15:35 Newbury

Saturday 10 February 2018

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3 Handicap)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 4m 9.75s

High Bridge⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Mr Alex Ferguson⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 148| CD

14/1

Thrives around here, with three of his four hurdles win coming over C&D. Held off Charli Parcs to win Listed Gerry Feilden here in December, tough ask off top weight but yard's runners suddenly flying this week.

Form: 1119-31

Jenkins^b²¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| CD

10/1

Finally starting to fulfil his potential with back-to-back wins at Kempton and Ascot, latest in Grade 3 (2m3½f, soft). May have more to offer but harder to dominate matters from the front in this packed affair and big weight to carry up another 5lb.

Form: 41-7711

Bleu Et Rouge^t1⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: B J Geraghty| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| D

10/1

Not disgraced behind Buveur D'air as a novice over this trip at Aintree in April 2016, lost his way over fences last term. Much better at Ascot last time and not discounted in first-time tongue tie for powerful connections.

Form: 5/1U4-04

Verdana Blue⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: D N Russell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| BF| D

10/1

Closely matched with a few of these based on Ascot Grade 3 over the trip just before Christmas. Should find this test to his liking, champion trainer has strong record in the race (saddles five) and strong jockey booking is a positive.

Form: 143-513

Charli Parcs⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Ned Curtis⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 145| D

25/1

French import was a very good juvenile, excellent effort on reappearance when close second to High Bridge over C&D in December though failed to build on that when behind a few of these at Ascot since. Too soon to write him off.

Form: 11F6-20

Divin Bere⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 144| D

25/1

French import, winning start in Britain at Huntingdon in January last, excellent runner-up efforts in Fred Winter at Cheltenham and Aintree Grade 1 Juvenile Hurdle. Disappointed at Ascot on first start for Nicholls team, but not crossed off.

Form: 2/2122-0

Remiluc¹⁴^{(ex 5)}

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Reed⁽⁷⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 139| CD

33/1

Fine effort to win heavy-ground Cheltenham handicap off 139 last month under this claiming rider. C&D winner with figures of P212 over hurdles at this track. Any further rain would likely help his case.

Form: U32221

Moon Racer^t1³⁰⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 142| DWS

20/1

2015 Champion Bumper winner, made bright start to novice hurdles career last term before being outclassed (pulled up) in Champion Hurdle. Also well held in Grade 1 Aintree novice when last spotted. Has undergone wind operation but big ask on return.

Form: 1/211P6-

Misterton⁸³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: H Fry| OR: 142| D

16/1

Lightly-raced sort who produced a career-best when running Elgin to within a ½L in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out. Aimed at this race thereafter, been raised 5lb but scope to improve and capable of giving bold account again.

Form: 1P21-12

Kalashnikov³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 141| D

12/1

Highly-promising novice, lost his unbeaten record in the Tolworth last time out but that was essentially another step forward on just his third start over flights. Progressive sort, being asked by some way his toughest question so far.

Form: 1-112

Project Bluebook⁸³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: B S Hughes| T: J & S Quinn| OR: 141| D

33/1

Some fairly useful efforts last season and staying on without threatening in valuable Galway handicap and the Greatwood most recently over timber, any drying ground would do his chances no harm.

Form: 1341-68

Kayf Grace⁴⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 140| D

10/1

Mare was a Grade 2 bumper winner at Aintree in April 2016, winning start over timber later that year before spending 350 days on easy list. Impressive when scoring over 2m (soft) at Kempton on second run back, she's unexposed despite an 8lb hike.

Form: 211/1-51

Spiritofthegames^p1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 139

25/1

Improved performer for Dan Skelton this season, backing up winning reappearance at Lingfield in November with cracking effort in the Lanzarote (2m5f, soft) at Kempton. Cheekpieces tried but a bit to prove over trip that might be sharp enough.

Form: 1421-12

Lough Derg Spirit⁹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| BF| D

14/1

Smart novice last season and ran a big race in the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton on reappearance when second to London Prize. Just 1lb higher now and another of the Seven Barrows delegation worth considering.

Form: 1141P-2

Poppy Kay³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| CD

25/1

Kayf Tara mare is 4-8 over hurdles, ran a fine race behind High Bridge over C&D in December (2L away in third) and since landed Listed 2m4f heavy-ground Sandown prize. Wouldn't mind seeing some deterioration in the ground.

Form: P12-131

Lalor⁵⁷

10/1

Smart bumper winner has gone close in all three novice hurdles this season against some useful sorts. Opening mark of 137 looks very workable having undergone wind surgery since previous run. Will need to improve but clearly capable of doing so.

Form: 211-232

Knocknanuss⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 135| D

12/1

Useful form in novice/maidens before easily landing Fontwell handicap (2m1½f, soft) on Boxing Day from initial mark of 124. Should improve again and trainer has landed this valuable pot three times since 2007. Respected.

Form: 21/1221

Waterlord²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: W T Kennedy| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 135| D

12/1

Triple bumper winner for John Ferguson in 2015 and has looked good over hurdles this season after long absence, albeit on heavy going. Third run in a month may have caught him out at Haydock last time, opening mark of 135 looks about right.

Form: 42/6114

William H Bonney⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 134| D

20/1

Has a chance based on Cheltenham success around this time last year over 2m1f on soft ground. Only 2lb higher in ratings now but hasn't produced anything like his best in two runs this season.

Form: 107-656

Irish Roe¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Henry Brooke| T: P Atkinson| OR: 134| D

8/1

Four from six over hurdles and yet to finish out of the money, lost little caste in defeat when second to Maria's Benefit at Doncaster a fortnight ago in Mares' Grade 2. Off the same mark, has an obvious chance and should relish this test.

Form: 112112

Silver Streak⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽⁵⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 133| D

14/1

Fared best of this field in 3L second to Hunters Call at Ascot just before Christmas, doing well having been too keen early on. Progressive hurdler since joining Evan Williams, who has his team firing right now. Player with just a further 3lb added.

Form: 2114-12

Nietzsche⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Danny Cook| T: B Ellison| OR: 132| D

33/1

Close third in the Fred Winter at Cheltenham in March and encouraging hurdles return when sixth back there in the Greatwood in November. Well held by plenty of these on subsequent Ascot run, bit to prove now.

Form: 3113-60

Coeur Blimey^p1²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Lucy Gardner⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 132| D

20/1

Second-season novice, plenty of ability but can be prone to mistakes over the obstacles, which put paid to chances in Lanzarote at Kempton over 2m5f last time. Will need to be foot-perfect in first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 22-5156

Zalvados^b1,t³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Ross Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 129| D

33/1

Broke his duck over hurdles at the tenth time of asking in a 2m Ludlow maiden last month, blinkers are tried for the first time now but would surely be doing well to make the frame.

Form: 3-52421

Forecasts

Irish Roe (8/1), Bleu Et Rouge (10/1), Verdana Blue (10/1), Kayf Grace (10/1), Lalor (10/1), Jenkins (10/1), Kalashnikov (12/1), Knocknanuss (12/1), Waterlord (12/1), Lough Derg Spirit (14/1), High Bridge (14/1), Silver Streak (14/1), Misterton (16/1), Coeur Blimey (20/1), William H Bonney (20/1), Moon Racer (20/1), Spiritofthegames (25/1), Charli Parcs (25/1), Poppy Kay (25/1), Divin Bere (25/1), Remiluc (33/1), Zalvados (33/1), Nietzsche (33/1), Project Bluebook (33/1)

A bumper field of 24 and it would be hard to cross any of them off with confidence, this is as competitive as it gets. Irish Roe has been popular in the betting and does look very well handicapped based on her recent run behind Maria's Benefit at Doncaster, for which she was not penalised. Many of these clashed at Ascot before Christmas, and there's little to separate them on form. Silver Streak fared best of them that day in second and rates a key player now under just 3lb more. Despite heavy burdens Bleu Et Rouge, Verdana Blue and Charli Parcs are all contenders while C&D specialist High Bridge should go well under top weight. Jenkins has turned a corner and arguably headlines Nicky Henderson's five-pronged assault on a race he has won five times in the past. Gary Moore has snared this pot three times in ten runnings and his KNOCKNANUSS could be answer now. He had plenty in hand at Fontwell on Boxing Day and is still on a nice weight here with improvement extremely likely.