13:30 Catterick

Friday 31 January 2020

All13:0013:3014:0014:3515:0515:4016:10

racingtv.com Maiden Hurdle

Off time: 13:31 | Winning time: 4m 48.3s

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Selected odds by:

Alph^h²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Nathan Moscrop⁽³⁾| T: R Menzies

33/1

Gone backwards since making a decent bumper debut for Nicky Henderson in May 2018. Completed a race for this yard last time for the first time but looked an even harder ride than before; hard to endorse given his quirks and foibles.

Form: 766-PU4

Apple Rock³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

8/1

Placed in both his starts in Irish point-to-points he shaped better than the distance he was beaten in testing conditions at Uttoxeter on his hurdles debut. Likely to have found the test (2m7f) too much in the conditions; capable of better.

Form: 32-5

Carys' Commodity^p1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

17/2

Fair sort in bumpers although he failed to win in that sphere. Given wind surgery prior to his hurdling debut over C&D he needs to jump better if he's to match his bumper form over timber; now tried in cheekpieces, something to prove.

Form: 2U46

Chelsea's Boy²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: D McCain Jnr

66/1

Useful sort on the Flat at one time he was rather unreliable though and failed to build on his decent hurdles start (after a long break) last time. Showed that he retained some ability on his initial start over hurdles; still work to do.

Form: 60

Cool Country⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R D Day| T: M Todhunter

14/1

Made little impact in Irish point-to-points but showed a lot more on his hurdles debut at Kelso despite being a 50-1 chance. He was beaten 21L on that occasion though so the form has holes; steps up in trip for this outing.

Form: 5P2

Echo Du Large¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: R Stephens

10/1

Looks the type who is learning gradually having run his best race last time at Chepstow over a similar trip to today. Not knocked around last time and needs this run for a mark; looks the sort to be of interest more in handicaps.

Form: 4863

Falberto²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas

11/2

Ran to a fair level in a couple of soft ground bumpers before running to a similar level on his hurdling debut over 2m at Chepstow. Mo match for the winner this increased trip will sort him better; capable of more this time.

Form: 332

Mandalayan^t1³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 115

15/8

Useful sort on the Flat (only won once); has yet to match his promising hurdles debut at Taunton (strong form) in two subsequent starts though. Steps up in trip with a tongue-tie on for the first-time, that could see some improvement; respected.

Form: 344

Quart De Garde^h³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 119

3/1

Showed some fair chasing form when trained in France (placed all three completed starts). Held back by his sloppy jumping on his stable/GB debut over C&D; likely to be amongst the main players with a better jumping display.

Form: 8-3F322

The Blame Game⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: J Ewart

10/1

Gained plenty of experience in bumpers showing some fair form (runner-up twice). Raced rather freely on his Musselburgh hurdling debut but shaped as though he would be better for the run; open to further progress up in trip.

Form: 7252-5

Harmattan³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Henry Brooke| T: Miss A Murphy

100/1

Made little impact in both starts over hurdles failing to improve from her debut when tried over 2m4f in heavy conditions last time. Would be a surprise to see her get involved in this and best watched for now.

Form: 4P

Miladygrace³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Dowson| T: P A Kirby

150/1

Looked limited in a pair of bumpers six months apart and didn't fare any better when tried over hurdles late last year at Wetherby. Hard to see her making much of an impact in this company.

Form: 77P

Forecasts

Mandalayan (15/8), Quart De Garde (3/1), Falberto (11/2), Apple Rock (8/1), Carys' Commodity (17/2), Echo Du Large (10/1), The Blame Game (10/1), Cool Country (14/1), Alph (33/1), Chelsea's Boy (66/1), Harmattan (100/1), Miladygrace (150/1)

The race that FALBERTO ran at Chepstow on his hurdling debut when chasing home a subsequent winner over 2m if repeated would be good enough to take this contest with the step up in trip likely to suit. A shoddy round of jumping over C&D cost Quart De Garde a debut win in this country on his first run for this yard, a slicker round of jumping will see him go close this time. Mandalayan has disappointed since a promising debut over hurdles but the application of a tongue-tie and a step up in trip may produce a rejuvenated performance. Apple Rock and Cool Country are two others to consider in an interesting event.