13:45 Exeter

Friday 10 November 2023

All12:3513:1013:4514:2014:5515:3016:00

Betway Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 4m 16.7s

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Selected odds by:

Asta La Pasta³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| D

3/1

Confirmed debut promise when winning 6-runner bumper at Market Rasen in February and impressed with how readily he picked up the promising runner-up from the last when following up on his Uttoxeter hurdles debut 8 months later. Sure to progress and win more races.

Form: 41-1

Alfie Sharp¹⁹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Mitford-Slade

300/1

Twice-raced maiden. 150/1, tenth of 14 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (16f, good). Off 6 months with work to do.

Form: 60-

Diamond Ri²²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

1/1

Produced a useful effort when easily landing a well-run Warwick bumper on debut in March and is of firm interest now hurdling.

Form: 1-

I Love You Sivola^t¹⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 102

150/1

Fair ex-French chaser. Off 6 months and faces no easy task back over hurdles for his new yard. Wears tongue strap.

Form: 66823-7

Insurrection^t²¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| BFWS

11/4

Winning Irish pointer. 3/1 and tongue strap on when encouraging fourth of 8 in bumper at Ffos Las (15.8f, soft) on NH debut. Off 7 months. Had wind op ahead of his hurdles debut. Much respected.

Form: F14-

Iris Des Issards²⁰¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott

100/1

€28,000 3-y-o, £14,000 5-y-o, Buck's Boum gelding. Dam 17f-2½m chase winner. Twice third in points so not discounted starting out over hurdles.

Form: 363-

Irlandais²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: David Noonan| T: K Woollacott

300/1

Half-brother to bumper winner/useful 2¼m hurdle winner Grand Jury but has not offered much in two runs over hurdles for Dan Skelton and for his current yard.

Form: 7-78

Midnight Soldier¹⁷⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling

17/2

Made a winning bumper debut in good style at Fontwell in June 2021 for Christian Williams. Encouraging second of 6 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (19.9f, good to soft) on hurdles bow 174 days ago. Considered.

Form: 1/2

Royal Jewel¹⁹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

18/1

€25,000 3-y-o, £40,000 4-y-o, Notnowcato gelding. Dam (c99/h114) 21f hurdle winner. Runner-up on second of 2 starts in Irish points (Apr 30) so a respected hurdling debutant.

Form: 7-22

Storming Nelson¹⁸¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

200/1

€31,000 3-y-o, £5,000 4-y-o, Mount Nelson gelding. Dam (c118/h110), 2m-19f hurdle/chase winner, sister to very smart hurdler/smart chase winner (stays 25f) Thyme Hill. Unplaced on his completed starts in Irish points (latest May 13). More needed in this sphere.

Form: 5P-65

Breccia^t¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Sean Houlihan| T: R Stephens| D

50/1

Fair winner at 17f on Flat who showed an aptitude for hurdling when third of 8 in novice at Exeter (16.7f, good) on NH debut 14 days ago. Below that form when seventh at Ludlow since so needs to bounce back.

Form: 37

Fox Wallace²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Best| T: Ella Pickard

250/1

Unseated rider sole start in Irish points and only eighth of 9 in bumper (33/1) at Newton Abbot (16.8f, heavy) on NH debut 20 days ago. More required on her hurdles debut.

Form: U8

Gorcombe Fizz²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost

300/1

50/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at this C&D (good) on NH debut 29 days ago.

Form: P

Mollie De Mai¹²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

200/1

16/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Wincanton (15.2f, soft) on NH debut 12 days ago. Needs to take a big step forward.

Form: P

Spinnaker Blue²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: C J Todd| T: D Skelton

150/1

Half-sister to 3 winners but she came in a remote sixth of 10 in novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, heavy, 7/1) on NH debut 20 days ago. In excellent hands so may still do better.

Form: 6

Forecasts

Diamond Ri (1/1), Insurrection (11/4), Asta La Pasta (3/1), Midnight Soldier (17/2), Royal Jewel (18/1), Breccia (50/1), Iris Des Issards (100/1), I Love You Sivola (150/1), Spinnaker Blue (150/1), Storming Nelson (200/1), Mollie De Mai (200/1), Fox Wallace (250/1), Alfie Sharp (300/1), Irlandais (300/1), Gorcombe Fizz (300/1)

A few of these offer potential but ASTA LA PASTA created an excellent impression when going in at Uttoxeter on his hurdles debut so looks the way to go despite conceding weight all round. Hurdling newcomers Diamond Ri and Insurrection both command plenty of respect though, especially if the betting vibes are positive. Midnight Soldier is another who needs factoring in.