13:45 Taunton

Monday 4 February 2019

All13:4514:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:45

Racing To School Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 54.6s

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Selected odds by:

Southfield Stone³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-2| J: Lorcan Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 140| C

4/6

Won a couple of minor novice hurdles before being thrown in at the deep end in the Tolworth at Sandown last time out, performing with great credit to finish third. Seemingly faces a simple task despite giving a penalty away here.

Form: 3-1113

Bold Plan⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126

6/4

£195,000 buy after winning a point-to-point who has chased home useful sorts on his first two starts over hurdles. Less highly tried here and the longer trip a plus.

Form: 12-33

Caspers Court³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: K Woollacott

33/1

Won a Point-to-point and then not disgraced in a bumper at Exeter on rules bow in December. Hurdles debut back there on New Year's Day leaves plenty to work on.

Form: P-160

Corsecombe^p³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: Mark Gillard

150/1

Massive prices on all starts so far and unable to pose any sort of threat, failing to complete in two outings over hurdles to this point. Readily opposed.

Form: 69-PP

Nocturnal Myth⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: A J Honeyball

14/1

Ran well without placing in two bumpers in late 2017, including when placed on good ground at Plumpton. Only raced once since though and was easily beaten in Chepstow maiden hurdle back in the autumn. Watching brief.

Form: 65-7

The Ibbster⁴⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: B Forsey

66/1

A two time winner in point-to-points, this fourth foal is a brother to 3m chase winner Cosway Spirit. Easily fended off in Exeter novice hurdle (2m2½f, good) in October 2017 and not spotted since.

Form: 1542/17-

Sea Present^p¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Rex Dingle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J Du Plessis

150/1

Failed to finish in two point-to-points last year and not much in the way of positives to be drawn from novice/maiden hurdle runs at Exeter so far. Looks up against it.

Form: FP-07

Non-Runners

Dr Sanderson⁶⁸

Weight: 11-10| Age: 5

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Royal Reef¹³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 7

T: Miss C Dyson J: Charlie Hammond

Forecasts

Southfield Stone (4/6), Bold Plan (6/4), Dr Sanderson (6/1), Nocturnal Myth (14/1), Caspers Court (33/1), Royal Reef (50/1), The Ibbster (66/1), Sea Present (150/1), Corsecombe (150/1)

Three-time course winner SOUTHFIELD STONE concedes weight all round but his recent run in the Tolworth Hurdle showed he has more quality than this field and, given his track record here, he looks hard to oppose. Dr Sanderson is next best having run well both starts this season while Bold Plan should benefit from running in a race of slightly less quality than has been the case lately.