14:25 Hereford

Monday 30 January 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Black Mountain Botanicals Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 0.1s

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Selected odds by:

Kenzai Warrior⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: R A Teal| OR: 115

14/1

Useful sort on Flat stepped forward from his hurdles debut when second of 12 in novice at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft, 16/1) 40 days ago. Opening mark looks workable and he's respected.

Form: 42

Inedit Star^h,t1³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 113

7/1

Dual bumper winner in France who has showed definite promise in making frame in pair of Ffos Las maiden hurdles in recent months for new yard. Shouldn't be ruled out with the prospect of more to come now handicapping. Hood/tongue tie fitted.

Form: 1612-23

Gardener³³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Kielan Woods| T: A M Hales| OR: 113| D

2/1

Fairly useful in bumpers in Ireland for Johnny C. Hurley and has made a promising start over hurdles, rallying well to open his account at the second attempt at Leicester last month. Strong claims on handicap debut.

Form: R/36-21

Imac Wood^t1⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Chris Ward⁽³⁾| T: Deborah Cole| OR: 112

150/1

Dual chase winner in France, scoring in 6-runner claiming event at Fontainebleau (17.9f, soft) in March. However, proved very easy to back and offered little on return/handicap hurdle debut for new yard at Leicester in December.

Form: 44161-P

Bannow Bay Boy⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R Patrick| T: T Lacey| OR: 110

9/1

Down the field in a bumper but is bred for jumping and showed an aptitude for hurdling when third of 13 in a 19.7f novice 4 weeks ago. This looks a warmer race but he's entitled to do better.

Form: 2-034

Half Dozen^t1³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 109

8/1

Seemingly brought along gradually in novice hurdles, still looking a work in progress when fourth of 15 in novice hurdle at Chepstow (16f, good to soft, 5/1) 34 days ago. Looks the type to improve now handicapping and he's shortlisted.

Form: 6-634

Miltiades²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: T J O'Brien| T: H D Daly| OR: 105

5/1

Probably should have won when narrowly beaten at Catterick on New Year's Day, looking in control before idling and being headed late. Still on a reasonable mark despite 3 lb rise, though he's clearly not the most straightforward of rides and may well need delivering late.

Form: 5/3454-2

Port Or Starboard^p²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 103

40/1

Runner-up 4 times over hurdles last season. Shaped as if needing run when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (15.8f, heavy) on return 25 days ago and others are preferred.

Form: 2342-65

Heva Rose²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 103

14/1

Successful only outing on Flat and fairly useful form over jumps in France in 2020/21. Quite an encouraging return after a year off at Chepstow earlier this month and still not had much racing for this yard.

Form: 3F5/3P-4

Jilaijone^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 114| BF

11/2

Fair ex-French hurdler who made a winning start for his new yard in 18f juvenile at Fontwell. Backed it up with good third under a penalty at Wetherby later in December (despite bad mistake 2 out) and there could be more to come now handicapping.

Form: 5313

Forecasts

Gardener (2/1), Miltiades (5/1), Jilaijone (11/2), Inedit Star (7/1), Half Dozen (8/1), Bannow Bay Boy (9/1), Kenzai Warrior (14/1), Heva Rose (14/1), Port Or Starboard (40/1), Imac Wood (150/1)

GARDENER's opening mark looks lenient and Alex Hales's recent Leicester winner is taken to follow up on his handicap debut here. Fellow handicap newcomer Half Dozen appeals as the type do better in this sort of event and is much respected, with Miltiades making most appeal of the remainder.