11:45 Newcastle

Thursday 10 December 2020

All11:4512:1512:4513:2013:5014:2514:5515:25

Follow MansionBet For Festive Prizes Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 11:46 | Winning time: 5m 11.68s

Coeur Aimant⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Colm McCormack| T: B Butterworth| OR: 94

40/1

Not without promise in maiden hurdles for Gordon Elliott but let go cheaply and well held both starts in handicaps for present stable.

Form: 447500

Shady Character^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Ross Turner⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 94

6/1

Lightly raced 7-y-o who produced his best effort to date over hurdles when 3 lengths third of 15 in a Uttoxeter handicap (20f) last month. A repeat gives him claims in an open-looking heat.

Form: P07P-53

Old Jewry^p³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Reed| T: D Bourke| OR: 93

13/2

Back on the right track with cheekpieces fitted, edging ahead close home to shed the maiden tag at Kelso (20.8f) last month. Possibilities with a repeat.

Form: 3-8P351

Mauricio¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Grant Cockburn| T: Mrs Stella Barclay| OR: 91

28/1

Fair winning hurdler at his best who didn't get home over extended 3m at Doncaster recently. Did go well for a long way however, so not dismissed out of hand from sliding mark.

Form: 365-9P9

Border Victor^p³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Blair Campbell| T: F P Murtagh| OR: 88

25/1

Modest hurdler who was well held first 2 starts this term. Shaped better than being pulled up suggests at Hexham (23.3f) latest but he's essentially tough to assess on balance.

Form: 624-P3P

Donald Dux^t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Joe Williamson⁽³⁾| T: A Crook| OR: 88

9/4

Had plenty in hand when off the mark at Market Rasen (20.6f) in March and, having been sent off at 25/1 he matched that form when second on return at Doncaster (19.4f) last month. Possibilities.

Form: 44631-2

Lady Vinetta²²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Cillin Leonard⁽³⁾| T: G Boanas| OR: 86

20/1

Merely hinted at ability in trio of novice hurdles and whilst possibly unsuited by conditions on handicap debut last month, she's got work to do from this sort of mark.

Form: 60-685P

Wonderful Woman^p1,t²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Coltherd| T: Miss J E Foster| OR: 85

25/1

Well beaten in bumpers and has yet to achieve anything of note over hurdles. Cheekpieces added to usual tongue tie.

Form: 80/92-77

On We Go²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Alison Clarke⁽⁷⁾| T: Kenny Johnson| OR: 85

33/1

Successful from this mark at Ayr (21.4f) back in January but more miss than hit subsequently. Should come forward for last month's return to action at least.

Form: 10694-P

Durlington^t²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Nathan Moscrop| T: Sara Ender| OR: 84

200/1

Very lightly raced ex-French gelding. Sent off at long odds and well beaten in novice/maiden events in recent months. Handicap debut.

Form: 8/P8

The Gap^t²⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Danny McMenamin| T: Mrs A Hamilton| OR: 84

16/1

Has no solid form to his name and he was again well held on handicap debut at Newcastle (23.7f) last month.

Form: 03-0860

Excalibur^p¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Macdonald⁽¹⁰⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82| D

20/1

Modest 20f winning hurdler 13 months ago who was well held on the back of 10 months off from out of the weights at Carlisle (17f) 12 days ago. Entitled to hold more chance in this line up at least.

Form: 31069-0

African Glory^t²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Bruce Lynn| T: M Todhunter| OR: 80

11/1

Best effort yet when runner-up in a Hexham handicap (20f) in October. Rather underwhelming effort (with tongue tie off) at Ayr since but it's reinstated here so not ruled out.

Form: 5-07026

Brackenmoss Rory^p1³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-8| J: S Mulqueen| T: A C Whillans| OR: 76

25/1

Unreliable individual who shaped as if amiss on the back of 24 months off in a Hexham maiden early on last month. Cheekpieces refitted ahead of return to handicaps.

Form: PP0U2/P

Instingtive¹⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Rachel McDonald| T: Miss L Harrison| OR: 71| D

50/1

Successful in 20f Carlisle handicap chase on final run of 2018/19 campaign but well below that level since, including back over hurdles latest.

Form: 640P-P9

Aphaea^t1²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Nick Barratt-Atkin⁽¹⁰⁾| T: M & D Easterby| OR: 70

4/1

Fair 14f winner on Flat but little to shout about over hurdles, never in the hunt in a Wetherby novice (19.7f) last month. However, represents shrewd connections so worth a look now handicapping.

Form: 12/PP-P7

Non-Runners

Smashing Lass²

Weight: 10-4| Age: 4

T: M E Sowersby J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Donald Dux (9/4), Aphaea (4/1), Shady Character (6/1), Old Jewry (13/2), African Glory (11/1), The Gap (16/1), Lady Vinetta (20/1), Excalibur (20/1), Smashing Lass (20/1), Border Victor (25/1), Wonderful Woman (25/1), Brackenmoss Rory (25/1), Mauricio (28/1), On We Go (33/1), Coeur Aimant (40/1), Instingtive (50/1), Durlington (200/1)

An easy winner on his final start last season, DONALD DUX picked up where he left off (on the back of wind surgery) when runner-up at Doncaster last month. He looks more solid than most here and gets the nod to resume winning ways. Shady Character and Old Jewry are others worthy of consideration.