Sea Merchant Fish Shop Open Today Conditional Jockeys' Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 17:31 | Winning time: 3m 56.8s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Dubai Celebrity^p²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: R D Day| T: C Grant| OR: 102

4/6

Placed on each of his last two outings in handicap hurdles, this gelding has run right up to his current mark of 102. A runner up at Musselburgh (2m), he was stepped up in trip at Market Rasen (2m4f), and appears a versatile sort in his grade, and this won't take too much winning.

Form: 35P/23-2

King Golan^p1,t1¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Graham Carson⁽⁵⁾| T: Kenny Johnson

100/1

His form figures since switched to this trainer make for rather bleak viewing, and there's little other than the application of tongue tie and cheek-pieces to cling to in hope of some improvement.

Form: P0PP9-5

Man Look⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽⁶⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

11/5

Effective over 1m4f on the Flat for Andrew Balding on a sound surface, and cost these connections 50,000 gns in October 2016. Early days, but few signs of that outlay being repaid so far over hurdles, but on Flat form alone ought to have a role to play at this level.

Form: 078-

West Class¹⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Tom Broughton⁽⁵⁾| T: P Winks

6/1

Point-to-Point winner (May 2016) and a solid enough if unspectacular bumper debut fifth to impressive winner Getaway Whiskey at Catterick in November 2016. Not so much promise on hurdles debut the following month and absent since.

Form: 6P157-3

Russian Rascal^t1²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Dale Irving| T: M A Barnes

50/1

Cost just £600 at Ascot in November 2016 having raced on the Flat for a couple of trainers with little promise. Well beaten in a juvenile maiden hurdle on stable (and jumps) bow at Wetherby last month and a likely outsider here. Tongue tied.

Form: 7-4

Beyondtheflame^p1¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Thomas Dowson| T: J C Haynes| OR: 58

66/1

Now an eleven race maiden, and impossible to draw anything positive from her career form figures. Wears cheek-pieces for the first time.

Form: P3P65-7

Canford Kilbey¹⁸⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Mr Kaine Wood⁽³⁾| T: T Coyle & K Wood

66/1

Won on the Flat for Richard Fahey at Thirsk in August 2015 (6F Class 5 handicap), but limited progress thereafter when moved onto Mick Easterby. No promise in two starts over hurdles for that yard, and starts off life for another new yard having been absent since October 2016.

Form: 36-

Non-Runners

Raennavich²⁷

Weight: 10-9| Age: 5

T: M & D Easterby J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Dubai Celebrity (4/6), Man Look (11/5), West Class (6/1), Raennavich (10/1), Russian Rascal (50/1), Canford Kilbey (66/1), Beyondtheflame (66/1), King Golan (100/1)

A handicap mark in the low 100's isn't generally good enough to take a maiden hurdle, but this race is weak in the extreme. DUBAI CELEBRITY has been in fair placed form in handicap hurdles, and he boasts the best hurdles form on offer and should be suited by dropping back in trip tonight. On Flat form alone Man Look is capable of thrashing these rivals, and whilst undoubtedly better on a sound surface (may try to make all) he's appeared a very expensive 50,000 guineas purchase in three runs over hurdles so far.