14:05 Newbury

Saturday 22 March 2025

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

4YO plus | Class 3 | 2m 2f 183y | 11 Runners | Turf

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Glynn Brae²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N A Twiston-Davies| OR: 130

11/1

£130,000 purchase on the back of a bumper success at Leopardstown last spring and made it 3-5 over hurdles when easily landing the odds again at Fontwell last month. Tendency to jump right a bit of a concern here for handicap debut but he's going the right way.

Form: 1-16211

Alexei^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 130| D

15/2

A fairly useful 4-time winner on the Flat in Germany and created an excellent impression in landing a pair of novice hurdles at Taunton this winter for his current yard. Failed to travel with the same zest upped in class on softer ground at Exeter last month and now goes handicapping.

Form: 114

Serious Challenge²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J J Burke| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128

7/2

Smart on Flat in Ireland and progressive over hurdles for new yard this winter, supplementing his Plumpton success (20.5f) at Ayr 4 weeks ago (2m). Retains plenty of potential as a handicapper so id of major interest.

Form: 511

Oh My Johnny³⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sean Houlihan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 121

9/1

Made amends for his luckless Bangor effort when scoring in ready fashion at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) in December, pushed out near finish. Disappointing handicap debut at Haydock but soon brushed that aside when going in again at Hereford last month, staying on well.

Form: F4F171

Old Cowboy¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: N F Houlihan| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121

17/2

Purchased for £66,000 after finishing runner-up in a point. Encouraging start over hurdles when third over 2m here in January and jumped really well when turning over a short-odds opponent at Plumpton 12 days ago. More needed switched to a handicap.

Form: 42-3341

Kalium⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 120| BF

12/1

Appealing pedigree and made a winning debut in a Killarney bumper in May, which was his sole outing for Sean Doyle. Promising start over hurdles for new connections, too, winning twice and perhaps best not to judge him too harshly on fifth-place finish on handicap debut at Carlisle.

Form: 12115

Calimystic³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 118| D

5/1

Half-brother to the smart Angels Breath. Runner-up in a Taunton bumper in November and confirmed the promise of his hurdles debut at Doncaster when landing 6-runner novice back there a month ago (19.4f). Certainly in the right hands to go on progressing.

Form: 221

Beau Quali³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 118

10/1

Runner-up in a juvenile hurdle in France last March (sole start for David Cottin) and has made the frame all 4 completed starts for present yard. Handicap debut and he needs to raise his game upped slightly in trip.

Form: 2-242F2

Jackpot Des Bordes^p1,t⁸²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118| BF

17/2

Made a winning bumper debut at Hereford in 2023 and left hurdling debut effort behind when winning 13-runner novice at Taunton (16.5f, good to soft) getting away with the drop in trip. Failed to land the odds back at that venue but a stronger pace may suit him now handicapping fitted with headgear.

Form: 12-612

Norn Iron²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 114| BF

10/3

Showed promise in 2022/23 season for Oliver Sherwood and promising start for new yard with a brace of runner-up efforts this season, latterly on handicap debut at this venue. Shaped better than result when heavily backed at Doncaster and there's more to come over this trip.

Form: 43/224

Six And Out²¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: D Weston| OR: 107| BF| D

33/1

Showed improved form to make a successful handicap debut in 8-runner event at Stratford (18.7f, good, 5/1) in July, responding well from the last to see off the favourite. Not in the same form at Newton Abbot s month later and off since.

Form: 45-1U16

Forecasts

Norn Iron (4/1), Alexei (5/1), Beau Quali (7/1), Oh My Johnny (7/1), Glynn Brae (7/1), Calimystic (8/1), Serious Challenge (8/1), Jackpot Des Bordes (10/1), Old Cowboy (12/1), Kalium (16/1), Six And Out (25/1)

Plenty of in-form sorts to consider, with NORN IRON just about the most persuasive option. Still unexposed for Harry Derham, he chased home a next-time-out winner at this venue on his penultimate start and was better than the result when heavily backed at Doncaster latest. Serious Challenge has the scope to do better in this sphere given his Flat form, with Calimystic completing the shortlist.