13:30 Newbury

Saturday 29 February 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

William Hill Supporting Greatwood Seniors' Handicap Hurdle

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Henry Platt⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 132

Gained second win over hurdles at Stratford in October but struggled at Cheltenham subsequently. Had a break since and often goes well fresh so not ignored although handicap remains restrictive.

Form: 4367-10

Mr Caffrey^p²³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Cillin Leonard⁽⁷⁾| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 128

Winner over fences this season finished second back over the smaller obstacles at Doncaster last time out and should again be competitive today with a solid each-way profile.

Form: 1-41PU2

Dell' Arca^b²¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 128| C

Ultra-versatile sort probably best over hurdles although winless over them since 2017. Recent efforts suggest he may be regressing but handicap mark slow to creep back in his favour.

Form: 8F59P3

Mercian Prince²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-10| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 126| D

Much better chaser than hurdler and that again showed in poor effort at Wetherby last time out. Well in off best chase form but 0-9 over hurdles so little to suggest he can take advantage.

Form: 1-P5270

Aintree My Dream^t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Jordan Nailor⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 124| D

Consistent veteran on an 11-race losing streak but rarely runs a bad race and his second at Kempton over fences latest another solid effort. Hard to say he's well handicapped but certainly capable of making the frame.

Form: 333532

Lungarno Palace³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Alain Cawley| T: F O'Brien| OR: 123

Lightly raced in the last two years. Ran well over fences in May but unseated next and was well-beaten back over hurdles latest so has plenty to prove overall.

Form: 504-2U7

Loverboy⁵⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 121

Ex-French gelding very lightly raced for his age and returned from over two years off to win on stable debut at Chepstow (2m3½f, heavy) last month. Obviously very fragile but huge player if in the same form.

Form: 12739/1

All Yours¹³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: S Curran| OR: 121

Won four-times on the Flat since last seen over hurdles and certainly in good form this winter. First run over timber since July but of obvious interest having gone up 13lb on the Flat.

Form: 52/P-P30

Mile House⁶⁵

Age: 12| Weight: 11-4| J: C Gethings| T: R Stephens| OR: 120

Off over two years before being pulled-up at Kempton on Boxing Day. That was a hot race to return in but still has to be treated with a degree of trepidation now.

Form: F6212/P

Aliandy⁶⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 119

1-15 over hurdles but ran well at Warwick on soft in November. Below that level at Uttoxeter but that his first run on heavy so may bounce back here with conditions likely marginally better.

Form: 342-P25

Ruacana^p³⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: Millie Wonnacott⁽⁷⁾| T: Miss Z C Davison| OR: 119

Experienced hurdler who started the season with back-to-back victories at Lingfield. His form has dipped since then. Was pulled up and last in two starts to start this season so hard to fancy here.

Form: 1145P5

Trans Express^p⁴²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 119| D

Best effort since his simmer break latest when a one-paced fourth at Taunton but even that gives him a bit to find and others make more appeal at present.

Form: 248874

Templeross^p1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 113

3m hurdle winner on soft as a novice in 2016, but has not seen much action since, and tailed off on reappearance and stable debut latest. May strip fitter but leap of faith needed.

Form: 45P79/8

Away For Slates^h⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: J E Moore| T: M F Harris| OR: 110

Won three times over fences last season but looked at the handicapper's mercy this term and hurdles form less compelling so others preferred here.

Form: 5P-4UU3

Forecasts

Loverboy (7/2), Mr Caffrey (5/1), Aintree My Dream (7/1), All Yours (7/1), Boreham Bill (8/1), Dell' Arca (10/1), Mercian Prince (12/1), Aliandy (12/1), Lungarno Palace (14/1), Trans Express (16/1), Templeross (20/1), Ruacana (25/1), Mile House (25/1), Away For Slates (25/1)

Hardly a strong Saturday Newbury handicap this so if Alan King can deliver the fragile LOVERBOY in the same form as he was in at Chepstow last month he will take all the beating. He isn't one to trust the life savings on however so the likes of Mr Caffrey who looked happier back over hurdles latest and All Yours who has been running well on the Flat are viable alternatives.