13:15 Newbury

Wednesday 15 January 2020

All12:4513:1513:4514:2014:5015:2516:00

MansionBet Proud To Sponsor British Racing Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 3.22s

Mahler's Promise²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins| CD

4/1

Showed much improved form to score over C&D last time, coming away after the last for a ready win and defying his 33-1 price tag; conditions fine again here and although he has the penalty, no saying he can't defy it, and has chances.

Form: 1061

Summer Name^t⁵⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis

14/1

Looked a stayer in the making when picking up Colorado Doc in the dying strides at Ffos Las last time (20f) and this drop in trip may not be a positive; that said, heavy ground would help his cause, and he can't be discounted.

Form: 8/1

Another Tuco¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

50/1

Point-to-point winner last May and ran well to a point in a novice hurdle here last time, weakening out of it from two out; may progress again and step up in trip should help, but needs plenty more.

Form: 6F-159

Etat Major Aulmes³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Jamie Bargary| T: O Signy

150/1

Not disgraced in a bumper and a novice hurdle at Taunton, on both occasions looking like a step up in trip would help, which he gets here; form so far falls below that required to win this, but worth keeping an eye on all the same,

Form: 68

Fancy A Dance²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Garner| T: O Signy

150/1

Only moderate form shown in point-to-points and was well behind Mahler's Promise on hurdles debut here, although it was far from a write-off; hard to see how he reverses that form today, though.

Form: 7290

Flintrock¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Bryony Frost| T: N B King

100/1

Useful stayer on the Flat for Andrew Balding and this sort of trip ought to suit him over hurdles, but he's simply not shown enough in two starts to be of interest today.

Form: P8

Known³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson

9/1

Bred for the job but three runs so far have hardly set the world alight, and he may be one of the stable's lesser lights; weakened too quickly for comfort (despite heavy market support) at Huntingdon latest and needs to step up now.

Form: 445

Larcadio¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson

150/1

Point-to-point winner last April and although not disgraced in two starts over hurdles to date, looks one more for handicap after today.

Form: PFF1-50

Lisronagh Stone³¹⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson

100/1

Had some form in point-to-points to his name and ran a bit better than a finishing position of fifth of six on hurdles debut at Plumpton suggests. Trip and ground fine, and could give you a run for your money at a likely big price.

Form: P/3F215-

Mint Condition¹⁰⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: J Candlish

25/1

Third on bumper debut at Warwick, sticking on well enough to the task and winner looked useful; likely to do better for some obstacles, but makes limited appeal all the same.

Form: 4-3

Shakem Up'arry¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling

7/4

Left his odds-on fall at Leicester behind when second to Mister Coffey here last time, looking a useful prospect; will want further in time and going right way now, but yard still finding winners elusive.

Form: 3-F2

Shishkin²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF| D

7/4

Easy winner of his bumper last year, despite being very keen, and heavily backed to make a winning hurdles debut here last time, only to make an early exit; chance is there to see, but will need to pick his feet up.

Form: 3/11-F

Symphony Hall²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

125/1

Form in bumpers/hurdles so far only moderate and has ground to make up with a few of these on form; may be better off in handicaps after today.

Form: 3-4800

Dylan's Sea Song^h1¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher

80/1

Her second in a bumper here last year isn't awful form, and her midfield finishes here on her last two starts aren't devoid of promise either, but she has to improve if she's to turn the form around with a few of these.

Form: 829-90

Forecasts

Shishkin (7/4), Shakem Up'arry (7/4), Mahler's Promise (4/1), Known (9/1), Summer Name (14/1), Mint Condition (25/1), Another Tuco (50/1), Dylan's Sea Song (80/1), Flintrock (100/1), Lisronagh Stone (100/1), Symphony Hall (125/1), Etat Major Aulmes (150/1), Larcadio (150/1), Fancy A Dance (150/1)

If the Ben Pauling yard were firing the winners in then Shakem Up'arry might well have been the pick here, but despite a few from the yard going better, then still aren't firing on all cylinders and as such, maybe MAHLER'S PROMISE can follow up last month's win here despite having the penalty to carry. Shiskin was well backed to win that event but departed early and he'll need to pick his feet up in what promises to be very testing ground. Known needs to start digging in better at the business end, and Summer Name might be a better bet for the each-way players.