15:35 Newbury

Friday 30 November 2018

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

Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 3.00s

Aux Ptits Soins⁶⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 141

12/1

2015 Cheltenham festival winner on first start for Paul Nicholls but things didn't go to plan after as he only won once more in a Kelso novice chase. Missed all last season but now only 2lb lower than festival success in first start for new yard.

Form: 521428/

Karezak^p¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 139

33/1

Decent hurdler in 2015 including placing in a Grade One but recent return from a 1059 day absence on the flat at Southwell saw him completely tailed off and last of 11 runners. Hard to know how much ability remains.

Form: 032224/

Bobo Mac^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: T Symonds| OR: 136

17/2

Ended last term with a win at Warwick after a fruitless spell chasing. Started this term out off a career high mark over C&D but acquitted himself well to finish second. Further 4lb rise raises the stakes but sound each way claims.

Form: F5F41-2

Dragon D'Estruval¹⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 132

11/4

Three-time chase winner earlier in career in France made a winning start for these connections over hurdles at Ffos Las in May (2m6f) where he never came off the bridle. Big step up in class but could be very well handicapped indeed.

Form: 14718-1

Clondaw Cian^b²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: M G Nolan| T: Miss S Smith| OR: 132| D

50/1

Pulled-up in three of last four over fences last term and tailed off in the other. Decent return third back over hurdles at Newton Abbot but then down the field here next time. Very risky proposition now.

Form: P0PP-30

Captain Peacock¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood| OR: 129

33/1

Gained first two hurdle success in August at Bangor and good second next at Worcester. Struggled next however at same venue and Cheltenham and new trip will need to bring about plenty of improvement.

Form: P-11287

Vive Le Roi³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Bannister| T: A W Carroll| OR: 128

14/1

Back-to-back wins at Stratford followed by latest short head second of 20 to First Assignment at Cheltenham (2m5f). Winner hacked up since so major chance here and stayed 2m7f well previously so trip should be fine.

Form: 322112

De Name Evades Me²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 125| D

10/1

Shaped with promise in first three starts under rules before getting off the mark latest in a 3m2f novice hurdle at Warwick. More needed here but very much unexposed and stronger pace could suit him well.

Form: 2343-21

Virginia Chick²⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Isabel Williams⁽⁷⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 123| D

16/1

Won four of last five starts last season proving equally effective from 2m-3m and ended season with game success at Chepstow over 2m3½f. 9lb rise to a career high makes this a tough spot to start out but may improve further.

Form: 011121-

Juge Et Parti⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 119

11/4

Three-time placed hurdler in maidens for Christian Williams left first substandard effort for this yard behind when second once more at Chepstow latest in a 2m7½f handicap. Upped 8lb for that which looks harsh but remains unexposed.

Form: 1/2226-2

Rockpoint¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: S Bowen| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 118

6/1

Nine race maiden has yet to run beyond 2m3½f. Some promise last term but found wanting in a handicap first time out at Cheltenham but now goes up fully 1m in trip so could fare better although being 4lb out of the handicap doesn't help.

Form: 5327-20

Hit The Highway^t²³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 10-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: C Gordon| OR: 116| D

25/1

Not won since January 2016 but ran best race for quite some time latest when second at Fakenham only beaten 1L in what was his third start for this yard. Considerably stronger contest here and likely to struggle.

Form: 75P032-

Forecasts

Dragon D'Estruval (11/4), Juge Et Parti (11/4), Rockpoint (6/1), Bobo Mac (17/2), De Name Evades Me (10/1), Aux Ptits Soins (12/1), Vive Le Roi (14/1), Virginia Chick (16/1), Hit The Highway (25/1), Captain Peacock (33/1), Karezak (33/1), Clondaw Cian (50/1)

There is a suspicion that DRAGON D'ESTRUVAL could be some way better than this opening handicap mark based on the facile nature of his Ffos Las success on UK debut and the fact that champion trainer Nicky Henderson keeps him over hurdles rather than switching back to fences where he's already won three times perhaps hints that he agrees. Vive Le Roi chased home the smart First Assignment last time out in a hot Cheltenham handicap and with that form since franked he rates the biggest danger. Unexposed Warwick winner De Name Evades Me looks fairly treated on handicap debut and is another worth considering.