15:55 Newbury

Wednesday 18 January 2017

All13:1513:5014:2014:5515:2515:55

Betfred TV Standard Open NH Flat Race

Off time: 15:57 | Winning time: 4m 1.90s

Absolute Power²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: Miss R Curtis

8/1

€32,000 three-year-old, who made a solid NHF debut on Soft ground at Chepstow in December, leading over a furlong out and only headed in the final 120 yards by Caderyn. Likely to encounter similar conditions here and much respected.

Form: 2

Bang On Frankie³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: C L Tizzard

15/8

€40,000 three-year-old whose dam was a runner up in NHF races and 2m hurdles. Stayed on from the rear without troubling the leading pair when finishing third on debut at Ascot last month. Looks certain to improve and much respected.

Form: 3

Daylami Kirk⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden⁽³⁾| T: R J Hodges

25/1

Keen, and prominent until headed inside the final furlong when exceeding market expectations and finishing third on NHF debut at Chepstow (Good) early last month. This is tougher and the ground conditions are likely to be much more testing.

Form:

Newquay Cards⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr Lewis Gordon⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams

25/1

Unraced, and fetched €26,000 as a three-year-old. By Tikkanen out of Sanadja, he's likely to find one or two better and crucially more experienced here.

Form:

Old Harry Rocks⁶⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry

3/1

By Milan, and out of Miss Baden, this twice raced gelding has stamina in his pedigree, with his dam out of a sister to the very smart Thisthatandtother. A staying on third on debut at Worcester in October, and just nudged out by Benechenko next time at Uttoxeter in November on similar testing ground. Back from a short break with stable in form.

Form: 32652-

Perfect Harmony⁸⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ian Popham| T: A King

7/1

Two lengths clear when falling at the last on sole Irish PTP start at Dowth Hall (3m Good to Yielding) in October, and went for £65,000 at the Cheltenham November Sale. A second foal, and half brother to staying hurdler Oak Vintage, these conditions should suit for UK debut.

Form: F

Storm Warning²³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Thomas Greatrex⁽⁷⁾| T: W Greatrex

20/1

Runner up on sole PTP start, this gelding by September Storm out of Ceo Draiochta makes his UK debut for a respected yard.

Form: 2465-

Subtle Soldier³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Conor Orr⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams

66/1

Unraced, and fetched £8,500 as a three-year-old. A second foal by Subtle Power out of Killeen Queen, his dam was a 2m2f hurdle winner.

Form: 05P8

Vodka All The Way⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

14/1

Fetched €40,000 as a three-year-old, and is closely related to PTP winner Total Compliance. Held up on NHF debut at Warwick in early December, before staying on at the one pace from over a furlong out. Can improve, and seemingly handled soft ground without any real problems on debut.

Form:

Pearlesque⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: David Bass| T: N J Henderson

10/1

Unraced seventh foal by Martaline out of Anazeem who fetched €65,000 as a three-year-old. This mare boasts a useful mixed NH and Flat pedigree and could well go close if tuned up for her racecourse debut.

Form:

My Mate Mark¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: Martin Smith

33/1

Unraced fifth foal by Sakhee out of Florie. Half brother to NHF and 2m hurdle winner Rafafie.

Form:

Paris Bound¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: L P Aspell| T: A M Balding

25/1

A relatively rare runner under National Hunt rules for his trainer, but could only finish fourth of five on NHF debut to Captain Woodie on much different ground (Good to Firm) at Taunton early last month. Others readily preferred.

Form:

Samson's Reach³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: R J Price

100/1

First foal by Phoenix Reach out of Court Wing, and ran green on NHF debut at Ffos Las before staying on to finish seventh of of 14. Capable of better, but this looks a difficult assignment.

Form:

Unsafe Conduct¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: C L Tizzard

66/1

£13,000 three-year-old third foal by Pasternak out of Symbiosis who is a half brother to this stables Kingfisher Creek. Pulled way too hard for his own good when last of eleven on NHF debut at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Scope to progress with time if learning to settle which must surely be the main objective here.

Form:

Non-Runners

Midnight Magic⁴⁶

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D Pipe J: Non Runner

Mavros³⁹

Weight: 10-7| Age: 4

T: George Baker J: T E Whelan

Forecasts

Bang On Frankie (15/8), Old Harry Rocks (3/1), Perfect Harmony (7/1), Absolute Power (8/1), Pearlesque (10/1), Vodka All The Way (14/1), Midnight Magic (16/1), Storm Warning (20/1), Newquay Cards (25/1), Daylami Kirk (25/1), Paris Bound (25/1), My Mate Mark (33/1), Mavros (50/1), Subtle Soldier (66/1), Unsafe Conduct (66/1), Samson's Reach (100/1)

A race with an absolute multitude of unknowns which could prove to be well worth noting for the future. Both Absolute Power and Bang On Frankie made pleasing starts to their careers, with perhaps the latter looking to have more to work upon here. Old Harry Rocks may not have the speed to take a NHF race, but should do well in time judging upon what we've seen so far and both Midnight Magic and Pearlesque command respect on debuts for David Pipe and Nicky Henderson respectively. However, with the ground likely to be well opened up by this race, the vote goes to PERFECT HARMONY who would have won but for falling on his sole start in an Irish PTP and he has since moved on for a most tidy sum to an excellent trainer. 1. Perfect Harmony 2. Pearlesque 3. Bang On Frankie