15:00 Newbury

Friday 30 November 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 5m 58.40s

Sam Spinner²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 162| BF| D

3/1

Frontrunner was a revelation when upped to 3m last season as he bolted up at Haydock before making all in the Grade One Long Walk at Ascot. Behind Wholestone at Cheltenham and Aintree but favourite for both and could reverse here.

Form: 1/21153-

Wholestone²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 158| D

10/3

Relkeel hurdle winner last season went on to finish third at Cheltenham and second at Aintree. Returned to action when winning cosily back at Aintree over 2m4f three weeks ago and looks a genuine Stayers Hurdle contender this season.

Form: 12323-1

Clyne²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 152

14/1

Six time winner over hurdles ended last season with a career best when third in the Grade One Aintree hurdle over 2m4f. Never been beyond that trip however and must stay every yard against seasoned high class stayers.

Form: 324413-

Monbeg Theatre^p,t²⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Page Fuller| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 143| BF| D

33/1

Ended last season with wins at Cheltenham and Haydock and started this term in same vein when winning at Wetherby. Found out latest however when upped to Grade Two level as he was third of five and surprise if he betters that here.

Form: 231-113

The Mighty Don³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: N J Gifford| OR: 140| D

16/1

Gained what was surprisingly just his second hurdles success when leading in the final strides at Cheltenham last month in a 3m handicap. Best days could remain ahead of him but on all known form he looks up against it here.

Form: 2295-U1

Unowhatimeanharry^p1,t²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: B J Geraghty| T: H Fry| OR: 157| BF| CD

11/4

Dual Grade One winner was behind Sam Spinner in the Long Walk and that rival and Wholestone subsequently at Cheltenham. Third to Wholestone on return over inadequate 2m4f at Ascot but better suited here and gets weight from main rivals.

Form: 1/1230-3

Momella^t1²³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: N D Fehily| T: H Fry| OR: 142| DWS

4/1

Lightly raced mare won three of her five starts over hurdles last term and season culminated in third to Black Op in Aintree Grade One novice. Not been beyond 2m5f under rules but won a 3m point-to-point and is an interesting Darkhorse here.

Form: 1/11213-

Non-Runners

Kris Spin²³⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 10

T: Kerry Lee J: J E Moore

Forecasts

Unowhatimeanharry (11/4), Sam Spinner (3/1), Wholestone (10/3), Momella (4/1), Clyne (14/1), The Mighty Don (16/1), Monbeg Theatre (33/1), Kris Spin (33/1)

While Sam Spinner's Long Walk success last term represents the best recent form on offer here he twice subsequently finished behind WHOLESTONE and Nigel Twiston-Davies seven-year-old also has the benefit of a win this season so with the fitness edge possible he gets the vote. Sam Spinner loves to front-run and the danger is that he gets an easy lead in this less competitive race than he encountered at Cheltenham and Aintree. Unowhatimeanharry has a bit to find with his younger rivals but the handy 6lb he receives makes life easier and he can't therefore be ruled out.