13:50 Newbury

Wednesday 17 January 2018

All13:2013:5014:2515:0015:3016:05

Betfred 'Homes Of Goals Galore' Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 4m 16.5s

Ok Corral²⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: B J Geraghty| T: N J Henderson| D

4/5

Made a really excellent impression when winning a Kempton novice on his return (started odds-on favourite) last May and open to plenty of improvement. Represents an in-form yard that took this 12 months ago.

Form: 12/1

Forgot To Ask⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings⁽³⁾| T: T R George| BF| D

16/1

Made a winning start under Rules when taking a Chepstow bumper (5/2 favourite) back in April by 11L. Two runs ovr hurdles so far have seen him produce some reasonable form, although the 2m trip didn't appear in his favour last time.

Form: 221-954

Kings Monarch²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee

50/1

Winner of an Irish point-to-point and then sold for £60,000 prior to his debut in a Towcester novice. Looked as though as he needed the run on that occasion and it will be interesting to see if he produces a better finishing effort this time.

Form: 10

Manhattan Spring²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: A Thornton| T: J W Mullins| D

66/1

Despite his rather stout pedigree he did manage to win on his debut in an AW bumper. Back from a break and making his hurdles debut last November he looked to retain all his ability and still looked to be learning his craft over hurdles last time out.

Form: 128/60

Navajo War Dance²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: A Stronge

50/1

Appeared to regress on the Flat last year (had looked temperamental) and his hurdling debut for this new yard gave little encouragement. Shaped a little better last time though (trip and ground looked too testing) but hardly the most reliable.

Form: 83

Nelson's Touch⁷⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J W Mullins

16/1

Has been tried on the Flat of late (made little impression on handicap debut last time) but does have some reasonable bumper form to his name. Now makes his hurdles debut and worth noting in the market.

Form: 33240-

Thames Knight³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: J R Boyle

100/1

Scored a couple of times on the Flat at up to 1m4f when he was with Marcus Tregoning but he's been easy to back on both his hurdles starts. Looks the sort who will be better once he has a mark for handicaps and should gain that after this run.

Form: 99

Togetherness²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T E Whelan| T: P R Chamings

100/1

A maiden on the Flat albeit a fairly useful one he's shown nothing over hurdles so far and can't be recommended here.

Form: 00

Way Out West^h,t⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Best| T: C E Longsdon

50/1

Overcame inexperience when winning on his bumper debut for his previous yard but failed to build on that when debuting for this stable. Hood and tongue-tie employed (as today) on his first hurdles start and offered something to work on (needs to settle better); more to come.

Form: 105

What's Occurring⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

10/1

There was promise on his only bumper start (came from a unpromising position given plenty to do) and eventually finished 5th. Again showed an aptitude for racing and hurdling on his jumping debut but will be suited by further in due course.

Form: 53

Whatswrongwithyou^h³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

7/4

Gives his trainer a very strong hand here (also have OK Corral) and landed a bumper on his second start building on his encouraging debut. Rather spoilt his chance on hurdling debut by running too free but still managed to take the runner-up slot; better things await.

Form: 2/1012-2

Alice Pink²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| D

100/1

Bumper winner on her third start showing improved form under a full-fledged rider for the first time winning by 12L. Two hurdles runs back from a long break have shown some promise and she may yet do better although that may well be in handicaps.

Form: 331/60

Midnight Mood⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: M D Grant| T: D J S Ffrench Davis

100/1

Only modest on the Flat (won a 1m2f handicap off 56) but would need to show a great deal on improvement to figure here on her hurdles debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Sandro Botticelli³²⁹

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: Alexandra Dunn J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Ok Corral (4/5), Whatswrongwithyou (7/4), What's Occurring (10/1), Forgot To Ask (16/1), Nelson's Touch (16/1), Sandro Botticelli (16/1), Navajo War Dance (50/1), Way Out West (50/1), Kings Monarch (50/1), Manhattan Spring (66/1), Togetherness (100/1), Alice Pink (100/1), Thames Knight (100/1), Midnight Mood (100/1)

Trainer Nicky Henderson has his yard in rude health at the moment and looks to have a stranglehold on this event via OK CORRAL and Whatswrongwithyou. The former has to carry a penalty but given his form so far he looks a fair way ahead of these with his stablemate having to learn to settle a bit better to be seen at his best. There are a few others that have shown promise and can make their mark in the future with Way Out West, What’s Occurring and Forgot To Ask all capable of getting involved.