13:10 Newbury

Wednesday 16 January 2019

All13:1013:4014:1514:5015:2015:50

EBM Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:10 | Winning time: 4m 6.40s

Ar Mest¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: N F Houlihan⁽¹⁰⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 121| D

7/4

Improved with each run this term and was a winner last time out at Leicester, his first handicap success. Upped 6lb now so further progress required but very much possible and surface will certainly suit.

Form: 1F0-931

Amanto^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: A Stronge| OR: 118| D

8/1

Remains a maiden over hurdles but several good efforts along the way including latest 1L third at Fakenham upped to 2m4f. Drop back to 2m may be of benefit and has realistic possibilities again off the same mark.

Form: 233-343

Percy Street^b¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 117| BF| D

9/1

Proved frustrating for Nicky Henderson but plenty of promise in runs at Leicester and Taunton this season before disappointing at the latter. That came after just two days however so may fare better now although 4lb higher.

Form: 04-3424

En Meme Temps^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Alan Johns| T: T Lacey| OR: 117

7/2

Improved in each of his three novice races so a highly promising start in handicaps (7L second of 11) was no surprise. Same mark here and this improving, unexposed sort makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 6-6422

Santiago de Cuba¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 117

28/1

Promise without winning for Joseph O'Brien but beaten out of sight on UK/stable debut at Doncaster last month (ninth of 12 beat a distance). Hard to recommend after that.

Form: 5-32509

Volpone Jelois³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| D

8/1

Won three times for Paul Nicholls but the lone hurdle score came in a maiden back in 2016. Respectable effort on stable bow when sixth of nine on heavy ground but still others appeal more.

Form: 514-326

Mr Dorrell Sage⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Thomas Garner| T: O Sherwood| OR: 115WS

20/1

20/1 Fontwell maiden hurdle winner showed next to nothing in three subsequent starts in novice company. Now goes handicapping for the first time and had a wind op so not totally ruled out.

Form: 8/9-1F86

Get Rhythm⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 113| D

20/1

Winner of last hurdle start back in June 2017 and chasing since, winning once from nine starts. Struggled in handicaps of late perhaps prompting this revert to hurdles but overall others appeal as more obviously well handicapped.

Form: 35F-764

Navajo War Dance²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: A Stronge| OR: 107

7/1

Maiden hurdler has gone well on a couple of occasions on sound surfaces with seconds at Leicester and Worcester. Softer ground latest likely against him so again possibilities of a bold bid back on favoured ground.

Form: 4-28425

Diamond Rock^p1⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 106| BF

20/1

Failed to complete in three of last four starts over fences prompting this first race over hurdles in almost two years. Pulled up last time over smaller obstacles too so enough reasons to look elsewhere.

Form: 12P-P2F

Non-Runners

Maquisard²⁰

Weight: 12-2| Age: 7

T: C Gordon J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Ar Mest (7/4), En Meme Temps (7/2), Maquisard (11/2), Navajo War Dance (7/1), Volpone Jelois (8/1), Amanto (8/1), Percy Street (9/1), Get Rhythm (20/1), Mr Dorrell Sage (20/1), Diamond Rock (20/1), Santiago de Cuba (28/1)

A tricky little contest this but the unexposed EN MEME TEMPS looks one with plenty going for him. He has quite a progressive profile and only found one too good on handicap debut last time out off this mark. Others shortlisted are Maquisard who ran well despite a bad error two out last time at Kempton and Percy Street whose last run can be forgiven but he was a close second the time before.