15:10 Newbury

Saturday 2 March 2019

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4516:1516:50

In Memory Of The Late Michael Yeadon Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:11 | Winning time: 4m 0.7s

Cyrus Darius^t⁶⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 140| D

16/1

Won seven times for the Jefferson's before switch to this yard this season. Struggled in Grade Two Relkeel latest and little to recommend him of late overall but suspect better effort is imminent with mark looking feasible.

Form: 315-706

Equus Amadeus¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 135

9/1

Twice a winner this season and far from disgraced latest when sixth in rescheduled Betfair Hurdle at Ascot. Handicap leaves little room for error but yard in exceptionally good form so can't be dismissed.

Form: 610186

Champagne City³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N D Fehily| T: T R George| OR: 133| D

4/1

All four hurdles wins come in summer months with his favoured good ground. Third behind handicap good-thing Al Dancer two starts back before fair fourth latest at Chepstow. If weather remains dry he has each-way claims.

Form: 3-41434

Crooks Peak⁹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: B J Geraghty| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| D

11/2

Dual bumper winner took record over hurdles to two-from-three when winning a match at Kempton in November. Extremely unexposed and very interesting given horse he beat latest since second in a Grade Two. Could be very well treated.

Form: 110-411

Flying Tiger¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Nick Williams| OR: 133| CD

7/2

2017 Cheltenham Festival winner but things rarely gone to plan since. Unseated rider twice this season including latest at Taunton. Conditions may suit here and 1lb below Cheltenham win but plenty of risks attached.

Form: 0-23B8U

War Brigade^t⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: Ian Williams| OR: 126| C

12/1

Lightly-raced first-time handicapper won a novice hurdle at Market Rasen two starts back before good second to the smart Thomas Darby latest at Taunton. Handicapper not asked the impossible by any means and merits respect here.

Form: 212

Late Night Lily⁴⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 125| D

50/1

Won four times over hurdles in 2016 and seemingly held form in three early season races last term. Lengthy absence since however and now may need the run. Stable second string.

Form: 535/F32-

Duarigle²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 124

12/1

Off the mark latest at Sandown with a comfortable novices handicap success over 2m4f at Sandown. 9lb higher mark against more experienced rivals raises stakes but 2m here may suit better based on way she tired late on latest.

Form: 1-57551

Ebony Gale⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 123| D

20/1

Leicester maiden winner ran a decent race on handicap debut next in a small race at Exeter when second. This considerably tougher however and will need marked step up now.

Form: 61-FF12

Maquisard¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| D

11/2

Consistent in four runs for this yard with only run out of the placings a fall when in touch. Clear second behind easy winner at Sandown latest another very solid effort and off the same mark he has sound each-way claims.

Form: F-P93F2

Falcon Sun^b,t³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 120| D

14/1

Novice has landed back-to-back handicaps at Leicester the last twice with the latest 7lb higher than the first. Upped a further 5lb now and up in class but going the right way so can't be ruled out off bottom weight.

Form: 46-9511

Forecasts

Flying Tiger (7/2), Champagne City (4/1), Crooks Peak (11/2), Maquisard (11/2), Equus Amadeus (9/1), Duarigle (12/1), War Brigade (12/1), Falcon Sun (14/1), Cyrus Darius (16/1), Ebony Gale (20/1), Late Night Lily (50/1)

CROOKS PEAK could prove very well treated indeed given he beat Danny Kirwan in a match latest before that horse chased home leading Supreme contender Angels Breath in a Grade Two at Ascot. Consistent sort Maquisard looks sure to give a solid showing for Chris Gordon while Falcon Sun is another interesting and unexposed novice.