13:15 Taunton

Monday 30 December 2019

All12:4513:1513:5014:2514:5515:3016:00

Newton King Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 49.95s

Who Shot Jr³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 119| C

11/1

Sprung somewhat of a surprise when winning at 20-1 over C&D last month. Carries a penalty for that success, and is in a better race now. Something to prove with that in mind.

Form: 93-071

Eros^t²²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

100/1

One of two runners in this contest for the stable, but looks to be the second-string based on jockey bookings. Makes seasonal/hurdles debut and could improve markedly on his bumper form given he is a half-brother to Bouvreuil and Messire Des Obeaux.

Form: 6-0

Everything For You⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: Ian Williams

25/1

Decent sort on the flat but he was never dangerous on hurdles debut at Wetherby (2m; soft). This isn't any easier, and he will be of more considerable interest when moving into handicaps. Best watched for the time being.

Form: 5

Fitzroy^h1⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: O Murphy

16/1

Lots to like about his hurdles debut when second behind the 138-rated Ecco. However, he took a major backwards step at Wetherby (2m3f; soft) when eighth last time out. Can be forgiven that and has place claims at the very least.

Form: 52-28

Flic Ou Voyou⁵¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130

4/7

Looks to have an outstanding chance after what he has shown over hurdles to date. Most recently when third behind the exciting pair of Edwardstone (1st) & Fiddlerontheroof (2nd) at Wincanton (2m; good). Should make it third time lucky.

Form: 4/110-23

Freddy Fanatapan³¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: W S Kittow

100/1

Makes seasonal/hurdles debut after failing to win a bumper after two attempts last season. Set a stiff enough task in this contest, and it would be a very big surprise if he managed to feature.

Form: 39-

Fuseau⁵⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King

4/1

Holds some smart pieces of form to his name, and he made a promising start to life over hurdles when runner-up at Plumpton (2m; heavy) to a 132-rated horse. If able to reproduce that sort of form he could have a big say.

Form: 245-2

Republican³²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: L P Aspell| T: O Sherwood

12/1

Improved from hurdles debut to finish third over C&D last month behind Eritage. This race looks a lot more competitive, and he would need to step forward once again to feature. Others look much more solid.

Form: 4-583

The Jitterbug⁵⁸⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: S Bowen| T: H Fry

16/1

Point-to-point winner when comfortably scoring at Bratton Down (3m; good to firm) in May 2018. Yard/jockey combo are enjoying a decent spell. Needs to overcome a lengthy absence but check market vibes with this rules/hurdles debutante.

Form: U1-

Williams Overture³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-12| J: Lee Edwards| T: David Dennis

150/1

Only 10th of 11 in a bumper at Southwell (2m; soft) on debut last month. Marked improvement now required as he goes hurdling, and the stable are going through a quiet spell at the moment.

Form: 0

Just Henny^t1²⁶⁰

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

40/1

0-3 in point-to-points, and she now makes her seasonal/hurdles/rules debut in a competitive event. Difficult to enthuse over in a race where others have standout form at this level. Looks one for the future.

Form: 442-

Malachys Girl³⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: N de Boinville| T: B Pauling| OR: 107

10/1

Makes seasonal reappearance at a time when her stable are back among the winners. Fourth on both of her starts over hurdles to date, and would need to improve slightly to feature. No forlorn hope though.

Form: 2215/44-

Mrs Trout⁶⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-5| J: Shane Quinlan⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bishop

150/1

0-9 in the point-to-point sphere and hasn't been seen since being pulled-up at Badbury Rings (3m; firm) in February 2018. Now makes rules debut and is virtually impossible to fancy in a race where others have far superior form claims.

Form: 2P4PUP/

Sunny Girl^t³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Benjamin Poste| T: A Wintle

200/1

0-2 in bumpers and was tailed off again when making her seasonal/hurdles debut at Ludlow (2m; soft) last month. This looks a similarly decent contest on paper, and so she is impossible to fancy on all known form.

Form: 00-0

Forecasts

Flic Ou Voyou (4/7), Fuseau (4/1), Malachys Girl (10/1), Who Shot Jr (11/1), Republican (12/1), Fitzroy (16/1), The Jitterbug (16/1), Everything For You (25/1), Just Henny (40/1), Eros (100/1), Freddy Fanatapan (100/1), Mrs Trout (150/1), Williams Overture (150/1), Sunny Girl (200/1)

This race has a similar dynamic to the opener in the respect that there is a standout contender on form in the shape of FLIC OU VOYOU whose recent third behind Edwardstone & Fiddlerontheroof has been very well advertised with the pair both franking the form since. The selection held smart form prior to that and can get off the mark over hurdles at the second attempt. Fuseau should be thereabout after he offered plenty of promise on his hurdles debut when runner-up to Calva D'Auge who was placed in 'Listed' company last month. Despite a rare below-par effort on his most recent start, Fitzroy is surely capable of better and can get back on track by finishing in the placings.