15:35 Newbury
Saturday 11 February 2017
All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45
Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)
- 4YO plus | Class 1 | 2m 69y | Soft | 16 Runners | Turf | Weighed In
- Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 0.10s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Listed Kempton winner in October (good) who has been found wanting in similarly competitive handicaps to this since. A drop in the weights will do him no harm, though needs to be at the very top of his game to win this off top weight.
Rapid rise in the ranks for this son of Hernando, who won four off the reel before succumbing only to The New One at Haydock last time. Now back in handicaps he may still have more to come and given that the forecast ground suits him, he must enter calculations once again.
Eyecatching Wetherby scorer in December (2m, good to soft), though comfortably accounted for when stepped in both trip and grade here last time. Drop in trip and likely strong pace will help him, as may first-time cheek pieces, though has plenty to find to be winning.
Still relatively lightly-raced and already tried in Grade Two company. Both wins have been on good to soft and has received a slight drop in the weights which could make him very competitive now moving into handicap company for the first time.
Dual hurdles winner in Ireland in 2015 but seen only once since, when failing to complete at last year's Punchestown Festival. Goes well fresh and is in the right hands to come back and produce a good performance, with a market check advised given connections.
Enjoyed a cracking start to his career with three wins from his first five starts, before showing that he can handle these competitive big-field handicap hurdles by finishing in last year's County Hurdle. Ran a similarly good race back there last time (2m 1f, soft) and has C&D winning form to his name, so looks likely to make a bold bid once again.
Shoulders a 5lb penalty for winning at Cheltenham last time where one or two of these finished behind him. Clearly thriving at present and connections try to strike again while the iron is hot. Short-listed.
Dual soft ground handicap hurdle winner who has a bit to find with a few of these on his previous form, but ran respectably to make the frame in Listed company a couple of starts ago. Stable in good form but percentage call still to take him on.
In decent form in the autumn, including at further than this, but looks to be on a stiff enough mark in a very competitive race to be making his handicap debut. Also appears to prefer a sound surface.
Potentially exciting novice who has won three out of four career starts and hold entries in both the Neptune and Supreme at the Cheltenham Festival. Interesting that his top trainer fancies a tilt at this en route to Prestbury Park, which may well be a clue that he is very well handicapped. All wins have been on good to soft. Very interesting contender.
Last season's Champion Bumper winner who has yet to get off the mark over hurdles, though has been in the frame in successive Grade Twos. The form of his latest run was upheld by the winner's bold showing at Huntingdon during the week and he looks to have got into this on a very attractive mark. Already proven in the hustle and bustle of big fields and his proven stamina will also be an asset with a likely strong pace on here.
Won the Grade Two Adonis Hurdle as a juvenile, though has not won in six start over hurdles during the two years since. Showed he can be very competitive in this sphere last time, however, when beaten just a length behind Bigmartre at Kempton, for which he is up 2lb today. Proven in the forecast conditions and could go well at a price.
Third in the Greatwood at Cheltenham on November, though has won just one of his 13 starts over hurdles, which makes him vulnerable as far as success goes here. Also has a 3lb rise to contend with.
Last win came here in March 2015 fro 2lb higher, so in that respect he has a squeak at a decent price, though has not yet won on the forecast ground and it is likely that minor money is as good as it might get today.
Been competitive in Irish handicaps while climbing the weights in this sphere since a Clonmel success in November. Not easy to equate that form with this plethora of British opponents, but has little racing weight to carry and has to be respected given his top trainer.
In good form in 2016, culminating in success in a competitive Ascot handicap in November (2m, good to soft). All wins have included good in the description and this is a race where he would need as much as possible going for him, so we will take him on.
Forecasts
Ballyandy (3/1), Movewiththetimes (6/1), Clyne (6/1), William H Bonney (15/2), Wait For Me (8/1), Song Light (14/1), De Name Escapes Me (14/1), Veinard (16/1), Boite (16/1), Gassin Golf (18/1), Beltor (20/1), Zubayr (20/1), Kayf Blanco (25/1), Ballyhill (28/1), Hargam (40/1), Eddiemaurice (66/1)
This race presents the usual conundrum for punters, with potential handicap blots in novices Movewiththetimes and Ballyandy taking on some more regular contestants in big-field handicaps. For today, CLYNE gets the vote, as although he receives weight from only one rival, he relishes the forecast conditions and there looks likely to be more to come from him in this sphere. Wait For Me would not be winning out of turn, William H Bonney is much respected, while money for any of the Irish raiders would be very interesting.
1. Clyne
2. William H Bonney
3. Ballyandy
Prize Money
1st: £88,272.002nd: £33,124.003rd: £16,585.004th: £8,262.005th: £4,154.006th: £2,077.00
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