15:35 Newbury

Friday 27 November 2020

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

Play Ladbrokes 1-2-Free On Football Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 5m 53.85s

Lil Rockerfeller^p³⁷⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: N B King| OR: 145| C| D

22/1

Last win over hurdles came 3 years ago and he scored 3 times over fences in his novice campaign. Last seen running respectably in Coral Hurdle at Ascot 12 months ago but is likely to need this.

Form: 530/323-

The Cashel Man^b¹⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: J McGrath| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| C

33/1

Useful winning hurdler but made inauspicious start over fences and again ran below form when well held back over timber at Kempton 18 days ago. Best when forcing the issue but may not be able to here.

Form: 1210-40

I K Brunel²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 138| D

20/1

Dual winner over timber last term and made a highly promising start over fences after 8 months off when narrowly beaten at Fontwell. Promised more than delivered next time and now back over hurdles.

Form: 1841-23

Samburu Shujaa²⁶⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132| BF| D

33/1

Developed into a useful staying hurdler in 2018/19, but has failed to convince over fences to date, his jumping causing some cause for concern. Makes return back over hurdles after 8 months off.

Form: 10/8553-

Dell' Arca^b,t²²

Age: 11| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 131| CD

13/2

Sweetened up by return to hurdling, winning over 3m at Aintree and Newbury under Fergus Gillard in recent weeks. A 6 lb higher mark demands more but he's dangerous to rule out in his current mood.

Form: 3-73611

Coeur de Lion^p⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 131

10/1

Useful on the Flat, scoring at Royal Ascot back in June. Shaped better than the bare result when last seen over timber back in March and is one to keep an eye on after his Cesarewitch flop last month.

Form: 500/558-

Neville's Cross³⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: R M Power| T: T Lacey| OR: 130| BF

5/1

Different proposition since switched to handicap company and stepped up in trip, winning at Uttoxeter and following up in emphatic style at Hereford (25f). Sixth in a Pertemps Qualifier latest.

Form: 453-116

Ballon Onabudget³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 129

20/1

Irish bumper winner who has progressed steadily over hurdles since joining this yard, resuming winning ways at Newton Abbot in September. Found things too competitive last time and may struggle here.

Form: 1F-2318

Neverbeen To Paris^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: G Sheehan| T: H Whittington| OR: 125

66/1

Fairly useful hurdle/chase winner but he arrives on back of a pair of poor efforts, only eighth of 10 in handicap hurdle (10/1) at Kempton (21f, good) 18 days ago. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 7-361P8

Summer Name^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 124

18/1

Well prepared to make a winning hurdles debut on the back of an absence last November and would have finished closer but for late errors on both starts in recent weeks. Solid each-way claims.

Form: 8/16-43

Hill Sixteen⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 123| D

11/10

Bolted up by 46 lengths in 8-runner handicap chase at Ffos Las (19.4f) 9 days ago on first start for this yard 9 days ago. That was impressive, and he may take some stopping back over hurdles.

Form: 66412-1

Loverboy⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: A King| OR: 121

25/1

Made light of 26-month absence when landing a 19f Chepstow handicap on debut for Alan King in January. Ran creditably after 9 months off when sixth on return and he should go well from unchanged mark.

Form: 2739/1-6

Non-Runners

Ocean Cove¹³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: F O'Brien J: P J Brennan

Forecasts

Hill Sixteen (11/10), Neville's Cross (5/1), Dell' Arca (13/2), Coeur de Lion (10/1), Ocean Cove (16/1), Summer Name (18/1), Ballon Onabudget (20/1), I K Brunel (20/1), Lil Rockerfeller (22/1), Loverboy (25/1), The Cashel Man (33/1), Samburu Shujaa (33/1), Neverbeen To Paris (66/1)

It was hard not to be impressed by the way HILL SIXTEEN routed his opposition on his return/yard debut at Ffos Las 9 days ago. This step up in trip holds no fears, and he looks potentially well treated for this return to hurdling. Dell' Arca is dangerous to rule out in his current mood so rates as the main threat, ahead of Coeur de Lion and Neville's Cross.