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15:35 Newbury

Saturday 8 February 2020

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 3m 48.0s

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Selected odds by:

Gumball^h⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 153| D

33/1

Smart hurdler who scored at Ascot in November (made all) before running a fine race in defeat when second in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham. Not disgraced in Grade 2 company last time; now off a mark that calls for a career-best.

Form: 49-3126

Pic D'Orhy^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146

33/1

Has some back class over hurdles from his time in France but hasn't been able to match that level of form since joining this yard. Drops back in trip now and is on a fair mark if everything clicked into place; needs to settle better.

Form: F220-F6

Stolen Silver^h,t²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 140| D

16/1

From a stable with a good record in this race his form since unseating on his hurdles debut reads well. Won twice including in Grade 2 company with his defeat coming at the hands of the useful Chantry House (well fancied in opener); handicap debut.

Form: 52-U121

Harambe⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 144| D

25/1

Progressive towards the end of last season when he won twice and was a good second in a good novice handicap. Bounced back to form when once again faced with a big-field scenario to win the Greatwood Hurdle; type to continue to run well.

Form: 4112-71

Not So Sleepy^t⁴⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: J J Burke| T: H Morrison| OR: 144| D

9/1

Useful Flat performer who came to hurdles late but is proving progressive winning a brace of Ascot 2m handicaps from the front in good style. The handicapper has made him pay for his latest win (17lb rise); still a hard one to rule out.

Form: 415-11

Mill Green³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 142| D

25/1

Winner of his first two hurdles starts his form after that was consistent rather than progressive (ran with credit on his handicap debut). Resumed his progress when winning off a break at Sandown; still relatively unexposed, up 6lb in a deeper race.

Form: 11343-1

Nelson River²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 142

50/1

Ran well as a juvenile winning his first two starts over hurdles and finishing fourth in the Triumph at the Festival. Failed to show anything like his best form on the AW or over hurdles this season; opening mark looks a tough one, others preferred.

Form: 1164-55

Thebannerkingrebel²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 141| BF| D

7/1

Top-class bumper performer who has continued his upward curve over hurdles winning three of his five starts. Just failed to defy a 5lb penalty in Grade 2 company last time finishing third to Stolen Silver; more to come on handicap debut.

Form: 2-11F13

Never Adapt^h²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| BF| D

8/1

Talented mare who showed plenty of ability when winning last time at Kempton building on a promising reappearance. Failed to settle and overcame a poor track position to win showing that she was ahead of her mark; up 10lb, suited by well-run race.

Form: 1/3-31

Remiluc^t³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 139| CD

66/1

Veteran in hurdling terms who has finished runner-up in a County Hurdle (2018) but offered nothing close to that form returning from a long absence. Hard to fancy on the back of that run and the younger brigade look sure to have the legs on him.

Form: 1522U/0

Oakley⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 139| D

20/1

His novice career was productive winning on his handicap debut after taking a Ludlow novice the time before over 2m, Yet to hit the winners enclosure this season but has run with credit each time; still looks on a decent mark, could get involved.

Form: 211-332

Zanza^h⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| CD

25/1

Dual C&D winner who produced a career-best when taking a conditionals handicap in November off a 2lb lower mark. Has come up short since failing to finish off his race in the Greatwood Hurdle off the same mark; fell last time, hood back on.

Form: 01-P16F

Ecco⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 138| D

16/1

Hard to fault his first two starts this season returning from a wind op taking novice hurdles at Wincanton and Ascot. Back to form last time after disappointing when up in grade; now switches the handicaps, looks this best of his yards trio.

Form: 66-1132

Lightly Squeeze³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 137| D

33/1

On a rare roll over hurdles this season winning his last three starts and overcoming the handicapper on each occasion. The assessor now looks to have caught up with his antics; up 17lb for his last win and that gives him a stiff task here.

Form: 3-23111

Ciel De Neige⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Aidan Coleman| T: W P Mullins| OR: 135| BF

13/2

The only Irish challenger he showed his aptitude for big-field handicaps when finishing third on stable debut last year. Still to shed his maiden tag though having had two starts this season (beaten odds-on last time); potentially smart.

Form: 44/53-42

Whoshotthesheriff⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Quinlan| T: P A Kirby| OR: 135| D

16/1

Three-time winner last season as a novice he's been shaping well in handicap this term. Better than the bare result last time when finishing fifth to Not So Sleepy at Ascot (taken wide all the way); 1lb lower now, not neglected.

Form: 211-F25

Quoi De Neuf⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: B S Hughes| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133

14/1

Brought down when going well behind Not So Sleepy last time he deserves recognition in this given his previous two runs this term. Fourth behind Harambe in the Greatwood he has a little work to if he's to be involved in this.

Form: 142-24B

Highly Prized⁸⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133| D

9/1

Performed well on the Flat in America; doesn't look the most obvious hurdler but has won three of his four races over hurdles for this yard. Career-best over hurdles last time when winning on handicap debut; returns from a break.

Form: 51-311

Sir Valentine⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Jamie Bargary| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 130| CD

16/1

C&D winner who give this stable another useful performer in the race having won here in November gaining compensation for a fall on hurdling debut. Run well twice since his win including on his handicap debut where little went his way.

Form: F123

Flegmatik⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

33/1

Unexposed type who showed improved form on the back of a wind op to finish second on handicap debut at Wetherby in November. Not seen since the form of that race is rather mixed; will need to improve but not written off.

Form: 513-2

Magic Dancer^b,t⁶²

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 130| D

50/1

Looks vulnerable to progressive types and there are a few of those in this having not won since 2018. Has run some fair races in defeat including on his last start but it would be a surprise to see him win this off this mark.

Form: 223-642

Neff⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130

33/1

Inexperienced over hurdles for a race such as this he has posted two wins and two seconds in his hurdling career. Too a good opportunity last time but this is much more competitive; could have been found easier options for handicap debut.

Form: 1221

Mack The Man⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 130| D

15/2

Looks a very different model this year having won both his starts the latest being a top-class handicap at Sandown off an 8lb lower mark. Travels well in his races and still looks to have lots of potential; nicely weighted; leading contender.

Form: 732P-11

Tamaroc Du Mathan^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: James Bowen| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

50/1

French hurdles winner on his only start in that land before he made a promising GB debut for this yard at Ascot finishing runner-up. Went backwards last time when unable to handle the rigours of a competitive handicap; questions to answer.

Form: 1/20

Forecasts

Ciel De Neige (13/2), Thebannerkingrebel (7/1), Mack The Man (15/2), Never Adapt (8/1), Not So Sleepy (9/1), Highly Prized (9/1), Quoi De Neuf (14/1), Sir Valentine (16/1), Stolen Silver (16/1), Ecco (16/1), Whoshotthesheriff (16/1), Oakley (20/1), Zanza (25/1), Mill Green (25/1), Harambe (25/1), Pic D'Orhy (33/1), Gumball (33/1), Flegmatik (33/1), Neff (33/1), Lightly Squeeze (33/1), Tamaroc Du Mathan (50/1), Nelson River (50/1), Magic Dancer (50/1), Remiluc (66/1)

Eight of the last ten runnings of this valuable handicap hurdle have been won by novices with three of them trained by Nigel Twiston-Davies. Both of his contenders Stolen Silver and Sir Valentine are worthy of consideration with the former looking to have the best chance. THEBANNERKINGREBEL also fits the novice theme and although he was behind Stolen Silver last time he’s much better off at the weights this time and will appreciate this sounder surface. Mack The Man looks a big danger with the form of his Sandown win looking strong and he’s hard to ignore off a lovely racing weight despite an 8lb rise. Ciel De Neige, Not So Sleepy and Oakley are another trio that need considering.