12:15 Hereford

Wednesday 21 December 2022

All12:1512:4513:1513:4514:1514:4515:1515:45

Cazoo Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:16 | Winning time: 4m 4.86s

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Selected odds by:

Deere Mark³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| CD

16/5

Bumper winner at the fourth attempt and showed plenty to work on switched to hurdling when runner-up in a maiden at Cheltenham (16.4f) in October. Well beaten in Grade 2 there the following month but worth another chance now returned to calmer waters.

Form: 2931-28

Don't Tell David^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| D

40/1

Fair winner of 5-runner bumper at Warwick in April. Tongue tied and held back by mistakes on hurdles debut last month.

Form: 1-8

Gaelic Park¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| D

7/1

Well-bred point winner who went in again under a no-nonsense ride in a Warwick bumper in February. Took a step forward under a penalty next time but not at that level both hurdles starts this term.

Form: 113-64

Idealdes Villerets³⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: Mrs M Rowley

2/1

Ex-French bumper winner who made a promising hurdles debut when second of 7 in novice at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good to soft) 39 days ago. Winner has gone in again so he's a player with more to come.

Form: 134-2

Imperial Admiral

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M NichollsWS

20/1

€18,000 3-y-o, Mount Nelson gelding. Dam (h100), 19f-23f hurdle winner, sister to very smart hurdler/high-class chaser (stayed 25f) The Storyteller. Interesting Rules newcomer. Has already had a breathing operation.

Form:

Invincible De Mee¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

150/1

Well-bred sort who showed ability in French bumpers but made a discouraging hurdling/stable debut at Taunton a fortnight ago.

Form: 8488-30

Mammies Boy

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

22/1

Getaway gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Don Diablo and fair hurdler/chaser Just Call Me Al. Newcomer in very good hands.

Form:

Mister Barclay³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: T Symonds

125/1

Offered little in a course bumper on debut 36 days ago.

Form: 8

Realm Of Glory²⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams

12/1

Encouraging third on only start in bumpers in November 2021 but failed to build on promise of that run when fifth in a Chepstow maiden hurdle (19.4f) in February. Yard in fine form and this should reveal more.

Form: 35-

Starevitch⁶³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie SnowdenWS

16/1

Won sole start in Irish points and showed ability fitted with a tongue strap when third in a Huntingdon bumper on Rules debut in March 2021. Absent since (had breathing op) but yard's runners don't often lack for fitness.

Form: 13/

Fancy Stuff^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

3/1

Fair bumper winner who was pitched in quite deep when well held on hurdles debut at Ascot. Much more like it when runner-up at Southwell last month and there should be plenty more to come.

Form: 1/170-72

Gaye Legacy³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: T Symonds

66/1

Flemensfirth filly. Dam (h104), 19f-3m hurdle winner, sister to fairly useful hurdler/smart chaser (winner up to 3m) Simon and fairly useful 2½m hurdle winner Taking My Cut. Second of 5 in a Fakenham bumper and likely to do better over hurdles at stamina is drawn out.

Form: 2

Libertarian Royale³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: T Symonds

300/1

Hadn't cut any ice in a Cheltenham bumper and it was a similar story sent hurdling after a breathing operation here last month, left behind 5 out.

Form: 0-P

Milagrosa⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: David England| T: D Skelton

150/1

£20,000 3-y-o, Masked Marvel filly. Half-sister to numerous winners on Flat, including useful German 6f-1m winner Manipura. Dam German 7f/1m winner. No impact in a Chepstow bumper in October.

Form: 0

Non-Runners

Picks Lad¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: K Bailey & M Nicholls J: Non Runner

Scherbobalob³³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: A Ralph J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Idealdes Villerets (2/1), Fancy Stuff (3/1), Deere Mark (16/5), Picks Lad (6/1), Gaelic Park (7/1), Realm Of Glory (12/1), Starevitch (16/1), Imperial Admiral (20/1), Mammies Boy (22/1), Don't Tell David (40/1), Scherbobalob (50/1), Gaye Legacy (66/1), Mister Barclay (125/1), Milagrosa (150/1), Invincible De Mee (150/1), Libertarian Royale (300/1)

IDEALDES VILLERETS almost certainly bumped into a useful one on hurdles debut at Uttoxeter last month, and with progress on the cards, he is just about the most persuasive option. Fancy Stuff's runner-up effort at Southwell puts him right in the mix, with Deere Mark another to consider down in class.