14:00 Ludlow

Wednesday 19 February 2025

All14:0014:3015:0515:3516:1016:4317:13

RacingTV Members Day EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 3m 50.78s

No Questions Asked¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 138| D

1/5

Point winner who showed useful form in bumpers last term and, save for his odds-on reverse at Doncaster in November, he's otherwise done nothing wrong in 4 starts in this sphere. Fine second in a listed novice at Huntingdon (19.6f, good to soft) last time and likely to prove very hard to beat here.

Form: 16-1312

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Captain Trigger¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn

100/1

Half-brother to 4 winners, including useful hurdler/chaser Captain Cattistock and fairly useful hurdler/chase winner King's Threshold. However, he hardly shaped like a ready-made future winner himself on debut in a Bangor novice hurdle.

Form: 6

Falcao³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

100/1

Equipped with a tongue strap (discarded here), he trailed in a well-beaten last of 7 on debut in a Ffos Las bumper last month. Will need to leave that form well behind if he's to make an impact now switched to hurdles.

Form: 7

Following Chapter⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph

125/1

No real impact in a couple of spins at Chepstow so far and this 5-y-o is probably more one for handicaps further down the line.

Form: 95

John Barbour^t⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| D

7/2

Winning start for new yard when, fitted with a first-time tongue strap, he accounted for 7 rivals in a Uttoxeter bumper in November. Too free when fourth of 12 at Huntingdon next time but, if settling better this time and jumping fluently, he could be a live each-way player on hurdles debut.

Form: 314

Tracking Treasure¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard

17/2

Unplaced both starts in points and failed to beat a rival in a bumper at Fairyhouse in November. Bettered hurdles/yard debut form when third in a 7-runner C&D novice a fortnight ago but the value of that form is questionable and another minor role is the most likely scenario.

Form: 46793

Welcheston Warrier¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Patrick| T: C Boultbee-Brooks

28/1

Offered little sole start in bumpers and only minor promise when sixth of 11 in novice at Worcester on hurdles bow in October. Subsequently brought down at the final flight in a Chepstow novice recently (was well held at this time of his departure) and it's best to look elsewhere.

Form: 8-6B

Amberelli²⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: M Keighley

50/1

Showed more spark than on her hurdles debut when fourth in a 14-runner Southwell maiden (20.4f, good) in June, shaping very much like a stayer. Dropping in trip here won't do her any favours but this is presumably a means to an end with handicaps in mind.

Form: 94

Kershaw County⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly

80/1

First form of a bumper winner, half-sister to fairly useful 21f hurdle winner Clarendon Street out of useful chaser (2¼m-2½m winner, stayed 2¾m) Carrigeen Kalmia. However, she shaped with little encouragement on debut in a Uttoxeter bumper.

Form: 0

The Dancing Lass²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Mrs M Rowley

200/1

No show in a bumper nor 2 starts over hurdles to date.

Form: 680

Forecasts

No Questions Asked (1/5), John Barbour (7/2), Tracking Treasure (17/2), Welcheston Warrier (28/1), Amberelli (50/1), Kershaw County (80/1), Falcao (100/1), Captain Trigger (100/1), Following Chapter (125/1), The Dancing Lass (200/1)

A straightforward task awaits NO QUESTIONS ASKED, who split a couple of useful-looking novices when runner-up in listed company recently and a reproduction of that effort would be more than sufficient. Bumper winner John Barbour could be the one to follow him home if his jumping passes the test, while Tracking Treasure is taken to again finish third, having done so over this C&D two weeks ago.