13:40 Leicester

Monday 18 November 2024

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

Annual Membership At LeicesterRaces Great Christmas Present Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 5m 11.3s

Settings

Selected odds by:

A Moments Madness³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex

6/1

Has an ordinary pedigree but finished runner-up sole start in Irish points in February and made an encouraging enough start over hurdles when fourth of 13 in a Wetherby novice (19.7f, good to soft) last month. Strong each-way chance.

Form: 2-4

Boston Boy^t¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

18/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points but hasn't appeared to get home in 3 starts under Rules, including when fourth of 11 on return/hurdles debut in a first-time tongue strap (retained) 17 days ago. Again looks vulnerable.

Form: 2/55-4

Grenardier¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: M Keighley

250/1

Little impact in a couple of bumpers and while this stiffer test will likely help now switched to hurdles, others make more appeal.

Form: 6-6

Jakar Du Moulin²⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: P F Nicholls

9/2

Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler/chaser Utopia Dream and fair hurdler Amboselie. Winner of a maiden point in February (sole start in that sphere) and, having subsequently fetched £175,000 and joined top jumps yard, he is a very interesting contender.

Form: 1-

Je Viens Du Large⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| BF

16/1

Easily off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt in April but failed by a long chalk to justify support switched to Rules in a Uttoxeter maiden hurdle last month.

Form: 421-P

Les's Jersey Royal²⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

16/1

€85,000 3-y-o out of an unraced half-sister to useful hurdle winner/smart chaser (stayed 3½m) Cannington Brook. Was held back by inexperience when fifth of 8 on debut in a 2m Kempton bumper in February but will be more street-wise this time and worth a second look now switched to hurdles.

Form: 5-

Scotch On Da Rocks²¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Daire Davis⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex| DWS

33/1

£80,000 buy after winning a point in April 2021. Never looked like justifying support making belated Rules debut in a tongue strap at Doncaster in March and again failed to meet expectations a month later. Left Ben Pauling but has the frame for jumping. Has had another breathing op.

Form: 1/56-

Western Harmony²²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson

9/1

Cost £115,000 after winning his second of 2 starts in Irish points in the spring. Promise both starts in bumpers since, including when 9½ lengths fourth of 10 to Woodland Park at Market Rasen on latest start in April, and he should have a future in this sphere.

Form: 7/144-

Woodland Park³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| BF

4/6

Confirmed debut promise when bagging 10-runner bumper at Market Rasen in April. Clear of the third (who has since won a novice hurdle) when going close on debut in this sphere at Carlisle (17.2f, soft) and he should make a bold bid to go one better upped in trip here.

Form: 31-2

Alshadhian²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

150/1

Fair maiden at best on Flat (stays 1¾m) but he finished nearer last than first starting out over hurdles at Exeter last month.

Form: 7

Camps Bay

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

50/1

Mount Nelson gelding who needs a second look in the betting.

Form:

Big Ange²⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

250/1

Pulled up on hurdles debut at Bangor and Sam Twiston-Davies prefers newcomer Camps Bay.

Form: 7P-

Non-Runners

Swift Jet²⁸¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 6

T: R T Phillips J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Woodland Park (4/6), Jakar Du Moulin (9/2), A Moments Madness (6/1), Western Harmony (9/1), Je Viens Du Large (16/1), Les's Jersey Royal (16/1), Boston Boy (18/1), Scotch On Da Rocks (33/1), Camps Bay (50/1), Swift Jet (100/1), Alshadhian (150/1), Grenardier (250/1), Big Ange (250/1)

This should go the way of WOODLAND PARK, who lost no caste in defeat when going down narrowly on his hurdles debut at Carlisle and he seemingly has a bright future. Jakar du Moulin is an intriguing recruit for the Paul Nicholls yard and it will be interesting to see how this point winner shapes up in the betting, while A Moments Madness, who shaped well on debut in this sphere at Wetherby, and Western Harmony are others to consider.