13:00 Aintree
Saturday 10 November 2018
All12:2513:0013:3514:1014:4015:2015:55
EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 4f | Good (Good to Soft in places) | 6 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 59.5s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
£115,000 buy following his lone point-to-point start (second) and began to pay that when making a winning debut in a Towcester bumper last season. Two pulled clear there but neither run since so form hard to rate but surely a useful prospect.
Beaten identical distance of 18½L in bumpers at Doncaster (eighth of 11) and Plumpton (seventh of nine). Bred for fences and a true stamina test so this will suit a little better but still likely find a couple sharper.
Won lone start, a Wincanton bumper with a bit in hand although only three ran. Runner-up done little to frank the form although the third has belatedly won low grade handicap hurdles. Could do no more than he did and commands respect here.
Won lone point-to-point (3m) impressively by 9L leading connections to pay €180,000 for him. Half-brother to four winners over hurdles so everything points to him making up into an above average hurdler and probably chaser.
Improved in each of his three point-to-points, winning the last of them. Bought for £80,000 in April and joined a yard who can ready them at the first time of asking so fully expectant of him being competitive here.
Beat all bar a previous winner and odds-on favourite on debut when going down by a nose in a bobbing finish. Third won since and fourth placed in next three so form looks solid and he is beautifully bred for staying contests so leading player here.
Forecasts
Captain Drake (9/4), Redzor (11/4), Quoi De Neuf (3/1), Smackwater Jack (5/1), One For The Team (12/1), Invisible Clouds (50/1)
A really trappy contest this with six hurdling debutants who have all shown ability in either bumpers or point-to-points. A chance is taken on SMACKWATER JACK who went down by the minimum margin to a useful bumper horse from Nicky Henderson's yard on debut in a race that is working out pretty well. Captain Drake rates the main danger having won his lone bumper at Towcester and also showed promise in his lone point-to-point while Quoi De Neuf is another of significant appeal on his debut under rules after a very impressive success in his lone point-to-point.
- Smackwater Jack
- Captain Drake
- Quoi De Neuf
Previous Winners
Prize Money
1st: £5,198.002nd: £1,526.003rd: £763.004th: £382.005th: £350.006th: £350.007th: £350.008th: £350.00
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