16:30 Newbury

Friday 22 March 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Be Wiser Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:30 | Winning time: 4m 4.20s

Sunshade³⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 134| DWS

13/2

Winner of her first three starts including twice over hurdles but finished well held on last two starts, the most recent in Mares' Finale here a year ago. Has since had wind surgery, and market will be informative.

Form: 1/1139-

Nube Negra³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 134

5/2

Won twice in juvenile hurdles last term, and good third in Fred Winter at Cheltenham. Stepped up on return, and set to go close when brought down at Taunton last month, and will go close if none the worse for that experience.

Form: 2135-8B

William H Bonney³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 131| D

6/1

Down in class when winning at Hereford in November, and followed up at Huntingdon next time. Back to weak-finishing ways in Betfair Hurdle at Ascot last time, however, and that remains a worry.

Form: 80-0110

Zanza^h1³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 131| D

15/2

Won at Chepstow and Taunton before Christmas, and arguably unsuited by the run of things when well held in Betfair Hurdle at Ascot. Hooded now, and may yet do better.

Form: 61810

Our Merlin¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: R Walford| OR: 127| D

14/1

Wincanton winner in December, and excellent second to monsieur Lecoq next time. Fell at Cheltenham in January, and below form in Imperial Cup subsequently, so needs to bounce back.

Form: 0312F9

Nordic Combined^v¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127

12/1

Runner-up three times prior to flopping on handicap debut in Betfair Hurdle, and was beaten when falling at Sandown last time. Has work to do on that evidence.

Form: 52220F

Robinshill^t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126| D

40/1

Lost his way over fences since finishing third at Ludlow in November, and fared little better reverting to hurdles at Chepstow last time.

Form: P-73866

Prince Charmin'^t⁶⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Price⁽⁷⁾| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 124| DWS

20/1

Seemed to run up to his best when second of 4 to Martila at Kelso in January. More required in all likelihood, but possible he will have benefited from a subsequent breathing operation.

Form: 31/1FP-2

Maquisard²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| D

5/1

Has a modest completion rate, but ran really well when second to Dorking Cock at Sandown last month, and not his fault that he unseated his rider here last time. Not taken lightly.

Form: P93F2U

Late Night Lily²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

16/1

Placed in Listed company in 2017/18, and probably needed the run when seventh on belated return here earlier this month. Entitled to get more competitive with that behind her.

Form: 35/F32-7

Forecasts

Nube Negra (5/2), Maquisard (5/1), William H Bonney (6/1), Sunshade (13/2), Zanza (15/2), Nordic Combined (12/1), Our Merlin (14/1), Late Night Lily (16/1), Prince Charmin' (20/1), Robinshill (40/1)

NUBE NEGRA looks the pick of a pair from the Dan Skelton yard, and he was arguably unlucky not to win when brought down at Taunton. Sunshade has had wind surgery since disappointing at this meeting last year, and could well bounce back, with Maquisard appealing as best of the rest having had his own ill-fortune last time.