincanton (15.2f, good) on NH debut. Off 7 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 6-

Thistle Be The One¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: Kieran Burke| D

9/1

Useful in bumpers, winning on debut at Kempton before an excellent second at Ayr. However, lacks scope and proved a let-down switched to hurdles when fifth of 15 at Kempton 17 days ago. Should be capable of better.

Form: 4/312-5

Torre Del Oro²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon

150/1

Formerly fairly useful up to 1½m for Andrew Balding but has offered little both starts over hurdles.

Form: 76

Tuxedo Junction^t1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| BF

15/2

Fairly useful Flat performer for James Fanshawe and has a promising start over hurdles, building on debut promise when second of 16 in a Wincanton novice (15.2f) just over 6 weeks ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Open to further progress.

Form: 52

Youm Jameel²⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring| T: Evan Williams

250/1

Half-brother to smart hurdler Saglawy (2m winner, by Youmzain). Showed fair form when fourth on second of 3 starts in minor events on Flat but it's a little concerning he broke a blood vessel last time. Makes hurdle/stable bow.

Form:

Calli Black^t1⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: D Weston

25/1

Winner of her sole completed start in points and placed in a couple of bumpers. Upped to 21f for hurdles debut and proved too free to last out at Warwick in October. Tongue tie on. Open to improvement.

Form: 1/3620-6

Don't Tell Rosie⁷⁵⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryan Carver| T: J Scott

150/1

Wll held only outing on Flat for Daniel & Claire Kubler back in late 2022. Can only be watched on this switch to hurdling.

Form:

Non-Runners

Pigeon House¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 4

T: J Candlish J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Alexei (4/7), Pigeon House (5/2), Byzantium (16/5), Tuxedo Junction (15/2), Thistle Be The One (9/1), Chedington's Guest (18/1), Calli Black (25/1), Don't Tell Rosie (150/1), Steel Dancer (150/1), D'gesteevo (150/1), Torre Del Oro (150/1), Clever Relation (250/1), Staff Sergeant Len (250/1), Youm Jameel (250/1)

It was a thin maiden ALEXEI won here last month, but he couldn't have done it any easier and, with the drop in trip holding no fears, he's fancied to defy a penalty en route to better things. Tuxedo Junction and Pigeon House are fancied to give the selection most to think about.