15:00 Newbury

Saturday 30 December 2017

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betfred Challow Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:02 | Winning time: 5m 25.55s

Dans Le Vent³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 0-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 133

16/1

Steady rather than spectacular over hurdles thus far, but improved upon his Cheltenham second to Slate House in October (2m good) with a straightforward 6L victory at Market Rasen last month (2m2f+). Up in trip and in grade, so looks vulnerable.

Form: 361-321

Aye Aye Charlie⁴³

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: F O'Brien

Form: 3614-3F

Kilbricken Storm^t¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 147

11/4

On a steady upward curve, backing up his fortunate Wincanton victory (2m) with Grade 2 success over 3m at Cheltenham a fortnight ago. Steps into Grade 1 company for the first time, but handles testing conditions, and stays well.

Form: 45-1311

Mulcahys Hill⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 0-0| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex

16/1

Won a 3m Heavy ground Irish point-to-point at Tallow on debut in February 2016, and made a winning hurdles debut at Ffos Las (2m4f maiden, soft) last month. Will handle the conditions, but this represents a massive step up in class.

Form: 1/27-11

Jammin Masters⁵⁷

Age: 15| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: W Greatrex| OR: 124

Form: 1222-2

Poetic Rhythm⁴³

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 147

15/8

Boasts the most experience of this field over hurdles, and made a winning seasonal reappearance at Chepstow in October (2m3f+ good) when winning the Grade 2 Persian War by 1¼L. Far from disgraced when third to On The Blind Side (2m5f) latest.

Form: 5330-13

Way Back Then⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 0-0| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| D

7/1

Unbeaten under rules in two starts for this stable. Followed up a Ludlow bumper victory with success on his hurdles debut at Kempton in November (2m5f good), beating Secret Investor by ¾L. This race represents a sizeable step up in grade.

Form: 2/1-1

Knight In Dubai²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: D Skelton| D

Form: 21-51

Dame Rose²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 0-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: R Hobson| OR: 137| C

3/1

Game Grade 2 bumper winner who continues to improve over hurdles, and took the scalp of previous conqueror Cap Soleil in a Listed mares hurdle here earlier this month (2m). Receives the 7lb fillies allowance, but stamina as of yet is unproven.

Form: 151-131

Royal Magic³⁰

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: S Thomas| D

Form: 6P6-61

Storm Control³⁶

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: Kerry Lee

Form: 1-4

Us And Them²⁰

Age: 13| Weight: 0-0| J: Unknown| T: J P O'Brien

Form: 24-311

Momella¹⁴

Age: 14| Weight: 0-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 142

Form: 41-1121

Forecasts

Poetic Rhythm (15/8), Kilbricken Storm (11/4), Dame Rose (3/1), Way Back Then (7/1), Mulcahys Hill (16/1), Dans Le Vent (16/1)

A slightly sub-standard renewal of the Challow Hurdle, but plenty of likeable horses in the line up nonetheless. Dame Rose is the sole mare in the race, and she is a tough, gritty performer who wears her heart on her sleeve, but looks potentially a shade vulnerable over this longer trip. Kilbricken Storm arrives as the most progressive of the field, but this race comes quickly on the back of his 3m Grade 2 Cheltenham victory a fortnight ago, so there might be just a glimmer of a weakness which could be exploited by POETIC RHYTHM. The Fergal O'Brien camp continue to make a sizeable impression on the National Hunt scene, and their Persian War winner lost little in defeat by the classy On The Blind Side at Cheltenham in mid-November and should represent slightly more value in the market than Kilbricken Storm.