Jenkinsons Caterers Conditional Jockeys' Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 5m 27.4s

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Selected odds by:

Destined To Shine^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-5| J: Harry Reed| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 104

10/11

Broke his hurdles duck when scoring in a determined manner at Hereford (2m3f+) last week; carries a 7lb penalty for that success, but this longer trip is within range and conditions should be riding very similar today; leading contender.

Form: U604-21

Carrolls Milan²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-1| J: C Brace⁽⁸⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 107

9/2

Still open to improvement under rules after making just three starts (cost £20,000 out of the Irish PTP scene); evidently handles the majority of ground conditions and isn't harshly treated from an opening handicap mark of 107.

Form: B726-24

Dark Invader¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 106

10/1

Reverts to hurdling (0-4) for the first time since March following a laboured effort at Exeter (2m1f+) latest; the forecast ground conditions are less of a concern than his more obvious stamina flaws (totally unproven).

Form: F23515

Stop Talking¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J Candlish| OR: 102

9/2

Mare who has very much found her voice (and feet) post wind surgery; driven out when beating The Redballoon by 1¼L at Southwell (2m, good) latest; half-sister to a 3m hurdle winner, so should stay further; solid chance.

Form: 767521

Black Anthem⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Houlihan| T: B Barr| OR: 90| BF

7/1

16-race hurdles maiden who continues on a downward spiral in the weights; placed on various occasions as a novice but those runs are a very faint memory nowadays; not the solution.

Form: PP6-377

Thomas Crown³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Charlie Hammond| T: D Faulkner| OR: 80

50/1

Soundly beaten in both starts in handicap company (over hurdles) and is a 17-race maiden under rules; holds little conceivable chance on all known form.

Form: P74700

Non-Runners

Cuban Pete²⁴

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: Miss V Williams J: Hugh Nugent

Forecasts

Destined To Shine (10/11), Stop Talking (9/2), Carrolls Milan (9/2), Black Anthem (7/1), Dark Invader (10/1), Cuban Pete (10/1), Thomas Crown (50/1)

Barring accidents, this race lies between the recent winners Stop Talking and DESTINED TO SHINE. The Jennie Candlish-trained mare is a improved performer for wind surgery and should handle this step up in trip being a half-sister to the 3m hurdle winner High Ho Sheriff, but last week's 10L Hereford scorer is preferred. Kerry Lee's 6yo Dubai Destination gelding ploughed through the rain-softened ground beating Soulsaver in a determined manner. Switched to a conditional jockeys' race under a 7lb penalty (with Jonjo O'Neill Jnr aboard), he looks primed for a continued winning spell with rain now becoming an ever increasing fixture.