14:50 Taunton

Thursday 28 November 2019

All12:3513:1013:4514:1514:5015:2015:50

Newton King Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 9.90s

Deadline Diva^h,t²¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 116| D

20/1

Frankel filly, won in France and quite highly-tried as a juvenile last season in three runs. Went out like a light on reappearance at Newbury this month and drops 4lb with more demanded.

Form: 1F90-8

Le Ligerien¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 116

6/1

Made the running and finished under 2L away in third of 10 over C&D on second start back, races from an unchanged mark now and should have a say.

Form: 2210-63

Dorking Boy^h,t²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 115

9/2

2018 bumper winner, appeared to improve for wind operation when second in conditionals handicap hurdle at Ascot this month (2m3½, good to soft; 12-1) and may build on that now despite being rated 3lb higher.

Form: 8/74-632

Golden Poet^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 114| D

66/1

Lost his way in Ireland for Denis Hogan and well beaten in 2m3f selling hurdle here on debut for this trainer recently. Not the most obvious contender.

Form: 9F7-505

Poucor²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryony Frost| T: M R Channon| OR: 114| D

8/1

Heavy-ground winner at Plumpton this month over 2m, his second success in five starts over timber. Has gone up 3lb but entitled to remain competitive in this line-up.

Form: 2174-1

Bang On¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 114| CD

5/1

Won over C&D as a novice and found only one too strong here a fortnight ago on return from an absence of more than 200 days. Should be sharper and one to consider having gone up just 2lb.

Form: 16034-2

Hollywood Ken^t²⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: David Noonan| T: Mrs F M Shaw| OR: 114| D

33/1

Two quick wins at Fontwell and Chepstow in the spring of 2018 after joining this trainer (latest from a mark of 110) but was pulled up in both starts since and is once again returning from a break with plenty to prove.

Form: 8511/PP-

Fresno Emery²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-8| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 111

12/1

Beaten only 4L when third in six-runner Plumpton handicap (2m, heavy) earlier in the month; eased 1lb since and possibly will have further improvement to come - needs it.

Form: 3/169-63

Arcade Attraction³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 110

25/1

Six-race maiden over timber and hasn't really been able to build on early promise; didn't appear to get home over 2m4f at Worcester latest but requires more back down in trip.

Form: 833-P58

Bleu Et Noir^h¹⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 107| D

25/1

Won three times in novice company in 2016 but not the most consistent since and should prove best watched on return from a break.

Form: P7/3P-67

Bardd⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: Mrs D O'Neill| OR: 106| D

16/1

Ex-Nicky Henderson inmate, 0-15 over hurdles despite five placed efforts and certainly not easy to win with. Has gone close from this mark of 2m on good ground since joining this trainer and could have decent claims if in the mood.

Form: 45532-5

Graceful James²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J E Moore| T: J C Fox| OR: 105

16/1

Useful Flat performer, achieved a rating of 80 in winning three times on the AW; not without promise in three novice hurdles so far and one to pay some attention in betting now tackling a handicap.

Form: 7-65

Metatrons Cube^v1⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: S-J Davies| OR: 101

33/1

Flat winner for Charlie Hills, likes to front-run and showed ability in late 2018/early this year over timber for Matt Sheppard. Lost his way and changed yards again since, visor tried having faded at Wincanton on debut for this trainer a week ago.

Form: 229-505

D'waterside³⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Mrs K Stephens| OR: 98

100/1

First run for a new yard. 0-7 over hurdles and didn't show a great deal in any of those races. Also a 17-race Flat maiden and was out of form when last seen in October 2018. Best watched for now.

Form: 040/367-

Bard Of Brittany¹⁷⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 93

40/1

Nine-race maiden for Mick Channon, with best efforts in pair of 2m maiden hurdles at Worcester in the summer of 2018. Starts for new trainer with handicapper having released the grip.

Form: 3496-38

Highway To Success^h⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-0| J: T Scudamore| T: J & S Best| OR: 104

5/2

Flat winner for Gordon Elliott, made up plenty ground and won nicely in a 'Hands and Heels' Novices' Handicap Hurdle at Wincanton a week ago on handicap bow. Due a 9lb rise and major player on that form.

Form: 67651

Non-Runners

Man Of The North²⁷

Weight: 10-0| Age: 6

T: A W Carroll J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Highway To Success (5/2), Dorking Boy (9/2), Bang On (5/1), Le Ligerien (6/1), Poucor (8/1), Fresno Emery (12/1), Graceful James (16/1), Bardd (16/1), Deadline Diva (20/1), Arcade Attraction (25/1), Bleu Et Noir (25/1), Man Of The North (25/1), Metatrons Cube (33/1), Hollywood Ken (33/1), Bard Of Brittany (40/1), Golden Poet (66/1), D'waterside (100/1)

BANG ON finished just in front of Le Ligerien over C&D a fortnight ago and both should have their part to play again now. Preference is for Jeremy Scott's charge, who was a winner here as a novice and should be sharper after that first start since April. Plumpton winner Poucor might prefer to see some rain, while Dorking Boy shaped promisingly at Ascot this month and will be fitter today. Highway To Success has 9lb in hand on the assessor after landing a 'Hands and Heels' Novices' contest at Wincanton a week ago and has to considered on the back of that.