13:00 Taunton

Thursday 12 December 2019

All12:3013:0013:3014:0514:3515:1015:40

Racing To School Novices' Hurdle (Div 2)

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 4m 28.1s

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Selected odds by:

Wild Max²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| CD

2/7

Dual winner on the Flat in Germany and made the perfect start to his hurdling career when winning a maiden event over this C&D on good ground last month. Represents a top yard and another bold show looks likely.

Form: 1

Dog Of War^t¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

12/1

Placed in a good ground bumper at Wetherby in March. Improved on hurdling debut when finishing 8¾L sixth on good-to-soft ground here last time out but more is needed if he's to take this event.

Form: 73-96

Etat Major Aulmes³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: O Signy

50/1

Showed ability in finishing 22L sixth in a 2m1f bumper at Carlisle (soft) when making his racecourse debut early last month. Interesting to see how he performs on hurdling debut.

Form: 6

Filou Des Issards¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

25/1

Promising 13L third in a point-to-point at Dawstown (3m, good) in May. Well beaten on both starts under Rules however most recently when 40L ninth on hurdling debut at Ludlow (2m, soft) last month.

Form: 389

Folly Gate³³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lizzie Kelly⁽³⁾| T: Mrs J Williams

40/1

Failed to figure when beaten 40L in a novice hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (good) on racecourse debut last month. Probably best watched at present.

Form: 8

Horatio Star³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon

25/1

Winner over 1m6f on the Flat at Bath (good-to-firm) in July but finished a well held seventh on hurdles and stable debut over 2m5f at Kempton (good) last month. Others make more appeal.

Form: 7

Mr Minerals^t¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: Alexandra Dunn

100/1

Twice a winner on the AW but could finish only 11th over an extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton last month on his most recent start. Others hold stronger claims on hurdles debut.

Form:

Sellingallthetime²²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: M D I Usher

100/1

Promising 16L fifth in a big field novice hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Wincanton (good) on debut in October. Failed to back that up over an extended 2m3f at Chepstow (soft) subsequently and others hold stronger claims.

Form: 50

A New Siege^t⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: N J Hawke

100/1

Well held 27L 11th when making her debut in a bumper over 2m1f at Carlisle (soft) in October. Tongue tie worn that day is retained for this hurdles debut.

Form: 0

France De Reve⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| BF

7/2

Bumper winner on heavy ground over an extended 1m3f at Brehal in August last year. Disappointing 21L seventh on hurdles and stable debut at Uttoxeter (2m) last month and is likely capable of much better.

Form: 1-7

M' Lady May³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: Katy Price

50/1

Well held on all four Rules starts to date including when 31L fifth in a novice hurdle at Hereford (2m, good) last time out. Likely to be of more interest once tackling handicap company.

Form: 786-685

Nafaayes^p¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Dave Crosse| T: Jean-Rene Auvray| D

10/1

Saddle slipped on hurdles debut in the spring. Ran well when finishing 4½L third over C&D on good ground just under a month ago. Good third on the AW subsequently and is of interest in this event.

Form: P3

Non-Runners

Jeremy Sunshine²¹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 5

T: C L Tizzard J: R M Power

Forecasts

Wild Max (2/7), France De Reve (7/2), Nafaayes (10/1), Dog Of War (12/1), Jeremy Sunshine (20/1), Filou Des Issards (25/1), Horatio Star (25/1), Folly Gate (40/1), Etat Major Aulmes (50/1), M' Lady May (50/1), A New Siege (100/1), Sellingallthetime (100/1), Mr Minerals (100/1)

WILD MAX impressed when making a winning hurdling debut and he can maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles with a victory in the second division of the novices' hurdle. Nafaayes ran well when finishing runner-up on her most recent start and a repeat of that can see her take second spot once more while third can go to France De Reve who can put a disappointing hurdles debut behind her.