12:55 Newbury

Saturday 29 February 2020

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

MansionBet Best Odds Guaranteed Novices' Handicap Hurdle (Div 1)

Ashutor⁴^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 12-8| J: Katie O'Farrell⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122| D

Narrowly touched off at Taunton before going one better at Catterick where he won in little more than a canter. 7lb penalty means that even with jockey's 5lb claim he has a welter burden but still the one to beat.

Form: F3-2821

Yaa Salaam^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: David Noonan| T: D Pipe| OR: 119

Useful German Flat horse still a maiden over hurdles but made the frame four times in five starts and looks the biggest danger to Ashutor based on his solid Kempton third last time out.

Form: 32-263

Nebuchadnezzar⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 117

Long-standing maiden's Sandown second in November suggested wait may soon be over but disappointing seventh's since rather temper enthusiasm although sure there is a win in him.

Form: 44-2277

Henri Le Bon³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 114

Sea The Stars gelding took a step forward at Wetherby last time when third of nine beaten 9L. Opening handicap here but wouldn't think mark is a generous one.

Form: 5-703

The Garrison⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 112

Made the frame once (100/1 third) in novice company but twice unplaced afterwards and pulled up in first handicap at Chepstow so plenty to prove here overall.

Form: 78354P

Hit The Rocks³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 111

Winner on the Flat in Ireland before joining this yard at the beginning of the season; placed twice in novice hurdles and open to improvement but opening mark looks stiff enough, Market support would be notable.

Form: 42

Defuture Is Bright⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams| OR: 103

Maiden struggled in opening handicap but managed third at Ascot latest albeit beaten 19L. Gets another 2lb back but on evidence so far will need a little bit more assistance to get seriously competitive.

Form: 284303

Born To Please^p²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher| OR: 102| D

Off the mark at the sixth time of asking over hurdles when race-fit from the Flat but struggled twice since off 8lb higher marks so again hard to fancy having got just 1lb back.

Form: 279-164

Sainte Doctor²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| D

Handicap debutante a winner on the Flat in France who showed significant ability in fifth of 15 and fourth of 13 finishes before tailing off at Taunton latest. Must leave that run behind but earlier form would make her interesting on handicap bow.

Form: 1548

Kenny George⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 99

2m3f Fontwell winner in November unplaced in four races since but after back-to-back fourths and with 1lb back he has fair place claims today.

Form: 3-41044

Symphony Hall⁴⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex| OR: 95

Handicap debutant big prices when bumping into smart rivals in novice company. Market can guide as to expectations now but others achieved more in novice events.

Form: 3-48000

Forecasts

Ashutor (7/4), Yaa Salaam (9/2), Sainte Doctor (6/1), Hit The Rocks (10/1), Nebuchadnezzar (10/1), Kenny George (12/1), Symphony Hall (14/1), Henri Le Bon (14/1), Defuture Is Bright (16/1), Born To Please (20/1), The Garrison (25/1)

Although under a huge weight now under his penalty ASHUTOR looks the one they all have to beat. There is little doubt he will prove well in under a 7lb penalty having won on the bridle last week. Yaa Salaam has been consistently knocking on the door and he rates the biggest threat here although unexposed Sainte Doctor is the potential fly in the ointment.