13:55 Newton Abbot

Saturday 31 August 2019

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:25

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 3m 53.60s

Highly Prized¹¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 123

9/2

Multiple US Flat winner at around 1m he made a winning start for this yard over hurdles at Wincanton in April (caused a surprise; 20-1). Well beaten on his only start after that at Kempton he returns after a break; penalty may anchor him.

Form: 51-3

Illustrissime^t1²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 119| BF

7/4

Rated in the 80's on the Flat when with Ivan Furtado he scored first-time up over hurdles at Southwell (looked a good prospect). Beaten on his latest start when his jumping wasn't that slick at Bangor; still has a major part to play despite penalty.

Form: 12

Jacamar¹⁰⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 118

15/2

Unsuccessful in bumpers but immediately found some improvement when switched to hurdles; won a 2m maiden at Wincanton. Failed to match that performance since twice under a penalty (jumped poorly last time); back from a break.

Form: 76613-3

Ballycanew⁴⁰⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard

150/1

Pulled up in his sole point-to-point his form took only a minor step forward in two Rules runs for Edward O'Grady. Unseated rider when last seen in a Wexford novice chase; can only be watched here on his return for a new yard.

Form: P/0U-

Dorking Boy^h1,t²⁰⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey| BF| D

11/4

Sent off a well-backed favourite on his first start after a wind op, he produced a less than convincing effort at Ludlow when last seen; jumping needs tidying up. Now with hood and reapplied tongue-tie on as he bids for a revival; still has talent.

Form: 18/74-

Gaelic Prince²⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White

20/1

With a good yard but has yet to impress in two hurdles starts although he was unlucky on his first run (hampered, unseated first). Returned a year on from that incident last November only to disappoint; doubts still remain on the evidence so far.

Form: U/0-

Guns of Leros³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

5/1

Hurdling newcomer; fairly useful sort on the Flat (yet to hit top form this year though), well held on his latest start. Not without interest though given his background although ultimately may need a stiffer test than this.

Form:

Global Wonder²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: J E Moore| T: J & S Best

50/1

Won a couple of fair AW handicaps when with Gay Kelleway on the Flat at up to 1m2f. Offered very little encouragement for this sphere when failing to settle and falling on debut at Market Rasen; watching brief advisable this time around.

Form: F

Meagher's Flag^t⁶⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech

40/1

Made an impression on the Flat when with Jim Bolger but showed little in three outings in the same sphere for Paul Nicholls this year (beaten in a seller last time). Now makes a hurdling debut for a new yard; one of the lesser lights.

Form:

Pania¹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: T Scudamore| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

Bred to need greater stamina tests than this sharp 2m1f having shown little in a bumper at Wincanton and Worcester novice on her hurdling debut. Very little encouragement offered in either start, of very limited interest in this contest.

Form: 4-4

Vinnie's Icon¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: C J Gray

100/1

Poor form in bumpers (never finished better than fifth) prior to being tried over hurdles on her last two starts. Showed more on her second effort in this sphere last time but hard to see her troubling principals based on that effort.

Form: 6-56654

Forecasts

Illustrissime (7/4), Dorking Boy (11/4), Highly Prized (9/2), Guns of Leros (5/1), Jacamar (15/2), Gaelic Prince (20/1), Meagher's Flag (40/1), Global Wonder (50/1), Vinnie's Icon (100/1), Ballycanew (150/1), Pania (150/1)

There’s a suspicion that Dorking Boy who started his hurdling career in Grade 2 event is better than he’s shown so far over timber. He does, however, have to show more than he did last time out and jump better although the reapplied headgear may help in that area. ILLUSTRISSIME is just preferred though despite having been beaten last time out plus having to give a penalty away; he’ll need to jump better than he did last time but this looks an ideal test for him. Highly Prized will have to recapture his Wincanton form to have a chance while Guns Of Leros and Gaelic Prince are worth noting in the betting for positive moves.