15:45 Hereford

Saturday 16 December 2017

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

Chase GB 'Junior' Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:45 | Winning time: 4m 3.1s

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Selected odds by:

Apres Le Deluge

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: H Morrison

7/1

Unraced gelded son of Stormy River out of a winning Flat mare in France. Worth a check in the market for a stable who can boast a 17% strike-rate (4/23) in bumpers in recent seasons.

Form:

Azumini¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon

14/1

Purchased for €55,000 at the breeze-up sales last year but under pressure when unseating rider in a bumper over an extended 1m5f at Towcester (good) last month. Stepping up in trip today.

Form: U

Call Him Anything

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: Mat Salaman

25/1

Unraced home-bred son of Mount Nelson and a half-brother to useful hurdler Spice Fair. Stable not renowned for debut winners and probably best watched today.

Form:

Involve¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: M Hamill⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

12/1

Promising debut prior to weakening late on when finishing eighth in a bumper over an extended 1m5f at Towcester (good) last month. Yard in good form at present (5/22) and interesting to see how he fares upped in trip.

Form: 8

Topofthecotswolds¹⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Alain Cawley| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| BF

5/4

Ran well to finish third in a bumper over an extended 1m5f at Towcester (good) on last months debut. Had a couple of today's rivals behind him on that occasion and he is one for the shortlist today.

Form: 3

Zee Man

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: T E Whelan| T: David Dennis

12/1

Unraced son of Soldier Of Fortune purchased for £2,000 at the sales in August last year. Half-brother to a winner on the Flat in France and market support would be interesting on racecourse debut.

Form:

Zoltan Varga¹⁴

Age: 3| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: M R Channon

11/4

Plenty to like about his three outings in bumpers so far including when 5L second over 1m6f at Carlisle (soft) on his penultimate outing. Step up in trip looks likely to suit and he is one to note in this contest.

Form: 624

France Du Lukka

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: Miss J Du Plessis

25/1

Unraced daughter of Kap Rock and a half-sister to four time winner Dom Lukka. Market support would be interesting for a small stable on racecourse debut.

Form:

Kestrel Valley

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard

25/1

Unraced daughter of Dr Massini out of a winning hurdler. Yard 0/10 with their bumper horses in recent seasons and others make more appeal today.

Form:

Nowheretoexit⁵³

Age: 3| Weight: 10-7| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D A Rees

33/1

Finished well beaten when making her debut in a 1m5f bumper at Exeter (good-to-soft) in October. More needed if she's to register her first career success today.

Form: 7

Forecasts

Topofthecotswolds (5/4), Zoltan Varga (11/4), Apres Le Deluge (7/1), Zee Man (12/1), Involve (12/1), Azumini (14/1), Kestrel Valley (25/1), France Du Lukka (25/1), Call Him Anything (25/1), Nowheretoexit (33/1)

TOPOFTHECOTSWOLDS made a pleasing debut when placed at Towcester last month and he is taken to go one better than when runner-up on that occasion. The selection represents a leading yard and can get the better of Zoltan Varga who shapes as if this step up in trip will suit while the debutant Apres Le Deluge can claim third on his racecourse debut.