14:40 Chepstow

Sunday 8 January 2023

All12:4013:1013:4014:1014:4015:1015:40

Follow Vickers.Bet On Facebook Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:42 | Winning time: 4m 8.35s

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Selected odds by:

Crebilly³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| D

11/8

£100,000 buy for top connections after finishing third in an Irish point and made a highly promising start over hurdles when easily landing 11-runner novice hurdle (15/8) at Newcastle (16.2f, soft) 31 days ago, easing clear. Open to significant improvement. Big shout.

Form: 33-1

Allanah's Boy^t1¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

125/1

Poor maiden under NH rules. Had wind op before unseated rider 2nd in novice hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, soft) 13 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time. Others appeal more.

Form: 8P-7PU

Auba Me Yang³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle

80/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 66/1, first run since leaving Philip Hobbs when eleventh of 17 in novice hurdle at Exeter (16.7f, soft) 37 days ago. Lots to find on form.

Form: 34/7-0

Benny Silver³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

66/1

Showed some promise in a pair of bumpers and when third of 4 in novice hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good, 5/1) on hurdles bow 30 days ago. Should have more to offer.

Form: 253

Broomfields Cave¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

18/1

Point winner who has shown fair form in bumpers and when fourth of 12 on his hurdles debut in novice at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft, 25/1) 18 days ago, running on late. Not discounted if building on that.

Form: 31-1264

Donnacha³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke

16/1

Twice-raced maiden. Raced very freely when third of 10 in bumper at Market Rasen (16.6f, soft, 17/2) 38 days ago. Much respected on his hurdles debut.

Form: 33

Estacas²⁶⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| BF| D

20/1

Winner of bumper at Ascot in October 2021 for Andreas Wohler. Off 11 months ahead of his hurdles debut with his fitness to prove.

Form: 13-

Hurlerontheditch^t⁴³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls

5/1

Made a successful debut in bumper at Wexford. Changed hands for £85.000 and had wind op before excellent second of 12 in novice hurdle at Bangor (16.7f, good to soft) in Occtober. Holds very good form claims.

Form: U1/2-

Imperial Alex⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey

66/1

Placed in a point and showed more than on yard debut when eighth of 16 in novice hurdle at Hereford (16.2f, good to soft, 80/1) 61 days ago. Others hold stronger claims on form.

Form: 2F3-478

Libberty Hunter³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| CD

6/4

Won 2 bumpers for Brian Eckley and changed hands for £160,000 after. Made a promising hurdling debut when second over C&D but failed to build on it when third back here last month. Worth another chance.

Form: 31/16-23

Mix Master²⁸⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: Katy Price

100/1

Fair Mix gelding. Dam placed in bumpers/over hurdles. Placed in a point in March so he's no forlorn hope now going hurdling.

Form: P3-

Mount South¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: Ian Williams

100/1

Fair form when in the frame on all 3 bumpers last season but yet to translate that form in two runs in this sphere, seventh of 15 in novice hurdle (125/1) at Ludlow (15.8f, soft) 19 days ago. More is required.

Form: 334-77

Rocky Hill³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Patrick| T: T Lacey| D

50/1

Sprung a 33/1 surprise on his Kelso bumper debut for Ewan Whillans in April. However, well held in two runs over hurdles at Hereford and Exeter this winter. Has lots to find.

Form: 1-60

Rolling River⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| D

80/1

Hexham bumper winner but pulled up in 2m2f novice at Exeter on his hurdles debut a week ago. Needs a big step forward.

Form: 10P

Dawnslittlediamond³⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: James Best| T: D Faulkner

200/1

Well held all 3 starts in bumpers and pulled up in novice (200/1) at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) on hurdles bow on her final run for Dai Burchell.

Form: 095P-

Well Vicky³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: T J O'Brien| T: A Ralph

80/1

Placed on first of 3 starts in Irish points but yet to show much in two runs over hurdles at Hereford and Lingfield this winter.

Form: 3FF-P0

Forecasts

Crebilly (11/8), Libberty Hunter (6/4), Hurlerontheditch (5/1), Donnacha (16/1), Broomfields Cave (18/1), Estacas (20/1), Rocky Hill (50/1), Imperial Alex (66/1), Benny Silver (66/1), Auba Me Yang (80/1), Well Vicky (80/1), Rolling River (80/1), Mount South (100/1), Mix Master (100/1), Allanah's Boy (125/1), Dawnslittlediamond (200/1)

CREBILLY created an excellent impression when going in at Newcastle on his hurdling debut and looks the way to go here with lots of improvement on the cards from this costly son of Soldier of Fortune. Hurlerontheditch showed more than enough to win a race of this nature when second at Bangor though so should ensure Jonjo O'Neill's 6-y-o doesn't have things all his own way. Liberty Hunter appeals as the pick of the remainder for place purposes.