13:40 Newbury

Wednesday 16 January 2019

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

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Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 4m 5.40s

Anniversary Gift³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: C L Tizzard

50/1

Tailed off in both starts to date, a bumper at Ffos Las and novice hurdle at Taunton. Top connections and time on his side but this likely come too soon.

Form: 00

Avantgardist⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: James Davies| T: Henry Oliver

50/1

58-rated flat performer made slight progress latest when midfield in a Chepstow maiden hurdle despite racing keenly. Surprise if he doesn't find few too good.

Form: 06

Big 'n Better⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: B G Powell

40/1

Some ability shown in bumpers following two fifths with a recent slightly disappointing ninth of 11. Worth watching on hurdles bow but unlikely to be significantly involved.

Form: 559

Born To Sting²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: C Gethings| T: T R George

25/1

Son of top jumps sire Scorpion was too keen on debut in a bumper at Chepstow last month and paid the price ending up a remote sixth of eight. Plenty more to come with time but can only be watched here.

Form: 6

Clearance⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

33/1

47-rated 16 race flat maiden ran fair races in three flat contests for this yard. Not the most appealing hurdles newcomer but this yard often wins with such modest looking recruits.

Form:

Discko Des Plages³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson

25/1

No obvious signs of progress from first to second hurdle race where he finished ninth of 18 at Bangor beaten 34L. Has experience edge on many here so not ruled out from a place point of view.

Form: 67-09

Harambe²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 127

1/2

Bumper winner and Grade Two placed in same sphere. Brought down at the first on hurdles bow but showed he should soon be winning when second at Warwick. Too keen here over 2m4f latest but still fourth and claims look rock solid.

Form: 123-B24

Hawkerland¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: N J Gifford| D

50/1

73-rated flat performer effective at up to 2m was a little disappointing on hurdles bow finishing 15th of 16 although that race was red hot (winner fancied by some for Supreme at Cheltenham). Fare better here but risky nevertheless.

Form: 0

Howling Milan¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Drinkwater

5/1

Promise in both hurdle races here, eighth of 20 in November and sixth of 16 latest behind hot prospect Champagne Platinum. This almost certainly will prove easier so has genuine claims now.

Form: 2-D86

Light Gunner^t¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Mr Frederick Tett⁽³⁾| T: H Tett

100/1

49-rated flat maiden made little impression in two hurdles starts and was well behind Howling Milan here latest at 200/1. Handicaps await.

Form: P0

Oscar Maguire⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

20/1

Midfield in a bumper in November at Uttoxeter, his only start to date. Was well fancied there so suspect he shows ability and wouldn't be a major surprise if he makes a bold showing on hurdles bow.

Form: 8

Petite Jack¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: M D Grant| T: N B King

33/1

Well held in a hurdle back in 2016 and same story in two recent starts also. Handicaps await after this one would imagine.

Form: 6/49

Point Taken⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

7/1

Winner of lone flat race, a 1m2½f Dundalk maiden for John Joseph Murphy in October. Well bred for hurdles and joined prolific yard so very much of interest on stable/hurdle bow.

Form:

Sunday At Augusta²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: A Glassonbury| T: R Rowe

14/1

Burst blood vessels on debut in Ireland and then missed almost a year before second in a small field bumper. Pitched in at the deep end on stable bow in a Grade Two at Ascot so fare better here and place possibilities.

Form: F2-8

Born To Please²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: M D I Usher

80/1

55 rated dual flat winner beat in excess of 40L in both hurdle races to date. Of no obvious appeal here.

Form: 00

Kyllachys Tale⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: R A Teal| C

66/1

70-rated three time flat scorer over 1m makes her hurdles debut here. Surface will suit and also make stamina more likely to prove sufficient. Not totally ruled out.

Form:

Forecasts

Harambe (1/2), Howling Milan (5/1), Point Taken (7/1), Sunday At Augusta (14/1), Oscar Maguire (20/1), Discko Des Plages (25/1), Born To Sting (25/1), Petite Jack (33/1), Clearance (33/1), Big 'n Better (40/1), Avantgardist (50/1), Hawkerland (50/1), Anniversary Gift (50/1), Kyllachys Tale (66/1), Born To Please (80/1), Light Gunner (100/1)

HARAMBE was a smart bumper performer and after two promising efforts over hurdles he looks the one they all have to beat here. Howling Milan ran well here in a hot contest last time out and rates the biggest danger. Of the hurdling newcomers Point Taken, winner of his only flat start makes the most appeal.