11:40 Wetherby

Saturday 3 December 2022

All11:4012:1312:4813:2313:5814:3315:08

Download The Vickers.Bet App Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 11:41 | Winning time: 5m 21.32s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Curley Finger²⁰⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: R Menzies| OR: 111

12/1

Placed in a bumper for Gordon Elliott. Sound start over hurdles for new stable when third at Kelso in May and showed the benefit of that experience to open his account at Hexham less than a fortnight later. Respected on return under a penalty.

Form: 36-31

Free Handshake⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁷⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

11/2

Well backed to land a Cartmel maiden back in June but checked out with alarming haste on his first outing for this yard at Market Rasen 7 weeks ago. (also tried to charge tape and got loose beforehand). Will need to keep his quirks in check to feature.

Form: 832-41P

Benny Baloo²⁵⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr William Easterby⁽⁵⁾| T: T D Easterby

28/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Brother to 2 winners, including bumper winner/fair hurdler Betty Baloo, stays 2½m, and half-brother to fair hurdler/chaser Milly Baloo. Dam (c115/h113) 19f/21f hurdle/chase winner. Off mark in points at third attempt (Mar 19).

Form: 6U1-

Glenavaddra³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonathon Bewley⁽³⁾| T: G Bewley

150/1

Didn't offer a lot in an Irish bumper for P.Kiely in March 2021 but having been successful between the flags since, offered little on yard/hurdling debut Carlisle 5 weeks ago. Easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 0/421-P

Goshhowposh³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/11

Malinas gelding who was sent off at huge odds (80/1) but showed plenty of ability when runner-up in 14-runner novice hurdle at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) last month, really catching the eye by the finish. Open to improvement and looks sure to go close.

Form: 2

Great Ballinboris²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss Becky Smith| T: Micky Hammond

40/1

Showed ability on only start in bumpers and much better effort over hurdles came when sixth on return at this course (19.7f, good) 3 weeks ago, looking more straightforward. Plenty more required today though.

Form: 40-6

Hapy La Vie³⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: J Ewart

40/1

Brave Mansonnien gelding. Half-brother to French chaser Mandulis. Dam jumps winner in France. Made frame both starts in Irish points, runner-up latest (Jan 29).

Form: 42-

Howaya Now²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C O'Farrell| T: R Bandey

6/1

Made the frame both completed starts in Irish points and made an encouraging start under Rules when runner-up at Ffos Las (20f, soft) last month. Fancied to take a step forward from that initial effort today.

Form: 2F-42

Jimvale^t1¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Mulqueen| T: Justin Landy

300/1

Imperial Monarch gelding who was pulled up only start in points and, despite being well backed, shaped as if needing the experience when well held in a Sedgefield bumper. Offered no more sent hurdling recently so readily passed over.

Form: P-67

Marty Time²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Ross Chapman| T: J Parkinson & S Smith

80/1

Only modest form in bumpers for Tom Lacey but sold for only £5,000 and achieved nothing better on hurdling debut/first start for 13 months here (19.7f, good) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 47/4-7

Regarde^t1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Jamie Snowden

14/1

Kapgarde gelding who was prominent in the betting but looked one paced in a Wexford bumper for Colin Bowe in March 2021. Easy point winner since but failed to get home making his hurdling debut returning at Carlisle recently. Tongue tie now goes on.

Form: 6/3P21-4

Solar Sovereign⁹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: T Bulgin

80/1

£33,000 5-y-o, Multiplex gelding. Half-brother to bumper winner/fair chaser Princess Roxy. Off the mark in Irish points at the second attempt (March 2020).

Form: 21/

Third Avenue^t²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J Kington| T: A Crook

300/1

Poor on Flat nowadays (stays 15f), possibly needed run on stable debut after 7 months off (previously trained by John McConnell) back in May. Cheekpieces left off today but makes minimal appeal on hurdling debut.

Form:

Top Target⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

9/2

Wide-margin winner on second start in points back in the spring and predictably knew what was required switched to bumpers when runner-up at Worcester in October. Attentions quickly switched to hurdles and he warrants plenty of respect.

Form: 51-2

Forecasts

Goshhowposh (10/11), Top Target (9/2), Free Handshake (11/2), Howaya Now (6/1), Curley Finger (12/1), Regarde (14/1), Benny Baloo (28/1), Great Ballinboris (40/1), Hapy La Vie (40/1), Solar Sovereign (80/1), Marty Time (80/1), Glenavaddra (150/1), Jimvale (300/1), Third Avenue (300/1)

GOSHHOWPOSH went into many notebooks when runner-up on hurdling debut at Chepstow last month, sent off an unconsidered 80/1-shot but really catching the eye by the finish. With this step up in trip sure to suit, Philip Hobbs's charge may well take some stopping. Top Target finished runner-up in a bumper recently so he heads up the dangers on hurdles bow, with previous-winner Curley Finger and Howaya Now another couple worth considering.