13:30 Newbury

Thursday 7 November 2019

All12:5513:3014:0514:3515:1015:4016:15

Agetur UK Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:30 | Winning time: 3m 58.66s

Banana Joe¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling

40/1

Has shown only moderate form to date (in bumpers and over hurdles); 40-1 when a weakening fifth of 11 to Ballinsker at Ludlow (2m, good) a fortnight ago; others more appealing.

Form: 067-5

First Revolution^h1¹⁹³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

40/1

Completed for the first time in point-to-points when narrowly beaten in a 3m maiden at Fairyhouse (yielding) in April; has since joined Gary Moore for £36,000; hooded for hurdles/rules debut.

Form: PSP-2

Graceful James¹⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J E Moore| T: J C Fox

33/1

A three-time winner on the Flat (AW); ran to a reasonable level on hurdles debut over C&D in March, but much less aesthetically pleasing thereafter (at Stratford); is expected to struggle.

Form: 7-6

Katahdin⁵⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| D

11/8

Southwell bumper winner (1m7½f, soft) for Lydia Pearce in February 2018 (beat the 127-rated Dominateur by 5L); only fourth next time at Warwick, albeit that was a career best performance on the figures; with Colin Tizzard for hurdles debut.

Form: 614/

Kilbrook²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: J & A O'Neill

5/1

Cost £78,000 out of the Irish point-to-point scene; 33-1 and ran green before staying on strongly from off the pace when a close third in a Chepstow bumper (2m, soft); connections waste no time switching to hurdles; of interest.

Form: 2-3

Silver Nickel¹⁹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

80/1

Bred for chasing, so one to keep an eye upon with the longer term in mind; embarks on a hurdles campaign following an improved performance on his third and final bumper start at Chepstow (2m, good) in April; others preferred.

Form: 803-

Sir Valentine²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies

4/1

A maiden winner on the Flat (1m4f AW) for Alan King in August 2016; returned from a lengthy absence to run a mighty race on hurdles debut at Chepstow (2m, good to soft) - was booked for second when falling at the last.

Form: F

Steal A March¹⁵⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

11/2

Mount Nelson gelding who carries the Royal silks; possibly wasn't suited by a slowly run race at Worcester (2m bumper) in June (burst a blood vessel); heads over hurdles for Nicky Henderson in a competitive looking affair; early days.

Form: 4

Uther Pendragon³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: J McGrath| T: J S Moore

50/1

Only modest on the Flat (68-rated) but is clearly versatile in terms of underfoot conditions - a winner on firm and very soft; pitched in deep on hurdles debut; safer to look elsewhere for the solution.

Form:

Young Lieutenant²⁹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: W GreatrexWS

8/1

Bought for £60,000 in May 2018; off the mark at the second attempt in bumpers when winning with relative ease at Exeter (2m1f, good to soft) in January; that form is fair; makes his hurdles debut post wind surgery.

Form: 251-

Forecasts

Katahdin (11/8), Sir Valentine (4/1), Kilbrook (5/1), Steal A March (11/2), Young Lieutenant (8/1), Graceful James (33/1), First Revolution (40/1), Banana Joe (40/1), Uther Pendragon (50/1), Silver Nickel (80/1)

An interesting novices' hurdle which should yield a plethora of future winners with First Revolution, Katahdin, Steal A March and Young Lieutenant among those in with a shout. However, the pair to focus upon are seemingly Sir Valentine and KILBROOK. The Nigel Twiston-Davies runner was in the process of running a mighty race on his hurdles debut at Chepstow when taking a tumble at the final flight, and will undoubtedly attract plenty of interest. However, the preferred option is the former pointer and hurdles newcomer Kilbrook who shaped encouragingly (on debut for Jonjo O'Neill) in a bumper at that same track the following afternoon.