Happy St Patrick's Day Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:55 | Winning time: 6m 23.8s

Settings

Selected odds by:

The Very Thing^h⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Alain Cawley| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 97

28/1

Showed some promise when he was with Olly Murphy last year losing a race at Fakenham (2m, handicap) for bumping the second. His path since joining this yard has been a downward one though (pulled up) last two starts; hard to recommend.

Form: 37-43PP

Pond Road^p²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 95

9/4

Yet to really blossom as promised by his novice hurdle runs in handicaps; he did come back to some sort of form last time. Needs a stiff test such as this to be seen at his best (would benefit from more severe headgear); respected from in-form yard.

Form: 583-4P4

Skylanna Breeze^b1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 94

5/2

Brought along steadily with handicaps in mind over much shorter trips he showed more than previously switched to a Huntingdon handicap last time (2m4f, heavy). Blinkers on first-time upped in trip, on a good mark but stamina to prove.

Form: 2-07886

Bee Crossing^p¹¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: M Scudamore| OR: 90| D

14/1

Modest maiden over hurdles whose form over fences continues to deteriorate quickly; looks increasingly temperamental. Mark continues to fall in line with her poor form and she still looks to have plenty to prove back over hurdles.

Form: 53-669P

On We Go^p¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 87

20/1

Showed very little in novice grade but confirmed his previous promise in handicaps back against her own sex at Ayr in January (2m5f, heavy). Failed to threaten since over a variety of trips including over 3m3f (well held from a long way out).

Form: 451069

Incertaine^b1,t⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: T R Gretton| OR: 87

8/1

Improved in first-time cheekpieces/hood and tongue-tie when getting off the mark at Market Rasen off an eight-month break benefitting from the increased stamina test (2m7f). Hasn't gone on from that victory in two subsequent starts; blinkers now on.

Form: 060-166

Black Opium⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 85

50/1

Well held in bumpers and novice hurdles at up to 2m4f hopes are now pinned on this switch to handicaps upped to the longest trip she's tried. Initial mark despite being a lowly one still looks to overestimate her ability; needs major progress.

Form: 6-7647

Espoir Moriviere²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Craig Nichol| T: R Dobbin| OR: 74

11/4

0-11 over hurdles he has been placed twice in heavy ground handicaps at up to 2m7f but hardly looks a winner waiting to happen. Respectable fourth last time at Sedgefield, dropped 3lb for that run, lacks the promise of others in the field.

Form: 70-32P4

Forecasts

Pond Road (9/4), Skylanna Breeze (5/2), Espoir Moriviere (11/4), Incertaine (8/1), Bee Crossing (14/1), On We Go (20/1), The Very Thing (28/1), Black Opium (50/1)

The key to this contest may well be the 2m4f contest that both Pond Road and SKYLANNA BREEZE contested at Huntingdon last time where they finished fourth and sixth respectively. Kim Bailey’s charge has already proven his stamina for trips such as this but he doesn’t look an easy ride and would benefit from some sterner headgear. The selection on the other hand does need to prove his stamina and he does have 10L to find with his old adversary but he will be suited by the better conditions here and may well reverse the form. Most of the others are modest with Sedgefield fourth Espoir Moriviere the only other one who has shown any real form of late.