Crownhill Top Soil/EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 21.9s

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Selected odds by:

Mario De Pail³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| D

6/4

Brought along steadily in bumpers winning a Ffos Last on penultimate start under a good claimer in testing conditions; continued his progression when winning at Kelso in December; more needed under penalty but going the right way.

Form: 3-211

Shantou Vow⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: H Whittington| BF| D

10/1

Built on a couple of promising bumper efforts when winning by 6L in a maiden hurdle over an extended 1m7f at Southwell (heavy) in November; ran no sort of race next time at Hereford and needs to bounce back here.

Form: 3410

Cardiff Bay⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Well beaten in a bumper and a novice hurdle to date; obviously open to improvement but needs to show a bit more sparkle to be considered betting material.

Form: 57

Eden Du Houx^t⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 126| DWS

6/5

Useful bumper horse, having won two of them on soft (including Listed). Has improved on both hurdles starts, although perhaps not as much as might have been anticipated. Had wind surgery since his last run, which could see him kick on again.

Form: 111-24

Fidelio Vallis¹⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BF

4/1

Related to a couple of winners, showed plenty of ability on only start at Auteuil in April but disappointed on GB debut at Uttoxeter in October; hard to totally write off and market may give clues to stable confidence.

Form: 2-7

I Am Plastered^t²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: J L Flint

66/1

Two fair bumper efforts were followed by a lacklustre hurdles debut here over slightly further; testing ground will suit but needs to improve to play a leading role.

Form: 4-86

Jobesgreen Lad²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: T R George

80/1

Passing Glance gelding whose dam was a winner between 2m2f and 3m; ran green on debut finishing last of nine here over two miles; will be better for that experience but more needed.

Form: 9

Riggs¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

25/1

By Mahler. Sales price rose from €12,500 as a foal to €20,000 as a three-year-old; no real show on bumper debut at Ludlow two weeks ago; may do better over hurdles but hard to recommend at present.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Eden Du Houx (6/5), Mario De Pail (6/4), Fidelio Vallis (4/1), Shantou Vow (10/1), Riggs (25/1), I Am Plastered (66/1), Cardiff Bay (66/1), Jobesgreen Lad (80/1)

EDEN DU HOUX has not progressed as much as expected but may still have too much for his rivals returning from a short break. Although beaten nearly 20 lengths last time out, that was in a Grade 2 event and this is a much easier opportunity. His main rival looks to be Mario De Pail who has progressed through bumpers onto hurdles quite seamlessly. His penalty for winning his last race looks the biggest impediment to him following up though he should run his race. Fidelio Vallis is a slightly unknown quantity but is well regarded and attention should be paid if there is significant market support.