15:00 Southwell

Monday 6 March 2017

All14:0014:3015:0015:3016:0016:30

grandnational2017.com 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 35.28s

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Selected odds by:

Cona River^t⁷⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill

16/1

Finished in mid-division for what was an above average novice hurdle at Hereford. Looks more of a long term project and one who will be better when handicapping.

Form:

Cruiseaweigh^h1⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George

15/8

Useful bumper horse who has been sent off favourite on all starts to date. Looked set to make a winning debut over hurdles in December before equipment issues intervened. Reportedly bled when disappointing last time and a hood is now fitted. Yard are 12-31 with their hurdlers here.

Form: 2-1

Earlshill^t1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

4/1

Winning pointer who chased home the Tom George trained Sandymount here in December. Ran as though something was amiss next time and a tongue tie is fitted now.

Form: P-12

Royal Village⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

6/4

Beat a subsequent winner in a bumper here in November. Third on hurdling debut and that form has been boosted since.Yard do well on their infrequent visits here.

Form: F13221-

Windy Writer^p⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Kielan Woods| T: S Lycett| OR: 107

25/1

Two of his best efforts have come here. Official rating of 107 suggests he does not have what it will take to land this.

Form: 7FF656-

Midnight Bliss¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: R Patrick⁽⁷⁾| T: C Fryer

100/1

Has shown some form in point-to-points. Hurdling efforts have not indicated she has the ability to be competitive in a race such as this.

Form: 2P422-7

River Arrow³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds

20/1

Ran as though something was amiss last time. Had shown ability prior to that but nothing that suggested she might be up to landing this.

Form: 42-4P13

Non-Runners

Murphy's Nails³³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: T Symonds J: Benjamin Poste

Potters Grenadier⁷⁴

Weight: 11-2| Age: 7

T: G C Bravery J: J M Quinlan

Forecasts

Royal Village (6/4), Cruiseaweigh (15/8), Earlshill (4/1), Cona River (16/1), River Arrow (20/1), Murphy's Nails (20/1), Windy Writer (25/1), Potters Grenadier (33/1), Midnight Bliss (100/1)

Cruiseaweigh clearly has the ability to win a race of this nature judged on his bumper form. He was travelling like a winner before slipping his bit and veering off course at Sandown on his first run over hurdles before experiencing more problems at Newbury last time. It may be more prudent to side with ROYAL VILLAGE who has done nothing wrong so far and ran well enough on his hurdling debut to suggest he will be winning races in this sphere. Earlshill has a tongue tie fitted for the first time which confirms there may have been due cause for a poor run last time. He rates an obvious danger.