TimeformBlog

The opening contest at Exeter looks an eminently winnable one, with the John Ferguson-trained [b]Printmaker[/b] taken to make a winning debut over hurdles. The four-year-old was fairly useful at up to a mile and a quarter on the Flat in Ireland and he should take a fair amount of stopping here if translating anything like that ability to his new profession, particularly with his yard in good form (fired in a brace of winners yesterday). Ferguson has done well with horses of a similar profile previously and, with question marks over plenty of his rivals, Printmaker looks more than capable of going close. [b]Hello Stranger[/b] has done nothing wrong in his short career to date, comprising just the two runs, and he is taken to confirm himself as being well treated on what will represent...

[b]Darna[/b] landed brace of novice hurdles last January. Sold for £120,000 and first win for new yard when left clear penultimate start, but must bounce back from pulled-up effort when last seen in December. [b]Mush Mir[/b] won first 3 starts in novice hurdles and off the mark at the first attempt over fences at Warwick in December. Repeat of that must see him go close. [b]How's D Strawboss[/b] was placed once from 4 starts in maiden points in Ireland. Not seen for over a year, and others preferred on first start under Rules. [b]Nobunaga[/b] won a Huntingdon novice hurdle in the mud last season. Generally in good order on Flat in the summer, but pulled up over hurdles in January, and poor effort on chase debut earlier this month. [b]Qaspal[/b] was good enough to win 2010 Imperial...

Handicap debutante [b]Josh's Dreamway[/b] (15:00) makes plenty of appeal in the two-mile-three-furlong Betfair Hurdle Series Qualifier at Exeter as she's Timeform top-rated who has a 'p' (open to improvement) still attached to her master figure. A fairly useful bumper performer (won first two outings prior to fourth in listed event), Josh's Dreamway has shaped as if better than her finishing position in maiden/novice hurdles so far and strikes as the type to do much better now handicapping off a BHA rating of 100. The step up in trip isn't expected to pose a problem (her half-sister stayed 21f over timber) and she looks very intriguing with the Jeremy Scott yard ending last month in such fine form. Owing to parts of the course being frozen overnight, Newcastle will have to pass a second...

[b]Alderluck[/b] got off the mark over fences in novice chase at Plumpton (3¼m) last winter. Arrives on back of a solid effort at Wetherby (25f) in first-time blinkers for new yard. Frame claims if building on that. [b]Drybrook Bedouin[/b] goes well here, with course form reading 2311, third in this race last year and winning 4m Devon Marathon penultimate start. Below that level last time, but not dismissed back at this venue. [b]Clash Duff[/b] was a point winner and progressing under Rules, landing novice chase at Huntingdon (3m) penultimate start. Solid 3½ lengths fifth at Warwick (29f) in cheekpieces latest, and even stiffer test will suit. [b]Roseneath[/b] won 4 times over fences, most recently on reappearance at Hereford (25f) in November. Pulled up and then refused to race...

[b]Babe Heffron[/b] made a winning return from a break on soft ground at Lingfield in January. Matched that on final start for Tom George in May, but soundly beaten starting out for new yard at Chepstow recently. [b]Midnight Tuesday[/b] was a good third to Master of The Hall at Newbury on hurdles debut, but disappointing on sole start last year. Has the build of a chaser, and needs consideration on first start/handicap bow for David Pipe. [b]Valley View[/b] was successful on chase debut at Folkestone (2m) in February, and belatedly built on that when scoring at Towcester (19f) last month, jumping fluently. Can build on that, and sets the standard here. [b]Great's Autrechene[/b] was better over fences than hurdles in France, winning twice for Eric Vagne. Latest win came on a lively...

[b]Elspeth's Boy[/b] (13:40) hasn't reproduced the same level of form he demonstrated to land a maiden at Wolverhampton in 2009, but he has had his sights lowered to selling company for the first time this afternoon and should be able to give a good account of himself. Connections obviously had high hopes for Elspeth's Boy earlier in his career, racing him in the 2010 2000 Guineas at Newmarket on just his second start, and at the weights he definitely looks the one to beat this afternoon against some very modest competition. He has shown promise on two of his three starts this year, despite racing too keenly at times, and should retain enough ability to be competitive in this type of contest. His main danger will come in the form of Kingswinford, but that opponent aside, Elspeth's Boy is...

[b]Captain Chris[/b] made giant strides since his debut in February 2010, fulfilling expectations when outstaying his rivals in the Arkle. Added to that at Punchestown, and no reason why he won't go on progressing. [b]Ghizao[/b] was twice conqueror of Arkle-hero Captain Chris last season, but a bad mistake on each of his last 2 starts in the spring cost him. Usually a sound jumper, and every chance there's more to come. [b]Medermit[/b] progressed well over fences after an early blip, beating Captain Chris in Grade 1 at Sandown. Unable to land a blow behind same rival in the Arkle, and this trip probably sharp enough on return. [b]Oiseau de Nuit[/b] is a hold-up 2m chaser who ended last season in the form of his life, following win in Grand Annual with 2 solid efforts. Doesn't possess...

[b]Oceana Gold[/b] made a winning start to life in handicap chases at Worcester in July. Solid effort when third at Newton Abbot next time, and latest run easily forgiven as he lost his action. Sharp two miles suits him well. [b]Trooper Clarence[/b] progressed quickly through the handicap ranks over fences in the spring, winning four times. Jumping has let him down last two outings, and must cut out the errors to get back on track. [b]Health is Wealth[/b] enjoyed a productive spell in handicap chases at Plumpton in the spring, winning three on the trot. Will find this easier than novice he contested at Cheltenham on Saturday, but can finish weakly. [b]Callisto Moon[/b] is a prominent racer who has won novice handicaps at Bangor and Newton Abbot this season. Still in front when ...

[b]Hopefully, the weather will be better this week than the one just gone and we can look forward to some regular jumps racing...[/b] [b]Monday December 13[/b] Temperatures are set to rise slightly, which bodes well for the prospect of racing at Ayr and Plumpton. There is also jumping at Cork, while the all-weather action takes place at Wolverhampton. [b]Tuesday December 14[/b] An otherwise quiet Tuesday may well be enlivened by the prospect of Grade 1 jumping action at Punchestown where the rescheduled John Durkan Memorial Chase meeting is due to take place, though at the time of writing the track reportedly remains unraceable. The day's other meetings take place over jumps at Catterick and Folkestone and on the all-weather at Southwell. [b]Wednesday December 15[/b] The...