13:15 Newbury

Thursday 8 November 2018

All12:4013:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:00

Agetur UK Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 5.50s

Baddesley Knight²⁰⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: C Gordon

9/2

Fine efforts on all three starts in bumpers, culminating in a clear-cut success at Plumpton in April. Makes hurdling debut for underrated stable and is one to keep a close eye on.

Form: 321-

Baddesley Prince⁶⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: C Gordon

150/1

Doyen gelding who cost €17,000 as a foal and is from the family of the very useful Back In Focus. Well supported when down the field in a Southwell bumper in September and is clearly thought capable of better. Hurdling debut.

Form: 5

Boland's Mill⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr S Roche⁽⁷⁾| T: T Gallagher

250/1

Failed to win in ten starts in point-to-points, and finished last of 8 on Rules bow at Fakenham last month, so easy to skip past him here.

Form: P24/P6-8

Bold Plan²⁰⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

8/1

Easy winner of a 4-y-o point-to-point in Ireland before selling at Cheltenham in February for £195,000 and confirmed himself as a useful prospect when neck second of 12 to Samarquand in bumper at Wincanton in April. Shortlisted on hurdles bow.

Form: 12-

Bucaneros

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David England| T: O Murphy

150/1

Stowaway half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Cajun Fiddle out of a maiden hurdler from family of high-class hurdler Squire Silk. Good prospect for the future, but almost certain to need experience starting out.

Form:

Copperhead²⁷²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

66/1

Dam, out of a daughter of top sprinter Soba, was a useful chaser, but this gelding failed to come up to scratch in three bumper starts last season, and makes limited appeal for all in-form yard does well at this track.

Form: 779-

Corinto

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

50/1

One of four for shrewd yard in this contest, but this son of Flemensfirth out of an unraced mare makes only limited appeal on pedigree, and is likely to need more time.

Form:

Ecu De La Noverie²⁹¹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130

33/1

Won his last start over fences in January when trained by Patrice Quinton in France, and sure to give owner/rider some fun in that sphere, but he's opposable on the form of his sole hurdles outing. Headgear worn for his win is missing here.

Form: 52F451-

Fibonacci¹⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| D

25/1

Decisive winner of a Flat maiden at Haydock last September, and similar form when fourth on handicap debut over 1m4f at Leicester. Has left Hugo Palmer, and has an absence to overcome, but ticks the right boxes to make his mark over timber.

Form:

Garrettstown²⁰⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy| D

7/2

Doyen half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Bandon Roc out of a Flat winner. Readily beat Nikap in a Chepstow bumper in April, and looks the sort to make a high-quality novice in his new discipline. Leading claims.

Form: 1-

Mister Fisher²⁰⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| D

13/8

From family of useful jumpers Fix The Rib and Frascati Park, and looked a fair prospect when winning on bumper debut at Kempton. Found Grade 2 company too hot at Aintree, but ought to do well over hurdles, and not dismissed.

Form: 10-

Newlands Cross²¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Poste| T: O Murphy

40/1

Placed on all four point-to-points in Ireland, and off the mark on British debut between the flags in April. Likely to need a much stiffer test under Rules, but testing conditions may bring his stamina into play.

Form: 2/3231-

Nordic Combined⁶²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe

40/1

Disappointing when tried in blinkers on final Flat outing for Stuart Kittow in September, but as a middle-distance winner who relishes soft ground, he looks a likely type for his new job, and the market will reveal what's expected.

Form:

Northofthewall²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton

150/1

Dam won over hurdles, and this gelding had a wind op prior to finishing in mid-field on his sole start in bumpers last month. Should do better somewhere down the line, but this looks too tough.

Form: 7

Oden¹⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

100/1

A winner at Brighton on final start for Roger Varian. Didn't run any sort of race on debut for this yard over hurdles and fared no better in a solitary Flat outing this summer.

Form: 5-

Reserve Tank²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard

7/1

Gelding by Jeremy who fetched €42,000 as a three-year-old and whose dam won a point-to-point. Did well in the circumstances when third to Rocco on hurdles debut at Chepstow, and is sure to improve on that bare form.

Form: 3

Forecasts

Mister Fisher (13/8), Garrettstown (7/2), Baddesley Knight (9/2), Reserve Tank (7/1), Bold Plan (8/1), Fibonacci (25/1), Ecu De La Noverie (33/1), Nordic Combined (40/1), Newlands Cross (40/1), Corinto (50/1), Copperhead (66/1), Oden (100/1), Baddesley Prince (150/1), Bucaneros (150/1), Northofthewall (150/1), Boland's Mill (250/1)

Plenty of good prospects in this contest, with GARRETTSTOWN just the pick of the bumper recruits having made a pleasing debut at Chepstow in April. Mister Fisher comes from the Grade 2 Aintree bumper which has already thrown up a host of winners, and is respected for his leading yard, with expensive point-to-point recruit Bold Plan completing the shortlist.