14:30 Newbury

Wednesday 20 January 2021

All12:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:3516:05

MansionBet's Faller Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:32 | Winning time: 4m 10.4s

Gowel Road²²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 122

5/2

Well-bred sort who shaped extremely well when runner-up in 2m novice at Ffos Las before creditable fourth over C&D 22 days ago. Remains with potential on handicap bow so not dismissed lightly.

Form: 24

Timeforaspin^h¹¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: James Davies| T: M D I Usher| OR: 121

100/1

First run since leaving Olly Murphy when pulled up in 2m handicap hurdle at Kempton (80/1) 11 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 723/51-P

Gunsight Ridge⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 120

3/1

Point winner who went one better than on his hurdles debut when landing 2m Doncaster novice in November. Open to improvement now going into handicaps so must enter calculations for yard among winners.

Form: 14-21

Zamperini¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁷⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 120| D

50/1

Dual Plumpton winner in 2019 but he offered little after 16 months off when pulled up in 2m handicap at Sandown 18 days ago. Yard going really well so could bounce back now.

Form: 36/121-P

Kuraka⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 119| D

16/1

50/1 but shaped well on first run for 14 months/since leaving Gordon Elliott when fourth of 16 in 19f handicap hurdle at Taunton 55 days ago. Needs considering.

Form: 60/877-4

Chantecler^h⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Kai Lenihan⁽⁷⁾| T: K Davis| OR: 119| D

200/1

Won 2 of his first 3 starts for Nicky Henderson, latest at Hexham in September, but well below par last two outings and pulled up at Taunton latest. Has work to do now for new yard.

Form: 5/3117P

Aquila Sky^t⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: S Allwood| OR: 117

12/1

On the up now handicapping and (tongue strap on) posted excellent third of 10 at Doncaster (2m) 40 days ago. Sure to go well again despite 2 lb rise in weights.

Form: 984-733

Clondaw Promise⁹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 116

16/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who arrives on back of creditable tenth of 17 in handicap at Carlisle (20f) 97 days ago. More needed if he's to open his account here though.

Form: 3F/4P2-0

Sastruga¹⁰¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: R T Dunne| T: R G Hawker| OR: 116

25/1

Made a successful return for new connections in Newton Abbot handicap (21.5f) in October. Up 7 lb but further improvement on the cards so not ruled out.

Form: 96283-1

Pencreek^t1²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: D A Jacob| T: B Pauling| OR: 113

14/1

Placed all three starts this term for new yard, good third of 23 on handicap bow over 19f at Market Rasen last time. Drop back to 2m should suit so he's in the mix off unchanged mark.

Form: 25-333

Ardmayle⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: David Bass| T: A Stronge| OR: 113| BF| D

12/1

In good form over hurdles until only fifth of 6 in 2m handicap chase at Sandown 47 days ago. Not ruled out reverted to timber.

Form: 652-345

Zamani^h⁴⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: T Scudamore| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 113

10/1

Form: 1P-3U46

Hit The Rocks¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 111

25/1

Lightly-raced maiden hurdler who looked rusty after 7 months off when fourth in Lingfield jumpers bumper last time. Into handicaps now and needs to step forward.

Form: 422-4

Dante's View^p,t⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: George Baker| OR: 110

25/1

9/1 and tongue strap on, below-form seventh of 12 in 20f handicap at Plumpton 44 days ago. Not proving the easiest to catch right.

Form: 324447

Naizagai^h,t²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

6/1

Made winning start over hurdles at Cartmel in August and placed all 4 starts since, hooded when excellent second of 23 in 2m Wetherby handicap latest. Claims once more for good yard despite 3 lb rise.

Form: 13222

Non-Runners

Dave And Bernie⁵⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: O Signy J: Non Runner

Doux Pretender³⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: Mrs S Leech J: C Gethings

Drewmain Legend³⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 9

T: A Stronge J: R Johnson

Heart Of A Lion⁴¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: A King J: Tom Cannon

For Three⁵⁸

Weight: 10-12| Age: 7

T: J Ewart J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Gowel Road (5/2), Gunsight Ridge (3/1), Naizagai (6/1), Heart Of A Lion (6/1), Zamani (10/1), Aquila Sky (12/1), Ardmayle (12/1), Pencreek (14/1), Kuraka (16/1), Clondaw Promise (16/1), Dave And Bernie (16/1), Drewmain Legend (20/1), Dante's View (25/1), Hit The Rocks (25/1), For Three (25/1), Sastruga (25/1), Doux Pretender (25/1), Zamperini (50/1), Timeforaspin (100/1), Chantecler (200/1)

Lots with chances but HEART OF A LION has had a wind op since his promising Taunton second and looks to have got in lightly for his handicap bow so Alan King's improver is the one to be with. Gunsight Ridge, another with better days ahead of him and representing the in-form Olly Murphy yard, rates next best, with well-weighted Aquila Sky and unexposed Gowel Road two more who need considering.