16:20 Newbury

Friday 28 February 2020

All14:1014:4515:1515:5016:2016:5517:25

Greenham Trust Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:21 | Winning time: 6m 19.5s

Vodka All The Way²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Matt Griffiths| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 120

8/1

Placed third on both starts since joining this yard including over an extended 3m at Doncaster (good) earlier this month. Races off the same mark here and is of interest dropping in grade.

Form: 6U07-33

Connetable^p²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Jack Tudor⁽⁵⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 118

9/1

Returned to form with a good 8½L fourth in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m at Doncaster (good) last time out. Closely matched with Vodka All The Way on that form and is interesting in this contest.

Form: 09P3-04

Ballymagroarty Boy⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 117

8/1

First start since wind surgery when finishing 28L second in a four runner 3m2f novices' handicap chase at Doncaster (soft) last month. Worth a check in the market on his return to hurdling.

Form: 18F2-52

Forgetthesmalltalk⁹⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Max Browne⁽⁷⁾| T: A King| OR: 116| D

10/3

Making his first appearance since spring 2018 when finishing 1L second in a handicap hurdle over an extended 3m at Kempton (good-to-soft) in November. Interesting contender on his return from a break.

Form: 43220/2

King Of The Sharks¹¹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 114| D

10/1

Seasonal debut and first start since wind surgery came when finishing fifth in a 2m7f handicap hurdle at Exeter (soft) in early November. Likely more needed if he's to take this race.

Form: 11/863-5

Atomic Rumble^p,t¹⁹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: James Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 114

33/1

Failed to complete in two starts over fences since finishing a good 7L second over 3m at Southwell (good) in first time cheekpieces (retained since) last June. Return to hurdles a positive following a break.

Form: 3-232UP

Roccowithlove^p⁶²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109

9/2

Showed good form when runner-up on handicap debut over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton (good) in December. Faller upped in trip later that month and races off a mark 3lb higher than for that Wincanton second.

Form: 8743-2F

Invincible Cave^v²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 106| D

22/1

Disappointing in two starts since finishing fourth over an extended 2m5f at Wincanton (soft) early last month. Probably best watched having pulled up at Kempton last time out.

Form: P0949P

Mister Murchan²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: James Davies| T: R Rowe| OR: 105| D

5/1

In good form of late following up a 3L victory over Tambura at Plumpton (3m1f, soft) last month with a 6L second at Huntingdon (3m1f, good-to-soft) last time out. Leading player off a mark 7lb higher than for that Plumpton triumph.

Form: 444212

Nessfield Blue⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: J J Burke| T: P G Murphy| OR: 97

12/1

Nine race maiden struggled over an extended 2m4f in a handicap hurdle at Plumpton 9soft) early last month. Others hold more obvious claims in this race.

Form: 3704P9

Non-Runners

Tambura³⁹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 10

T: N B King J: Mr Zac Baker

Puppet Warrior¹⁸

Weight: 10-13| Age: 8

T: G Howell J: Miss L Brooke

Woulduadamandeveit¹⁴

Weight: 10-4| Age: 7

T: Mrs S Gardner J: Lucy Gardner

Forecasts

Forgetthesmalltalk (10/3), Roccowithlove (9/2), Mister Murchan (5/1), Tambura (11/2), Ballymagroarty Boy (8/1), Vodka All The Way (8/1), Connetable (9/1), King Of The Sharks (10/1), Nessfield Blue (12/1), Woulduadamandeveit (12/1), Puppet Warrior (16/1), Invincible Cave (22/1), Atomic Rumble (33/1)

Top weight VODKA ALL THE WAY has run well on both starts for this yard and he can register a victory dropping in grade in this staying handicap hurdle. Tambura ran well when finishing behind Mister Murchan at Plumpton last month and he can reverse form with that rival with the pair capable of finishing second and third respectively.