16:25 Newton Abbot

Wednesday 9 May 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:5517:25

Final Furlong Podcast On attheraces.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:25 | Winning time: 4m 5.1s

Watcombe Heights¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 122| CD

2/1

Both his career wins have been recorded here, a fast ground bumper in 2014 and a maiden hurdle (2m2½f, good) last August. Was beaten from 2lb lower than this in December but if back-to-form he has claims from this mark.

Form: 226644

Pointed And Sharp^h¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

4/1

Sole win so far was on soft but showed that he acts on good ground when 2L second in a Fontwell handicap hurdle (2m1½f) last month. Nudged up 1lb for that career-best and has to be considered.

Form: 663322

Cleni Wells^h²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: M Hill| OR: 115| C

8/1

Goes well here and scored over 2m2½f (good to soft) at the track last June from 2lb higher. That came on his second start after a break, as this race is today, so may be capable of better than his reappearance and not ruled out.

Form: 033659-

English Pale^p,t¹⁶³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: J L Flint| OR: 115

20/1

Former Jessica Harrington inmate who won a maiden claimer on the Flat in Ireland. Acts on a sound surface and could certainly give him a chance based on his best two runs in maiden hurdles in Ireland on this, his handicap debut. Market check.

Form: 20/P304-

Flight To Milan⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 113

14/1

Best form so far has been with cut in the ground, so has to prove he handles these quicker conditions. Beaten just 1L in a Taunton maiden hurdle in March. Well held from this mark on handicap debut last time, so needs to bounce back.

Form: 60325-

Treasure The Ridge^b¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: J McGrath| T: M Hill| OR: 110| CD

33/1

Sole hurdles win was over C&D (good to soft) from 2lb lower last July. Form has been significantly below that level in three hurdles runs since. Drop in trip may help after being well beaten over further last time, but has a fair bit to prove.

Form: 2150-00

Nabhan^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 107

17/2

Won a juvenile hurdle at Newbury (2m½f, soft) in 2016. Unable to repeat that level of form since. Encouraging that his best handicap effort was over C&D on good in August when 10lb higher. Well held on reappearance but couldn't rule out a good run.

Form: 3756-88

Shrubland^p¹⁸¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 107| BF| D

9/2

Took him 19 races to get off the mark and did so on debut for this trainer. Since made up for lost time with three wins at up to 2m4½f, two of them on good. Beaten 4L from 1lb higher last time but entitled to plenty of respect.

Form: P11213-

Global Thrill^t¹²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 104| CD

12/1

Won his maiden hurdle over C&D in 2015 and acts on good ground. 1lb higher than latest win at Kempton in November but now back on better ground and with 5lb claimed he can't be ruled out.

Form: 131307-

Non-Runners

Nelson's Touch³⁰

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J W Mullins J: Nick Scholfield

Forecasts

Watcombe Heights (2/1), Pointed And Sharp (4/1), Nelson's Touch (4/1), Shrubland (9/2), Cleni Wells (8/1), Nabhan (17/2), Global Thrill (12/1), Flight To Milan (14/1), English Pale (20/1), Treasure The Ridge (33/1)

Another competitive event in prospect and SHRUBLAND is not one to give up on just yet, despite his 4L defeat from just 1lb higher last time. Conditions are ideal and he stays further, so his new-found confidence may help him get his nose back in front. Watcombe Heights and Pointed And Sharp should both be capable of making an impact, while Cleni Wells, English Pale and Global Thrill are others considered.