15:50 Newton Abbot

Wednesday 15 August 2018

All13:5014:2014:5015:2015:5016:2016:50

Racing Partnership TRP Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:51 | Winning time: 3m 58.40s

Chantecler^t⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 7| Weight: 12-4| J: Harry Reed⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 104| CD

6/4

Opened his account over hurdles at the 17th attempt when beating Billy My Boy 16L over C&D last week. A strong puller, he was allowed to stride on then, but he needs to avoid a duel with the other front-runner Lord Fendale.

Form: 36-2761

Il Sicario⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: Sean Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: W G M Turner| OR: 107

33/1

Unconvincing in four starts over hurdles last term and latest Flat run raises doubts about his current wellbeing.

Form: 5729-

Cillian's Well^p,t³³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick⁽⁵⁾| T: J L Flint| OR: 105| C

12/1

Last win came here over 2m2f a year ago off the same mark. This will be his first run for 11 months and he has a poor record when fresh.

Form: 214534-

Billy My Boy^p⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 104| CD

6/1

Goes well here and on a good mark. Still has 16L to find with Chantecler on running here last week.

Form: 7-348U2

Take The High Road^b1,t1²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 100

25/1

Can take a keen hold and that leaves him running on empty in the closing stages. Similar story on stable debut and now equipped with headgear.

Form: 456-8

Hoover Fever²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey⁽¹⁰⁾| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 100

12/1

Modest form in maiden hurdles but handicapper taking few chances as she represents a top yard on handicap debut.

Form: 723

Archie Rice³¹⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 11-5| J: W T Kennedy| T: J D Frost| OR: 98| C

40/1

Winner of 12 races under rules and a further four point-to-points. Has won here twice but this trip looks on the short side and he may need this after 10 months off.

Form: 1/3136P-

Gaucho^h1⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 98WS

10/1

Has been unable to settle in recent races but should get a good gallop here which will help along with the headgear. Has undergone wind surgery since last run.

Form: 06-565

Kalaskadesemilley^b1,t⁵⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: J Farrelly| OR: 94

6/1

Form has been inconsistent over the last 18 months and her last two runs have been particularly poor. New headgear fitted and a different rider is employed.

Form: 5853-97

Chance It⁷⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 93

33/1

Longstanding maiden makes his debut for local connections needing a change of scenery to have worked wonders since his last run in Ireland.

Form: 77FP5-7

Zamalight⁴⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Dave Crosse| T: B Barr| OR: 83

50/1

Poor maiden who has been beaten a minimum of 49L in his five starts over hurdles. Stable have gone 394 days without a National Hunt winner.

Form: 806-8P

Scorpion Star^p,t¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: James Best| T: M Hill| OR: 81

9/1

Unreliable character who was given every chance last time but failed to sustain the effort. Tongue-tie added and dropped in trip.

Form: 98P-956

Kublai¹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: T Scudamore| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 81

10/1

Last win came in 2015 and his latest efforts have shown a continuing decline. Handicapper continues to give him a chance but only a market move would make him worthy of a second look.

Form: 48-P780

He's A Toff^t1,v1⁷⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss J S Davis| OR: 77

50/1

15-race maiden under both codes who has been tailed off in all six races over hurdles. Makes no appeal from out of the weights.

Form: P960-00

Non-Runners

Bulletproof⁷²

Weight: 11-7| Age: 12

T: K O Cunningham-Brown J: J McGrath

Lord Fendale²³

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: Tim Vaughan J: T J O'Brien

Forecasts

Chantecler (6/4), Lord Fendale (11/2), Billy My Boy (6/1), Kalaskadesemilley (6/1), Scorpion Star (9/1), Gaucho (10/1), Kublai (10/1), Cillian's Well (12/1), Hoover Fever (12/1), Bulletproof (20/1), Take The High Road (25/1), Il Sicario (33/1), Chance It (33/1), Archie Rice (40/1), He's A Toff (50/1), Zamalight (50/1)

Few of these have realistic prospects based on current form but the three most likely candidates, CHANTECLER, Lord Fendale and Billy My Boy have proved to be at their best when allowed to dictate from the front. Of these the selection has the option to sit behind a strong gallop and that versatility earns him a tentative vote in a tricky race.