12:40 Newbury

Wednesday 16 December 2020

All12:1012:4013:1013:4514:2014:5515:30

BoscaSports The Retail Bookmakers Choice Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:41 | Winning time: 4m 4.7s

Beaufort^h⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 87

250/1

Modest and temperamental on Flat and no promise in 4 runs over hurdles.

Form: 03-69

Calgary Tiger²⁹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: W De Best-Turner

250/1

No great promise in bumpers and was well out of his depth when pulled up in the Dovecote Novices' Hurdle on debut in this sphere in February.

Form: 008/6P-

Das Kapital²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Dave Crosse| T: John Berry

200/1

Modest Flat winner but has been tailed off on both starts over hurdles.

Form: 67

Frankeur^t1⁵⁸⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

11/2

Third in a couple of bumpers in France in spring 2019. Absent since but still interesting now setting out for new yard, particularly if backed. Has a tongue tie added.

Form: 3/3-

Full Spes¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: W Greatrex

80/1

Fair form when in the frame first 2 bumper starts but disappointing since, including over hurdles.

Form: 43-065

Go Pharisee Flyer¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: W Greatrex

100/1

Hinted at ability in a pair of bumpers, but looked one for later on in this sphere when well held in a novice hurdle at Ffos Las 17 days ago.

Form: 448

Joe Warbrick⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland

150/1

Looked one for later on when well held in a Fontwell bumper on debut last month, running green.

Form: 0

Lecale's Article⁹⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

8/15

Bought for €320,000 after winning his sole outing in Irish points (April 2018). Has clearly taken a while to make it to the track but is in excellent hands so needs taking seriously.

Form: 1/

Major Robinson^h1⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| DWS

9/1

Overcame greenness to land 15-runner Thurles bumper on debut in March. Failed by a long way to match that form at Cheltenham 7 months later and has since had a wind op. First-time hood also applied.

Form: 1-0

Restandbethankful³⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| BF| D

9/1

Made a winning start in bumpers in 8-runner event at Perth (16.2f) in September. Added to an encouraging start when runner-up at Lingfield and is bred to make a hurdler.

Form: 12

Thorn^h⁴⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Daniel Hiskett⁽³⁾| T: J Gallagher

50/1

Fair Flat winner making hurdle debut in a hood. Probably best watched.

Form:

Thundersockssundae¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson

25/1

Produced a promising first effort when second in a Ffos Las bumper in October. Only seventh of 11 on Doncaster hurdling debut but needed the experience and should do better.

Form: 27

Ashazuri^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: M D Grant| T: J G Portman

33/1

Fair on Flat, stays 1½m, not disgraced last time. Hood on for hurdle debut.

Form:

Granny Frankham²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: J R Jenkins

250/1

Authorized mare who is yet to complete in 2 starts over hurdles.

Form: FU

Isla's Dream¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| D

40/1

From the family of the prolific Yellow Flag. Two from 2 in points earlier in career but well held in a brace of novice hurdles.

Form: 11/04

She's A Novelty^t⁸⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

7/1

Fair maiden on Flat who improved on her hurdling debut form in a first-time tongue strap when second a Newton Abbot novice (16.8f) in September. That was a thin race but she may do better still.

Form: 62

Forecasts

Lecale's Article (8/15), Frankeur (11/2), She's A Novelty (7/1), Restandbethankful (9/1), Major Robinson (9/1), Thundersockssundae (25/1), Ashazuri (33/1), Isla's Dream (40/1), Thorn (50/1), Full Spes (80/1), Go Pharisee Flyer (100/1), Joe Warbrick (150/1), Das Kapital (200/1), Calgary Tiger (250/1), Beaufort (250/1), Granny Frankham (250/1)

LECALE'S ARTICLE hasn't been seen out since winning his only start in an Irish point in April 2018, but he's in excellent hands and this doesn't look the strongest of races by Newbury standards, so he's expected to get the job done. Restandbethankful has shown enough in bumpers to suggest he should have a future in this sphere, while Dan Skelton's French-recruit Frankeur also needs considering.