17:00 Newton Abbot

Saturday 20 April 2019

All13:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:00

South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:03 | Winning time: 4m 4.12s

Malangen^p⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 106| D

2/1

Bids for a hat-trick after two convincing successes of late and despite running off 8lb higher mark than Bangor last week has to be a major player if recovered from those exertions.

Form: 3F4711

Joey Steel¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 97

20/1

Handicap debut after four starts in novice hurdles where he hasn't exactly set the world alight. There could be better to come though at this level so is worth monitoring for any sign of market confidence.

Form: 68806

Secret Melody^t²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: S-J Davies| OR: 94

16/1

Appears to have shown better form since wind op two starts ago and has also been given some leeway by the handicapper Decent conditional claims 3lb and may not be too far away this time.

Form: 8-F0744

Can You Believe It^h1²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 93

20/1

Showed nothing on sole jumps starts for Joseph O'Brien and precious little in three more runs for current connections, Wears first-time hood and drops back 7f in trip but can't be fancied unless market suggest otherwise.

Form: 8480

Stolberg¹³

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: R Patrick⁽³⁾| T: D L Williams| OR: 93

20/1

Five-time winner but now into veteran stage and profile suggests he's at his best when there is plenty of give underfoot so may find things happening plenty quick enough here. Pulled up at Ffos Las last time.

Form: 943-36P

Atlantic Grey¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J D Frost| OR: 92| C

16/1

Landed selling hurdle here for Nigel Hawke over furlong more in September last year and subsequently bought to join current yard. Has shown precious little in three starts since and hopes rest on return to this venue sparking a little more interest.

Form: 851P50

Los Cerritos^p,t⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: M F Harris| OR: 88

50/1

One twice on the Flat in Germany as a young horse but has failed to score under both codes for a variety of trainers since. Tailed off last of nine at Huntingdon last month and is very hard to fancy.

Form: 776-049

Grande Waltz^p,t²⁸¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 87WS

7/4

Dual purpose gelding whose only win in 17 starts in Ireland came on Flat at Limerick in October 2016. First start here for top yard and returns following wind surgery so is no forlorn hope in a very modest event. Wears first-time cheekpieces.

Form: 0-60068

Mighty Missile^p,t³³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 84| DWS

20/1

Scored twice over 2m for Warren Greatrex in 2015 and won over 2m4f for current yard two years ago. Eased 25lb since then and still no sign of a recovery so looks a very risky proposition. Has first start since wind surgery.

Form: 709P0-6

Flanagans Field^b³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: Robert Williams⁽³⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 82

9/1

Attracted market support and stayed on well to win at Chepstow last time off 7lb lower mark. More to do now but is one of the few coming here in form so has to come into the reckoning.

Form: 373741

Ginjo^p¹⁰⁰⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 80

16/1

Went close here off 1lb lower mark in May 2016 and ended that campaign winning twice at Stratford. Absent though for 1007 days and will do very well to get involved after such a hefty break.

Form: 430411/

Top Of The Rocks^p,t³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: Dave Crosse| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 77

8/1

10lb better in with Flanagans Field for two-and-a-half length defeat last time at Chepstow so on face of it appears hadnicapped to take his revenge. Is 0-12 over timber but clearly has prospects if putting his best foot forward.

Form: 588-052

Chasing Headlights^b1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 71

20/1

16-race maiden who has shown little last two starts. Did better earlier in the term including solid second at Taunton in November. Reproduction of that run would give him a squeak even though 3lb out of wieghts. Equipped with first-time blinkers.

Form: 322P77

Starlit Night²³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: C J Down| OR: 65WS

28/1

Only win in 24 starts came over 2m6f at Stratford in 2017. Hardly run a decent race since then and returns now from wind surgery with eight-month absence to overcome from 9lb out of the handicap.

Form: P-80677

Non-Runners

Sehayli¹⁶

Weight: 11-5| Age: 6

T: J Farrelly J: L P Aspell

Hot Smoked³³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: R Walford J: James Best

Stand By Me⁴⁰

Weight: 10-7| Age: 9

T: A E Jones J: J McGrath

Karl Marx¹⁶

Weight: 10-1| Age: 9

T: Mark Gillard J: Theo Gillard

Forecasts

Grande Waltz (7/4), Malangen (2/1), Top Of The Rocks (8/1), Hot Smoked (8/1), Flanagans Field (9/1), Ginjo (16/1), Secret Melody (16/1), Atlantic Grey (16/1), Can You Believe It (20/1), Mighty Missile (20/1), Chasing Headlights (20/1), Joey Steel (20/1), Stolberg (20/1), Starlit Night (28/1), Sehayli (33/1), Los Cerritos (50/1), Karl Marx (50/1), Stand By Me (50/1)

A tricky finale and the unexposed SEHAYLI is just a speculative selections having shown signs of ability on handicap debut earlier this month. The hat-trick seeking Malangen is sure to prove popular with punters and should make a very bold bid to complete the three-timer, while the likes of Hot Smoked, Flanagans Field and Top Of The Rocks are others with claims. A better effort from Grande Waltz would not be a surprise on his first start for a top yard, and after wind surgery too.