12:50 Ludlow

Thursday 16 January 2020

All12:5013:2013:5014:2014:5515:3016:00

C.B.Security Novices' Hurdle (Div 1)

Off time: 12:55 | Winning time: 4m 4.2s

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Selected odds by:

Hijack²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| CD

1/1

Took a good step forward from what was a slightly underwhelming rules debut in October to score over C&D on hurdles debut recently. Had plenty of today's opposition in behind him then, and has excellent claims of following-up despite the penalty.

Form: 51

Essenaitch³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: James Davies| T: P D Evans

66/1

Was only rated 57 on the flat, so it wasn't a big surprise to see him tailed-off on his hurdles debut at Leicester (2m; heavy) recently. Finished last of those who completed then, and similar can be expected from him again in this contest.

Form: 6

Fair To Dream²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies

80/1

Split Samtara & Fair And Dandy when finishing down the field behind Hijack over C&D last month. Looks set to play a minor role once more, given he has fared no better than in midfield in any of his three starts under rules.

Form: 9-08

Kiteinahurricane^h1¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Matt Griffiths| T: S Allwood

100/1

Was sent off at 100-1 and jockey made the right decision to pull him up when he was struggling at Leicester (2m4f; heavy) on hurdles/rules debut. Cannot be advised on that form, and others look far more appealing.

Form: P

Moon of Baroda⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison

9/4

Bumped into one when runner-up on hurdles debut over C&D to Garry Clermont. Form ties in closely with that of Hijack (who beat Garry Clermont over this C&D last time out), so he should be bang there receiving 6lb from that rival.

Form: 2

Muse Of Fire^t¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lee Edwards| T: J Groucott

40/1

Hurdles debutante who showed minor promise on rules debut at Hereford (2m; soft) on his penultimate start. Failed to reproduce that form at Haydock (2m; soft) most recently. Should improve for going over hurdles, but he has a bit too much to prove.

Form: 1/47

Samtara²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: M Keighley

66/1

Been sent off at three-figure prices on each of his three runs over hurdles so far. Looks to have an unenviable task on his hands to reverse the form with Hijack who finished 25-length in front of him when scoring over C&D last month.

Form: 0-007

South Seas²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

7/2

Failed to back up the promise he showed on hurdles debut at Southwell (2m; soft) when tailed-off at Kempton (2m; soft) in a warm race on Boxing Day. Surely capable of better than that, and is worth giving another chance to.

Form: 27

Winged Affair¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: P R Webber

100/1

Produced a similarly disappointing effort than he did on hurdles debut when tailed-off at Newbury (2m; soft) last month. This looks a little less stronger than that contest on paper. However, on what he has shown to date he is impossible to fancy.

Form: 00

Fair And Dandy²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: R Johnson| T: H D Daly

66/1

Finished ninth in the contest won by Hijack over C&D last month. Impossible to envisage her reversing that form, and with the stable going through a quiet patch (0-12 in the last 14 days), she remains best watched.

Form: 6-09

Zarazena²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J McGrath| T: Henry Oliver

100/1

Has a pair of duck eggs beside her name after posting extremely low-key efforts on both her hurdle starts to date at Hereford (2m; soft/heavy). Masses to prove on that evidence, and is subsequently best watched.

Form: 00

Memphis Bleek⁸⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: L Treadwell| T: A Ralph

10/1

Newcomer to hurdles who was 0-8 on the flat. Mark dropped 8lbs in a handful of runs since he has gone handicapping on the level. Unlikely to see him going close in this company.

Form:

Forecasts

Hijack (1/1), Moon of Baroda (9/4), South Seas (7/2), Memphis Bleek (10/1), Muse Of Fire (40/1), Samtara (66/1), Fair And Dandy (66/1), Essenaitch (66/1), Fair To Dream (80/1), Winged Affair (100/1), Kiteinahurricane (100/1), Zarazena (100/1)

After he bounced back from a poor display on debut to make a winning hurdles debut over C&D last month, this looks like a relatively straightforward task for HIJACK to follow-up and take his record over hurdles to 2-2. On a line through Garry Clermont (who he beat last time out), he should hold Moon Of Baroda (who was runner-up to that horse on hurdles debut). However, Hughie Morrison's looks to hold solid claims of making the frame once again and should not be completely ruled out for win purposes either. South Seas has a bit to prove after running below-par last time, but he is worth another chance given the promise he showed on hurdles debut.