FOURTH RACE 2.20

THE VIRGIN BET SCILLY ISLES NOVICES’ STEEPLE CHASE (CLASS 1) (Grade 1) (GBB RACE)

for novice five yrs old and upwards x Total prize fund £80000

Owners Prize Money. 1st £34864, 2nd £14312, 3rd £7160, 4th £3576, 5th £1792

(Penalty Value £45560)

Leading course trainer (17-22): P Nicholls (30 wins from 153 runners, 20%) runs MONMIRAL

Trainer-in-form (last 14 days): O Murphy (9 wins from 33 runners, 27%) runs THUNDER ROCK colours no horse age st-lb

Fancy That: N Henderson won this race in 2013, 2014, 2017 and 2018. The stable runs BALCO COASTAL today. Longest Traveller: GERRI COLOMBE trained by G Elliott, Ireland.

1 BALCO COASTAL (FR) (40) 12P3-51 D

7 11-7

Br B g Coastal Path - Fliugika (FR) (Roi de Rome (USA)) Nico de Boinville J

O Mr Mark Blandford Nicky Henderson, Lambourn T

B Mr Thierry Mangote Unibet S

TIMEFORM VIEWTwo-timenovicehurdlewinnerlastterm.Failedtojustifyshort-pricedfavouritismonhisNewburychasedebut/returnbutshowedwhythemarketvibeshad beensostrongonthatoccasionwhencomfortablywinningatraditionallystrongKemptonnovicehandicaponBoxingDay.Capableofbetteragain. TFRHHHHI BHA144

2 BOWTOGREATNESS (IRE) (44) F110-23 D BF 7 11-7

Br Br g Westerner - Miss Baden (IRE) (Supreme Leader) Kielan Woods J

O Harry Redknapp & Sophie Pauling Ben Pauling, Naunton T

B Mr J. McDonald Fitzdares S

TIMEFORMVIEWDualnovicehurdlewinnerlastwinterandbetterformwhenplacedinnovicehandicapchasesatExeter and Ffos Las this time round. Looks to be biting off more than he can chew at this level, though. TFRHHIII BHA135

3 GERRI COLOMBE (FR) (40) 11/11-11 D

7 11-7

Br B g Saddler Maker (IRE) - Ruse de Guerre (FR) (Cadoudal (FR)) Jordan Gainford J

O Robcour Gordon Elliott, Ireland T

B C. Boistier & M. A. Boistier Gordon Elliott S

TIMEFORM VIEW Has yet to taste defeat in 7 starts (first one a point), taking the step up to Grade 1 level in his stride at Limerick over Christmas. Likely even more to come and can remain unbeaten.

4 MONMIRAL (FR) (34) 1/542-22 BF

TFRHHHHH BHA154

6 11-7

Br Bl g Saint des Saints (FR) - Achere (FR) (Mont Basile (FR)) Harry Cobden J

O Sir A Ferguson G Mason J Hales & L Hales Paul Nicholls, Ditcheat T

B S.A.R.L. Carion EMM Morson Group S

TIMEFORMVIEWSmarthurdler Hasfailedtowinhis2startssinceswitchingtofencesbuthecameupagainstJonbonatWarwickonthefirstoccasionandrecordedasmart effortwhensecond(ThunderRockjustbehindinthird)intheGrade2DipperatCheltenhamonNewYear’sDay.Opentofurtherprogress.

5 THUNDER ROCK (IRE) (34) 101-113 D

Br B g Shirocco (GER) - La Belle Sauvage (Old Vic)

TFRHHHHI BHA148

7 11-7

A. P. Heskin J

O McNeill Family & Mr Ian Dale Olly Murphy, Wilmcote T

B Mrs O. Hegarty Ultima Business Solutions S

TIMEFORMVIEWFour-timehurdlewinnerlasttermwhohasimprovedplentyforaswitchtochasing,winningsmall-fieldnovicehandicaps at Uttoxeter and Ascot before third (Monmiral narrowly ahead in second) in Dipper at Cheltenham. This is tougher.

DECLARED RUNNERS 5

TFRHHHII BHA150

2022: L’HOMME PRESSE (FR) 7 11 4 Charlie Deutsch 8-13 (Venetia Williams) 5 ran

Probable S.P’s: EVENS Gerri Colombe (FR), 4-1 Monmiral (FR), 9-2 Balco Coastal (FR), 13-2 Thunder Rock (IRE), 50-1 Bowtogreatness (IRE)

PLAY SMARTER

GERRI COLOMBE was very impressive at Limerick over Christmas and can become just the second Irish-trained winner of this race Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have landed this Grade 1 prize 6 and 4 times respectively and their representatives, Balco Coastal and Monmiral, can give Gordon Elliott’s charge most to think about.

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