13:40 Newcastle
Monday 23 January 2017
All13:4014:1014:4015:1015:4016:10
Barbour Handicap Hurdle
- 4YO plus | Class 4 | 2m 98y | Soft (Good to Soft in places) | 11 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 10.6s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
66/1 but finished a fair third to a Nicky Richards trained pair over hurdles at this trip on his penultimate start at Kelso, but not so good last time over fences, and reverts back to hurdling here.
Made smooth headway, and travelled best three out, before weakening from the second last when third over this C&D earlier this month. Form looks fairly solid (fourth Deepsand won at Haydock on Saturday), and this one time useful NHF performer can go well if slightly stronger on just her third start since April 2015.
Has taken a while to adjust to life in the UK, but has finished fourth on his last two starts including last time on handicap debut over 2m2f at Kelso last month. Needs to produce a little more, but dropped 2lbs from opening mark to 106.
Placed on four occasions over hurdles for this yard, but has largely been campaigned on better ground. Absent since finishing sixth of 13 at Hexham in October, but dropped a further 5lbs to a mark of 105.
Winner of a slightly lower grade contest at Uttoxeter in October (2m Good to Soft) from a one pound lower mark, but not so good since in two starts over hurdles, and had a recent spin on the AW at Southwell earlier this month. Riders claim helpful.
Left previous trainer Rebecca Menzies in the summer and purchased for £12,000 at Ascot in August. Only fifth in a fair Hexham maiden hurdle to Kelka in early November, but well beaten in handicap company last time at Kelso and seemingly held by Sudski Star.
Ex Irish (Aidan and Joseph O'Brien), but has shown little over hurdles including on each occasion for this trainer so far at Carlisle in October and Musselburgh earlier this month.
Well backed and back to form last time at Sedgefield (2m1f Good to Soft), but denied a return there earlier this month due to snow. Now 10lbs higher and runs from a revised mark of 92, but clearly a capable performer if allowed to dictate from the front. Holds an entry at Catterick on Wednesday.
A three time winner on the Flat, but remains a maiden over hurdles after nine starts. Finished last of ten when last seen at Carlisle in November, and generally out of form this winter.
Beaten 15 lengths when third to Dark and Dangerous on Boxing Day at Sedgefield (plugged on), and despite the stiffer track here, there's not enough to suggest those placings can be reversed. Consistent and enjoys some cut, so obvious place contender.
C&D winner (December 2014) from a mark of 99, but has regressed since and runs here from out of the handicap. Has shown a shade more the last twice (placed in similar events for this rider) including over C&D, so not totally discounted here.
Forecasts
Lady Buttons (9/4), Beeno (9/4), Dark And Dangerous (7/1), Motion To Strike (17/2), Nafaath (14/1), Copt Hill (14/1), Grexit (16/1), Sudski Star (25/1), Mash Potato (25/1), Captain Sharpe (33/1), King Of Aragon (100/1)
Dark and Dangerous will quite rightly be popular in the market here, and holds every chance of following up if allowed a soft lead despite shouldering a 10lbs higher mark than at Sedgefield. However, the scenario exists that the Simon West trained nine-year-old could be a sitting duck for a smooth travelling rival from the last, and if LADY BUTTONS can build upon her solid run here last time and is held onto for a little longer by Adam Nichol, she fits the profile of a likely winner on just her third start back from a lengthy break.
1. Lady Buttons
2. Dark And Dangerous
3. Copt Hill
Prize Money
1st: £3,249.002nd: £954.003rd: £477.004th: £238.00
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