1.15pm Ffos Las Tips & Betting Preview 12/12/2016

Fifteen line-up here for this Class 4 Novices’ Hurdle and a few nice types are represented from the leading yards. Read on for our experts’ thoughts and betting tips.

IN SUMMARY: Of the two Evan Williams runners’ POSITIVELY DYLAN looks the most interesting given his second behind the Champion Bumper winner Ballyandy in March. He has shaped well in two starts so far and can make a big impression here. He faces a few dangers in his stablemate and Jameson who is starting life with Nicky Henderson and should run well. He is likely to start off favourite and of the others, Joeur Brasilien and Test Pilot look the most interesting so don’t rule out big runs from either.

1 Old Salt – Won under Rules on debut in a maiden hurdle at Ludlow three weeks ago beating the re-opposing Crievehill by 1 ¾ lengths. Hs to give 7lb to that one today but has a good pedigree for this discipline and he travelled well in heavy ground on his first start so hopes will be high for another bold show with Paul Moloney 2-3 for this owner but up against some decent horses here.

2 Aaryam – Poor form in a couple of bumper starts so far and on first hurdles start and looks well-held with a few judged on that.

3 Crievehill – Arcadio gelding who was second on hurdles debut 1 ¾ lengths behind Old Salt. Looked a bit green that day and likely to improve for top yard who are having plenty of winners recently. Better effort expected today against that one and should run well.

4 Dirty Dexter – Makes hurdles debut today after two moderate showing in bumpers. Looks up against it here with the market principals and with the ground likely to be softer than he’s encountered today.

5 Gask Ridge – Could prove vulnerable here to improvers given he fell twice in Irish points. Rules debut in a bumper at Musselburgh (Good) left something to work with but well beaten that day and others look to have better chances for win purposes.

6 Jameson – Has joined Nicky Henderson after a ten-length romp in a bumper at Bangor (Good/Soft) last month when trained by Paul Morgan. This is a step up and faces some good quality opposition today.

7 Joeur Brasilien – Purchased for 140,000 Euros when trained by Yannick Fouin in France where he showed progression in two runs. Yard has a fine strike-rate here so one to take close note of in the market on debut and wouldn’t need to be out of the ordinary to trouble the likely favourite.

8 Living Leader – Decent enough form on the flat with four AW and two turf wins to his name. Hurdles debut today and yard also run Dirty Dexter. Held on flat form against market principals.

9 Positively Dylan – Won in rules debut in a bumper at Chepstow (Heavy) a year ago, scoring by 2½ lengths over 2m and nine lengths behind the well-backed Ballyandy in a Listed race on his final start and that one has since gone on to win the Champion Bumper at the Festival in March. Yard also run Old Salt here and interesting to see what the market makes of him in relation to his stablemate.

10 Red Indian – Trained by Chris Bealby last year and certainly no slouch when winning on Rules debut at Newcastle (Heavy) last year. Decent start for this yard when third at Market Rasen (Good) in May and has to find quite a bit with the market principals after 220 days off. Best watched for now.

11 Ruler Of The Nile – Seven-length winner on sixth AW start at Southwell in February but first hurdles start after a seven month lay-off left something to be desired when never handling the ground or trip. Can be overlooked here.

12 Speronimo – Made his debut at Wincanton Good/Soft) in April and finished fourth of 11. Fell on hurdles debut 11 days ago and needs to have put that behind him to get involved at all here.

13 Test Pilot – Useful enough pedigree being related to a winning hurdler/chaser. Quite a way back in third on bumper debut at Market Rasen (Good) in October and interesting if market speaks in his favour given connections.

14 Way Of The World – Six runs so far and best effort came when a length down in second in a bumper at Towcester (Good) in May. Two uninspiring hurdles run here last month and hard to see him getting involved.

15 Classi Massini – Fair start to career and showed improved form to finish second on fourth start at Bangor (Good) in July but has gone backwards ever since and needs to show huge improvement to take a hand in this.