15:00 Newbury

Friday 27 November 2020

All12:1512:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2)

Off time: 15:01 | Winning time: 5m 58.62s

Lisnagar Oscar²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 160| D

12/1

Had a slow start to last season but ended it with a much-improved display to land the Stayers' Hurdle at Cheltenham. Sub-par reappearance at Wetherby, though may well strip fitter for it.

Form: 39F31-4

Paisley Park²⁶⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Aidan Coleman| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 167| BF| CD

11/4

Dominated this division in 2018/19 and landed first 3 starts last season. Disappointed in bid to defend his World Hurdle crown when last seen but there were excuses, so he's a leading player.

Form: 111/117-

Summerville Boy²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 156

11/1

2018 Supreme Hurdle winner who was back on track over hurdles last term and showed a good attitude to make a winning return in a minor event at Aintree. Big claims back up in trip.

Form: 1F125-1

McFabulous⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 153| C

15/8

Progressive hurdler who ran out a clear-cut winner of the EBF Final at Kempton on handicap debut in March. Bolted up in Persian War at Chepstow on return and expected to get this longer trip.

Form: 1/2411-1

Thyme Hill²⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 151| BF| C

7/2

Third in 2019 Champion Bumper and landed first 3 starts over hurdles emphatically. Good fourth in the Albert Bartlett on final outing and may improve further on reappearance.

Form: 23/1114-

Aux Ptits Soins⁵⁷⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 153| D

40/1

Smart hurdler at best but off 19 months since a respectable effort in the Champion Stayers' Hurdle at Punchestown 19 months ago. Others make more appeal.

Form: 85171/5-

Honest Vic^v³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R Patrick| T: H D Daly| OR: 150| D

11/1

Dual winner last season and upped his game to readily see off Lock's Corner (won over fences subsequently) in handicap at Cheltenham in October. Worthy of this step up in grade.

Form: 5/1415-1

One Night In Milan¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Craig Nichol| T: K Dalgleish| OR: 142

150/1

Progressive hurdler last season who improved on chasing debut when second in a novice at Carlisle 18 days ago. Stiff task back in this sphere, though.

Form: 2233-P2

Sam Spinner^p²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Joe Colliver| T: Jedd O'Keeffe| OR: 162| D

22/1

High-class hurdler who made it 3-3 over fences last term but seemed amiss in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby on return. Would have a chance on his very best form.

Form: 28/111-P

Vision Des Flos^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 152| D

66/1

Smart hurdler who hasn't really convinced over fences and faces an uphill task in this company back over smaller obstacles.

Form: 5160-U5

Forecasts

McFabulous (15/8), Paisley Park (11/4), Thyme Hill (7/2), Summerville Boy (11/1), Honest Vic (11/1), Lisnagar Oscar (12/1), Sam Spinner (22/1), Aux Ptits Soins (40/1), Vision Des Flos (66/1), One Night In Milan (150/1)

PAISLEY PARK is still the best in this division despite his Cheltenham flop when last seen so, provided he's back to his old self, he'll take all the beating in his bid to land this for the second year running. Summerville Boy and McFabulous both have the benefit of a recent run and the latter is still open to plenty of improvement, so they're also worth considering.