16:15 Newton Abbot

Saturday 31 August 2019

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

Happy Birthday Bill O'Dwyer Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 15.1s

Midnight Aurora¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 99

14/1

Improved to get off the mark at Uttoxeter in May looking likely to be capable of better efforts. That's failed to transpire though with her three subsequent starts all being below-par over various trips; looks to have gone off the boil for now.

Form: 23-1680

Harbour Force^v1³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Philip Donovan⁽⁷⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 99

20/1

A hard one to trust with his form being very in-and-out, the latter taking precedence of late with his last two starts leaving him with plenty of questions to answer. Usually in cheekpieces a first-time visor is now reached for; one to be wary of.

Form: 1P325P

Trogir⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Theo Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 99

40/1

Little form when trained in Ireland including on his handicap debut over 2m. Run twice over C&D in novice company with his debut effort for these connections showing a glimmer of hope; returns to handicaps, hard to give a sound chance.

Form: 000-036

Searching^p⁷⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Ben Jones⁽⁷⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 96

10/1

Interesting sort having won over hurdles in his time with Gary Moore and more recently run respectably on the Flat for Karen Tutty (given a lot to do when last seen in that sphere). Back over hurdles for new yard; nicely handicapped on his old form.

Form: 17390/2-

Minella Rising^p⁴¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: P Gundry| OR: 95

33/1

Winner in point-to-points who ran his best race over hurdles in a novice over C&D before going handicapping. That sphere looked as though it would suit but he failed to complete off a stiff looking mark over 2m; not an easy one to weigh up.

Form: P-P662P

Eddy^t⁸⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 94| BF| D

15/2

Usually seen to best effect at Uttoxeter he ran too fair races at that track before he found his good run of form coming to a halt at Fontwell last time. That contest may have come too soon (back off a break here); mark still looks high enough though

Form: 06-P224

Rosserk Abbey^h²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop| OR: 93

40/1

Limited form so far under Rules and in point-to-points mainly in Ireland so far; pulled up for previous connections at Bangor last time (attracted some support). Now makes his debut for this yard; only support would make him of interest.

Form: 0/9090-0

Can You Believe It¹⁰

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

5/1

Considerately handled in a first-time hood when running his best race here over an extended 2m in April. Failed to match that form after a wind op in two subsequent starts but not totally written now given a chance over a more testing trip.

Form: 4802-54

Seeanythingyoulike⁷¹²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: David Noonan| T: J Scott| OR: 88

12/1

Returns from a significant absence having only shown modest form in handicaps (hurdles/fences) when last seen. Handicapper has cut him some slack during his break although he's not looked the easiest ride on a few occasions (has thrown a race away).

Form: 733644/

Joey Steel⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 86

6/1

Shown some leniency by the handicapper it looks as though his wayward tendencies are going to get in the way; last two starts have shown up all his quirks. Looked none too keen last time at Ffos Las, clearly one to treat with caution.

Form: 8060-54

Stand By Me^p⁹⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: T J O'Brien| T: A E Jones| OR: 86| C

4/1

Very lightly-raced for one of his age he showed improved form over 2m2f here last time to get off the mark over hurdles (race rather fell apart) building on a previous C&D third. Both wins have now come here; hard to ignore stepping up in trip.

Form: 0/65P-31

Auld Sod^b¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Brace⁽⁵⁾| T: J M Bradley| OR: 84

14/1

Back over hurdles having shown some reasonable form over fences; unseated his rider when looking set to go close at Stratford (has run his best races there). Prone to the odd really poor run (threw one in last time); others appeal more.

Form: 437U40

Petrify^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-8| J: C J Todd⁽⁷⁾| T: B J Llewellyn| OR: 81| CD

16/1

Twice a winner over C&D (including this contest last year) he's already failed to follow up in the other C&D contest that he won in 2018 this time around. Fell last time out at Ffos Las; prospects for a follow up look modest given his recent toil.

Form: 100-26F

Realta Dawn¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁷⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 81

16/1

A hurdles record of 0-18 hardly sets the pulse racing even in this 0-100 company although she did take a step in the right direction last time. Connections worthy of respect but she does need to build on that; note a market move in her favour.

Form: 0530P3

Lapalala^p,t1¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 79| BF

10/1

Back with her original yard having had a five-race sojourn with James Moffatt but still to win a race after 17 career starts. Most of her recent form is below-par but now off a career-low mark with a tongue-tie joining the usual cheekpieces.

Form: 64578-8

Top Of The Rocks⁸⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Page Fuller⁽³⁾| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 77

10/1

Maiden over hurdles but went close to getting off the mark when just touched off last time (C&D) with all headgear removed. Flirted like this before though, lack of a win is a concern; should be involved but not top of the pecking order.

Form: 0526-52

Forecasts

Stand By Me (4/1), Can You Believe It (5/1), Joey Steel (6/1), Eddy (15/2), Searching (10/1), Top Of The Rocks (10/1), Lapalala (10/1), Seeanythingyoulike (12/1), Auld Sod (14/1), Midnight Aurora (14/1), Petrify (16/1), Realta Dawn (16/1), Harbour Force (20/1), Minella Rising (33/1), Rosserk Abbey (40/1), Trogir (40/1)

Plenty of interest for a low-grade handicap hurdle; Stand By Me has leading claims returning from an absence even if the race that he won last time rather fell apart (the second has won since) and he along with Top Of The Rocks and Realta Dawn have leading claims along the last two named have both yet to win a race of any sort under Rules. Can You Believe It isn’t one to write off too quickly, this trip may well show him in a better light. Petrify won this last year but doesn’t enter the fray in such good fettle this time around. It may be worth taking a chance with SEARCHING, kept ticking over on the Flat since his last hurdles outings he looks nicely weighted on some of his old form.