12:55 Newcastle
Saturday 5 January 2019
All11:5512:2512:5513:3014:0014:3515:10
Border Minstrel Pub Novices' Hurdle
- 4YO plus  |  Class 4  |  2m 98y  |  Good to Soft (Good in places)  |  10 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 12:56Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 0.10s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Three-time Flat scorer (7f-1m); carries a penalty a narrow debut hurdles win at Sedgefield (2m1f, good to soft) in November; conditions fine for another solid run; probable pace angle.
Left Henry Candy for 33,000gns in October as a two-time Flat winner (1m2f); interesting to see what he's capable of over hurdles (debut); market a handy guide.
In the process of running a solid race (back from 12 months off the track) when unable to recover from a bad mistake three out at Ayr in November (2m, heavy); reasonable chance if handling the faster conditions.
Modest on the Flat, but has done okay overall since switched to hurdling, making the frame behind an easy winner at Sedgefield (2m1f, soft) in December; others appear stronger on paper.
Stablemate of Dunly; lowly-rated (50) and essentially a poor performer on the Flat, therefore it would be a major surprise if he's involved at all positively on hurdles debut.
Stayed well on the Flat (1m6f) but realistically is only a Class 6 handicapper in that domain; 0-3 over hurdles so far and despite representing an in-form trainer would make little appeal until sent handicapping.
Bumper winner for Stuart Crawford in November 2014 and sold for £35,000 the following month; precious little in the way of racecourse experience over hurdles and is returning to action from a mammoth 1423 day absence.
Ruth Carr has struggled to get the best out of this gelding on the Flat in recent times and he has moved onto pastures new for a hurdling career; couldn't be considered unless attracting notable market support.
Took a step forward when eased in grade for his third hurdles start at Hexham (2m, heavy) just over a fortnight ago, albeit his head second to Manamite probably isn't overly strong form with the odds-on favourite Sporting Press bombing out.
Placed on a couple of occasions in Irish bumpers prior to joining Capheaton trainer Ann Hamilton; keen and weakened on hurdles/stable debut over C&D in November; could fare better with a tongue-tie now fitted.
Forecasts
Lord Of The Rock (9/4), Capton (11/4), Mountain Hawk (5/1), Point Break (9/1), Dunly (10/1), Im Too Generous (14/1), Ice Galley (18/1), Fisher Green (22/1), For Three (66/1), King's Coinage (80/1)
Not an overly strong race, so a couple worthy of consideration include the penalised Sedgefield scorer Lord Of The Rock and the recent Hexham runner-up Mountain Hawk. However, it could be worth taking a chance on DUNLY who was in the process of running a sound race on his first start for 12 months when losing all chance with a bad mistake three out at Ayr in November. The winner of that race (Buster Valentine) has created a most pleasing impression since, so with Brian Hughes in the saddle, this 6yo rates as the clear pick of the James Ewart-trained pair.
- Dunly
- Lord Of The Rock
- Point Break
Prize Money
1st: £4,094.002nd: £1,202.003rd: £601.004th: £301.00
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