16:05 Doncaster

Thursday 8 February 2018

All13:5514:2515:0015:3016:0516:40

Plumbase Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 16:10 | Winning time: 4m 9.24s

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Selected odds by:

And The New^h³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Farrelly| OR: 128| CD

11/2

Useful bumper performer, returned from eight-month break with game success over C&D last month in novice event. Likely has more to offer and on the shortlist again.

Form: 3/376-31

Jurby²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

9/4

Made hurdles bow with solid second at Stratford (2m½f, good to soft) in October after more than 900 days off. Duly opened account in Wincanton novice event last month (heavy) and makes plenty appeal in follow-up bid.

Form: 10/21

Asylo²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: P Holmes

33/1

Won a weak Chepstow bumper (2m good) on debut in December 2016 for Dan Skelton, but then struggled under a penalty in a couple of subsequent starts. Easily fended off in Musselburgh bumper last month debut for new yard, big ask on jumping bow.

Form: 184-6

Doux Pretender⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: N D Fehily| T: N J Henderson

13/2

€190,000 purchase after landing a French bumper. Has not looked one of the stable's better imports so far, but cannot be discounted and worthy of a betting check.

Form: 14-6

Echnaton^h²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: David Noonan| T: L Wadham

100/1

Well beaten in two bumpers and it's been a similar story over hurdles the last twice. Others make more appeal today.

Form: 0-890

First Drift³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Max Kendrick⁽⁵⁾| T: B I Case

25/1

Dual bumper winner in spring 2016, not as good on hurdles bow at Ascot in October of that year and laboured on return from 437 days off over 2m5f at this track last month. Entitled to have needed run and not one to cross off hastily down in trip.

Form: 11/15-4

Kings Monarch²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

33/1

Changed handed for £60,000 after winning sole points-to-point outing. Not impressed in two starts over hurdles thus far, including when sent off 50/1 in Newbury novice last month and unseating early on. Much to ponder at the moment seemingly.

Form: 10U

Lord Getaway¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: T Dowling⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans

100/1

Former point-to-point winner, beaten a long way in pair of 2m5f hurdles races at Ludlow and Ascot last month and needs major improvement now dropped in trip to be competitive.

Form: F-43986

Michael's Mount¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams

12/1

Four-time winner on the Flat for Ed Dunlop at up to 1m4f, interesting recruit to this sphere and merits closer inspection in the betting.

Form:

Ollie Vaar^h³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: L Heard| T: R J Price

25/1

Minor promise shown over C&D in December on second hurdles start (beaten 24L in fourth of eight), readily dismissed in Cheltenham Listed event on New Year's Day and likely will have minor claims at best now.

Form: PF-547

Starcrossed⁴⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Henry Brooke| T: D Skelton

14/1

Modest Flat performer, just an AW maiden success around Chelmsford to show (1m5½f) back in March 2015. Joined the Skelton's for 10,000 gns and interesting to see how he goes now jumping.

Form:

Way Out West^h,t²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: James Best| T: C E Longsdon| D

25/1

Joined this yard for £58,000 having won a Sedgefield bumper in May, didn't show much in Ludlow hurdling bow in November and less impressive still last month at Newbury (2m½f, soft). Not hard to look elsewhere on form.

Form: 1059

Am I Appropriate⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling

16/1

Runner-up in a weak bumper in the summer and has been well held in both starts over hurdles. Stable having a good week and, with the drop in trip likely to benefit, an improved display is expected. Watch betting.

Form: 26P

Valdas Princess⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: O Sherwood

25/1

Showed ability on second bumper start. Has stamina in the pedigree but was weakening when falling at Ludlow on her hurdling debut over 2m5f in December. The benefit of that run and shorter trip will help, but still faces a tall order.

Form: 5-4F

Turning Gold²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

5/2

Rated 83 on the Flat for Sir Mark Prescott having landed pair of 1m Yarmouth handicaps in July. Decent effort on hurdles/stable bow at Wetherby in December and improved with game run to be 1L second at Catterick next time. Should figure prominently.

Form: 22

Non-Runners

Steel Run²⁷

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: N Mechie J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Jurby (9/4), Turning Gold (5/2), And The New (11/2), Doux Pretender (13/2), Michael's Mount (12/1), Starcrossed (14/1), Am I Appropriate (16/1), First Drift (25/1), Ollie Vaar (25/1), Way Out West (25/1), Valdas Princess (25/1), Asylo (33/1), Kings Monarch (33/1), Echnaton (100/1), Lord Getaway (100/1), Steel Run (150/1)

AND THE NEW stayed on strongly when challenged over this C&D last month in a novice event. That was on the back of a layoff, so there is every possibility that he's going to be better off for the run and, despite conceding weight, he could be up to a winning again. Jurby also impressed last month with victory at Wincanton, though may be forced to deal with better ground this time, while ex-Sir Mark Prescott runner Turning Gold has shown enough in two runner-up finishes over hurdles to warrant consideration. First Drift along with newcomers to jumping Starcrossed and Michael's Mount are others to make a note of.