15:35 Ludlow

Wednesday 20 December 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Tanners Cava EBF 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 1.02s

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Selected odds by:

Chevington⁵⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jay Tidball⁽⁵⁾| T: A Ralph

125/1

Out of a winner and showed good deal of ability himself when second in 6-runner Hereford bumper on debut in February. Has failed to build on that since, though, and needs to get back on track now tackling hurdles.

Form: 27-8

Duc Du Rene^t²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: K Brogan| T: Evan Williams

80/1

Half-brother to 4 winners and almost certainly would've finished in the money had he not stumbled on debut in a Chepstow bumper in February. Wasn't knocked about on return/hurdles debut at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) last month but probably more one for handicaps later on.

Form: F8-5

Gentleman Jacques²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

9/2

Fair form in bumpers and placed both starts switched to hurdles, latterly finding just one too good in a 16-runner C&D (soft) maiden. Each-way should it able to build on that.

Form: 49-332

Go To War²⁰

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

4/6

Uttoxeter bumper winner last term and looked set to be involved in the finish when jinking/unseating his rider 3 out on hurdles debut at Exeter in October. Creditable third of 14 in a pretty decent Taunton novice (16.5f, good to soft) next time and he remains with potential.

Form: 18-U3

Johns Dream⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Sheila Lewis

200/1

Well held on Rules debut in an Ascot bumper and fared no better on recent hurdles bow at Hereford.

Form: P-36P

Jour D'Evasion^t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 110

16/5

Shaped quite well in a bumper on debut and has made the frame both starts in this sphere to date, namely a C&D novice and a Huntingdon maiden. Remains open to improvement and he's one to consider.

Form: 334

Myfanwy's Magic²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Atkins⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M Keighley

15/2

Big step forward at the second attempt over hurdles when runner-up in a Warwick novice (2m, heavy) last month. Likely to pick up a race soon enough and he's shortlisted.

Form: 58-62

Saxons Lane²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A King

40/1

Malinas gelding who hinted at promise when seventh of 17 in bumper at Kempton back in March. Also showed ability on hurdles debut return at Hereford but wasn't in the same form back there last time.

Form: 7-27

Scrumpy²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly

50/1

From a good family but hasn't shown enough in a couple of bumpers to suggest he'll be a force to contend with now switched to hurdles.

Form: 5-6

Top Of The Bay^h1²⁶⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

200/1

Fetched £62,000 as a 3-y-o but well held on debut in a bumper back in October 2021. Failed to complete both starts between the flags since and it's probably best to look elsewhere. Hood applied.

Form: 6/UR-

Darquesse⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss C Dyson

300/1

Hard to warm to based on what she's shown in a bumper here and Taunton novice hurdle.

Form: 0P

Kattegat²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton

200/1

In good hands but she'll need to leave the form of her debut effort in a Hereford bumper well behind in order to take a hand in the finish here. Yard also saddles Lindy Reilly.

Form: 0

Lindy Reilly^t1

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

50/1

£46,000 3-y-o, Kayf Tara mare. Half-sister to fair 19f/2½m hurdle winner Dorisa Queen. Watch the betting for clues. Wears tongue strap.

Form:

My Virtue^h²¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Lee Edwards| T: Mrs M Rowley| OR: 77

100/1

Winning pointer but lightly-raced maiden hurdler. Posted one of her better efforts when third in an 8-runner Southwell handicap (15.8f, good) on latest start in May but this demands a chunk of improvement.

Form: 90740-3

Special Dragon^t1¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero

250/1

Has offered little in novice hurdles at Huntingdon and Bangor.

Form: 87

Forecasts

Go To War (4/6), Jour D'Evasion (16/5), Gentleman Jacques (9/2), Myfanwy's Magic (15/2), Saxons Lane (40/1), Lindy Reilly (50/1), Scrumpy (50/1), Duc Du Rene (80/1), My Virtue (100/1), Chevington (125/1), Top Of The Bay (200/1), Johns Dream (200/1), Kattegat (200/1), Special Dragon (250/1), Darquesse (300/1)

GO TO WAR didn't do much wrong when third to Ballee (winner again since) at Taunton and, with the strong likelihood of better to come, he is taken to strike. Myfanwy's Magic and Jour d'Evasion can fill the places, while Gentleman Jacques is also accorded respect.