13:15 Taunton

Friday 30 December 2022

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

Rob Snook 70th Birthday Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 49.52s

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Selected odds by:

Timeforatune^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 126

11/10

Smart bumper performer who left hurdles debut effort well behind when making all in 15-runner Exeter novice despite repeatedly wandering/hanging approaching his obstacles. Fitted with cheekpieces and creditable efforts in defeat since despite doing a fair bit wrong. Sets the standard.

Form: 18-4124

Abbeyhill²³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland

80/1

Is a winning pointer but went as if all wasn't well tongue tied on Rules debut at Kilbeggan in May. Subsequently left Jamie Albert Sloan for £30,000.

Form: P1-0

Benefact²²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

25/1

Sholokhov gelding who showed some promise in a Southwell bumper on debut back in May and is bred to excel over obstacles.

Form: 5

Catuaba²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: C E Longsdon

50/1

Won sole start in Irish points and fared a lot better second time up over hurdles when well held in second at Doncaster 3 weeks ago, though went in snatches.

Form: 1-502

Earth King⁶¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: N P Mulholland

50/1

Showed ability when fifth in a Stratford bumper on debut but disappointed at Warwick a month later. Off 20 months. First run for yard after leaving Jack R. Barber.

Form: 50/

Far Sight^t1⁴⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White

10/1

Made a winning start to his career in a Newton Abbot bumper in June and shaped encouragingly sent hurdling when 17 lengths third of 15 to Timeforatune in a novice at Exeter (16.7f) 46 days ago, not knocked about. Sure to improve, especially now upped in trip. Tongue strap on for 1st time.

Form: 13

Great Samourai²⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

3/1

£130,000 5-y-o, Great Pretender gelding. Half-brother to 17f-21f hurdle/chase winner Invincible Fighter and 2¼m-21f winner hurdle/chase winner Bestjump. Disputing lead when fell 2 out sole start in Irish points (May 1). One to note on Rules debut.

Form: F-

Great Schema^t¹⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁷⁾| T: S Hosie

100/1

Showed just poor form in bumpers for Gordon Elliott but has won both his starts in points subsequently.

Form: 94411

Hermin D'oudairies^t²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Miss L Bradstock⁽⁷⁾| T: M Bradstock

250/1

Fair form at best in bumpers but made a discouraging hurdling debut when pulled up at Leicester 23 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 63P-P

Jet Smart²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| BF

18/1

£80,000 purchase after finishing second in an Irish point in March. Showed plenty when fifth in an Ascot maiden (19.2f) on hurdles bow and possibly found the race coming too soon when well held at Sedgefield just 2 weeks later. Remains open to improvement.

Form: 2-54

Let's Go Amigo²³

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

66/1

Fetched £52,000 as a 3-y-o and showed plenty when fifth in a bumper at Warwick on debut but his jumping has been far from fluent both starts over hurdles.

Form: 527

Prince Nino^t⁶⁷¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry DerhamWS

80/1

Badly needed experience when well held in Kempton bumper on only outing for Paul Nicholls. Off 22 months and has had a breathing operation.

Form: 0/

Spago^t³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

14/1

Has shown fair form in bumpers 9 months apart (left Paul Nicholls after debut). Upped in trip for hurdles debut.

Form: 4-2

Tightenourbelts⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

9/2

£75,000 5-y-o, Mahler gelding. Third sole start in Irish points and shaped with promise when fourth of 14 on his Chepstow hurdling debut (19.4f) 66 days ago. Entitled to improve.

Form: 3-4

Forecasts

Timeforatune (11/10), Great Samourai (3/1), Tightenourbelts (9/2), Far Sight (10/1), Spago (14/1), Jet Smart (18/1), Benefact (25/1), Earth King (50/1), Catuaba (50/1), Let's Go Amigo (66/1), Abbeyhill (80/1), Prince Nino (80/1), Great Schema (100/1), Hermin D'oudairies (250/1)

TIMEFORATUNE hasn't looked the most straightforward but there's no question he has plenty of ability and is capable of defying a penalty. Far Sight has 17 lengths to make up with the selection from Exeter but he should get closer to him with improvement on the cards over this longer trip. Great Samourai is a Rules debutant to note having joined a top stable.