12:15 Musselburgh

Monday 6 December 2021

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:15

British Stallion Studs EBF Blackford Hill 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:15 | Winning time: 5m 3.63s

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Selected odds by:

Thunder Rock²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adrian Heskin| T: O Murphy| OR: 122| D

1/5

Exeter bumper winner in February who has made a good start over hurdles this term, finishing second at Newton Abbot before going one better at Wetherby (2½m). More to come, and holds good claims.

Form: 2/31-21

A Day In Donostia²⁴¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: M & D Easterby

150/1

Well held both runs over hurdles, 80/1 when sixth of 8 in novice at Sedgefield (19.8f) 8 months ago. Has lots to find on his return.

Form: 66-

Bebside Banter

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Sean Quinlan| T: C Grant

50/1

Westerner gelding. Dam 2m4f winner. Makes some appeal on paper but market can prove a good indicator.

Form:

Brandy Mcqueen³⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Ryan Mania| T: Mrs H O Graham

33/1

33/1, last of 7 in novice at Kelso (22.7f, soft) on hurdles bow 30 days ago, prominent to 2 out. May do better now.

Form: 8-47

Everyday Champagne⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny McMenamin| T: N G Richards

12/1

Modest form in bumpers before never-dangerous sixth of 11 in novice hurdle at Carlisle (20f, good, 16/1) on hurdles bow 46 days ago. Big step forward is required.

Form: 43-6

Garde Des Champs^t¹⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: B S Hughes| T: K Dalgleish

9/2

Placed in points and posted encouraging third of 14 in novice at Kilbeggan (19.8f, good, 10/1) on hurdles bow 150 days ago for Denis Murphy. Not discounted on yard bow.

Form: 2247-43

Lord Roco²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁷⁾| T: J Ewart

33/1

Fair form in two bumpers, sixth of 14 at Ayr (16f, good to soft, 50/1) 20 days ago when needing stiffer test. Makes hurdles debut up in trip and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 6-6

Songofthelark^t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: S Mulqueen| T: Miss Lucinda V Russell

22/1

Had wind op and tongue strap on before third of 4 in novice here (15.6f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 37 days ago. Up in trip with more to do now.

Form: 9-3

Non-Runners

A Distant Place³⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Forecasts

Thunder Rock (1/5), A Distant Place (6/4), Garde Des Champs (9/2), Everyday Champagne (12/1), Songofthelark (22/1), Brandy Mcqueen (33/1), Lord Roco (33/1), Bebside Banter (50/1), A Day In Donostia (150/1)

This looks to rest between improving duo THUNDER ROCK and A Distant Place with marginal preference for Olly Murphy's ready Wetherby scorer over Jonjo O'Neill's Hereford maiden winner. Keith Dalgleish's ex-Irish recruit Garde des Champs appeals as the pick of the rest for place purposes.