14:30 Newbury

Thursday 5 November 2020

All12:2012:5513:3014:0014:3015:0515:4016:15

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 6m 1.06s

Third Wind²³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: H Morrison| OR: 141

9/2

EBF Final winner as a novice and even better form over hurdles last season, winning at Wincanton on Boxing Day before very good fourth in Final of this series at Cheltenham in March. Big player.

Form: 211/714-

Sykes²⁶⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 140| D

25/1

Useful sort who performed respectably when reaching the frame on 3 of his 4 starts last term. Capable when fresh and given a bit of a chance by the handicapper ahead of return.

Form: 1P/3P44-

Dream Berry^t¹⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: W T Kennedy| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 138

18/1

Added to his good record fresh when third on Market Rasen reappearance 19 days ago but does need to show he can string good runs together now.

Form: 6F7/20-3

Dolphin Square²⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| D

11/2

Largely progressive last term, including 3 wins. Second over C&D on his final start. Richard Johnson takes over in the saddle on his return. Interesting runner.

Form: 121412-

Fugitives Drift¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 137

4/1

Made it 3 wins in his last 4 starts when seeing off 7 rivals on his 2½m Hereford handicap debut 15 days ago. Likely there's even more to come now stepping up to 3m. Much respected.

Form: 3/312-11

Kateson^t²³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 135| C

17/2

Useful hurdler. Failed to convince over fences last winter but made a decent return to hurdling after wind surgery when staying on for second over 2½m at Uttoxeter in March. Back up in trip on return.

Form: 7/72542-

Unwin Vc³²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R H Buckler| OR: 133

28/1

Dual winner in bumpers and came good over hurdles in 23f Exeter novice (heavy) last December. More needed back in handicap and his very best efforts have come on deeper ground than is likely here.

Form: 392/431-

Flemcara^t²⁵⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 133| D

33/1

Winner over 23f at Exeter in February 2019 but below par in a light career since (restricted to just 2 outings last term). Back to that last successful mark but others more solid.

Form: 3100/P5-

Jammin Masters^p²⁴⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Adrian Heskin| T: W Greatrex| OR: 130| DWS

66/1

Dual hurdle winner. Useful maiden chaser in the last couple of seasons, albeit below par at Catterick when last seen in March. Had wind surgery ahead of this reappearance back hurdling.

Form: 22P/435-

Dell' Arca^b,t¹¹

Age: 11| Weight: 10-10| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 125| CD

13/2

Sweetened up by a return to hurdling when scoring by 5 lengths in 3m Aintree conditional jockeys' race 11 days ago. This is a better race but he escapes penalty for that win so holds obvious claims.

Form: P3-7361

Present Chief⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 123

9/2

Improver since switched to handicaps, benefitting from the step up to 3m+ at Uttoxeter in August and Warwick in September. Raised another 8 lb but it's likely there's more to come.

Form: 672-211

Sammylou^t²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 119

20/1

Has registered 3 wins over 26.5f at Newton Abbot since the resumption, the latest in Class 2 event 25 days ago. Only raised another 3 lb but needs to show he can do it away from that South West venue.

Form: 6-14211

Forecasts

Fugitives Drift (4/1), Present Chief (9/2), Third Wind (9/2), Dolphin Square (11/2), Dell' Arca (13/2), Kateson (17/2), Dream Berry (18/1), Sammylou (20/1), Sykes (25/1), Unwin Vc (28/1), Flemcara (33/1), Jammin Masters (66/1)

THIRD WIND ran a cracker when easily best of the British contingent in the Final of this series at Cheltenham in March and might be up to conceding weight all round on his return as he's very much unexposed at 3m. This is harder than the race Dell'Arca won at Aintree recently but he has an obvious handicapping chance off the same mark. Fugitives Drift and Dolphin Square are others to consider.