16:20 Stratford

Thursday 3 August 2017

All13:3014:0014:3515:1015:4516:2016:55

Natural Flake Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 16:20 | Winning time: 4m 26.3s

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Selected odds by:

Air Approach^t⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

16/1

Finished second at Exeter in April on hurdles bow, pulled hard and keen to get on with things then, but stayed on to good effect once headed. Could be player now if settling better.

Form: 662-

Boy In A Bentley^p1,t1⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: N D Fehily| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117| BF

5/6

Starting to get the hang of things earlier in the season before leaving Kim Bailey to join this yard. First-time tongue strap and cheekpieces go on now and wouldn't need to improve to stand strong chance of winning start for new trainer.

Form: 5P623-2

Chasing Headlights¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Alexandra Dunn

100/1

Hasn't shown enough in maiden/novice hurdle outings to date to warrant putting forward here, tailed off over shorter journey at this course 11 days ago and has a lot to prove currently.

Form: 9-784

Mister Mister²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Dave Crosse| T: D L Williams

100/1

Winner of a Tyrella point-to-point but has looked moderate on his two latest starts over hurdles including when tailed off over 2m at Worcester last month. Best watched for now.

Form: P14P-49

Phoenix Park^t1⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis

20/1

Remote third on only point-to-point start and has since moved to a good yard that do well with this type. Worth noting in the market with Twiston-Davies booked to ride.

Form: 3

Wild Murphy²⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: L P Aspell| T: Noel Williams

33/1

Nothing to recommend from runs at Market Rasen and Haydock back in November, both over this sort of trip, and returns here for the first time this year. Others are quickly preferred.

Form: P1/5P-

Mccools Gold^p⁵¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King

9/2

Modest Flat winner, has run adequately in three outings in that sphere since joining current trainer. First start over jumps now and one to take note of in the betting.

Form:

Ocean Eleven¹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: M Keighley

9/1

Front-running tactics have been employed in two of three hurdles runs (previously worked on the Flat) but jumping not always fluent and slipped round bend over shorter trip here last month. Has scope for better if none the worse for that misfortune.

Form: 75S

Gvs Irportensa¹²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex

3/1

Decent form in bumpers last season, though was twice a beaten favourite in that sphere. Off since March but likely will have more to offer over timber and booking of the champion jockey bodes well for this return to action.

Form: 225-

Forecasts

Boy In A Bentley (5/6), Gvs Irportensa (3/1), Mccools Gold (9/2), Ocean Eleven (9/1), Air Approach (16/1), Phoenix Park (20/1), Wild Murphy (33/1), Mister Mister (100/1), Chasing Headlights (100/1)

AIR APPROACH is an interesting contender here for Tim Vaughan having finished second on his sole hurdles outing to date at Exeter in April. He was a bit keen then, but still managed to rally well when headed by the odds-on winner and came come a clear second. The third home, Foxy Act, has scored three times in novice company since and, with potential for more to come now, the selection could get off the mark on this return to action. Boy In A Bentley sets the standard on form and should have a major say on first start for his new trainer while Gvs Irportensa, with the champion on board, and Mccools Gold are others to look out for in the betting.