13:20 Newcastle

Tuesday 30 January 2018

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:3516:05

Read Noel Fehily At 188Bet Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:23 | Winning time: 6m 3.42s

Donna's Delight³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: B S Hughes| T: A M Thomson| OR: 121

3/1

Fine chasing prospect but has progressed over hurdles since winning at Carlisle in October. Not disgraced over C&D in the French Furze in December, and arguably unfortunate not to be awarded the race at Ayr latest; narrowly beaten by Uncle Alastair.

Form: 219-142

Beau Sancy^t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson

100/1

Well beaten on both starts over hurdles so far (2m4f), so firmly up against it in this sort of company. No realistic chance.

Form: 00-9964

Bob Mahler³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 122

10/11

Frustratingly for connections he remains a maiden, but he is surely capable of winning a similar event. Ran well in each of his last two starts, including in a stronger contest at Ascot in November, when just over 8L third to Count Meribel (2m5f+).

Form: 3UF-532

Cadeyrn²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: M Scudamore

9/4

Point-to-point winner who is steadily progressing with hurdles experience. Finished 6½L fourth to Diablo De Rouhet at Chepstow latest (2m3f+ maiden), with the third placed horse Jaunty Flyer a subsequent winner (dead-heat) at Catterick last week.

Form: 1/315-74

Call Me¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Grant Cockburn⁽³⁾| T: Mrs L B Normile

50/1

Fast ground point-to-point winner for previous handler Michael Cullen (3m), but has struggled to make much of an impression in a couple of Kelso novice hurdles (2m6f+) and looks much more of a longer-term prospect.

Form: P43-156

Carlingford Prince⁶²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: T Reed

33/1

Well beaten on his stable debut at Perth in May 2016 (2m4f good), and has been absent from action since. Unrealistic to expect he'll be competitive here, but has to start off again somewhere.

Form: P4PU2/4-

Sultans Pride¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ross Chapman⁽⁵⁾| T: G Boanas

40/1

Has shown some ability in bumpers, but hasn't really moved forward since switched to hurdles. Well-related (brother to Crowning Jewel), so he should make his mark over hurdles with more time, perhaps when sent handicapping.

Form: 25-590

Trust Me I'm A Dr⁵²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Mr D Delahunt⁽⁷⁾| T: V Thompson

100/1

A longstanding maiden in point-to-points, this nine-year-old was pulled up on his last start 52 days ago, and arrives under rules for the first time with little chance whatsoever.

Form: 5644/3-P

Forecasts

Bob Mahler (10/11), Cadeyrn (9/4), Donna's Delight (3/1), Carlingford Prince (33/1), Sultans Pride (40/1), Call Me (50/1), Beau Sancy (100/1), Trust Me I'm A Dr (100/1)

National Hunt racing makes a belated reappearance at Gosforth Park following a couple of abandonments, with the ground expected to be riding predominately soft. 2018 could well begin with a winner in the familiar black & white stripes of locally based owner David Armstrong, courtesy of DONNA'S DELIGHT. This grand stamp of a horse screams future chaser at the most casual of observers, but he's also a progressive type over hurdles, and was a shade unfortunate when just edged out by Uncle Alastair on similar ground at Ayr (2m4f+) immediately prior to Christmas. He should be fine over this trip in a lesser race (weakened in the French Furze over C&D in December), and realistically only has Bob Mahler to beat. The Warren Greatrex trained runner is fully respected, but the suspicion is that Donna's Delight will hold all of the aces.