14:50 Newbury

Saturday 27 March 2021

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:51 | Winning time: 4m 35.12s

Mount Windsor¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 140| D

7/1

Took a while for things to click over hurdles but arrives here searching for the 5-timer having scored unchallenged at Fontwell (19.2f) 17 days ago. However, 13 lb hike in weights makes life tougher.

Form: 3-21111

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

One True King³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131

9/2

Landed maiden/novice hurdles either side of solid efforts in pair of competitive Cheltenham handicaps in the autumn. Not helped by a blunder 2 out at Ascot latest but return to handicapping a plus.

Form: 122103

Press Your Luck⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 129

14/1

Irish point winner who landed 2 novice hurdles in autumn. Disappointed next 2 starts but looked to be going well when brought down 3 out at Kempton (21f) 7 days ago. Interesting turned out quickly.

Form: 5-11P9B

Sometimes Always¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 125| D

6/1

Fairly useful, dual hurdles winner who completed the hat-trick in a jumpers bumper at Lingfield (2m) in February. Not disgraced in Grade 3 handicap final at Sandown since and mark remains workable.

Form: 4-21117

Good Ball^t³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 131| BF| C

2/1

Off the mark on yard debut over hurdles here (2m) in December and matched that form when runner-up to Gowel Road back here last month, clear of the remainder. More to come now handicapping.

Form: 212

Hudson De Grugy¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 130

9/2

Ex-French bumper winner who has made a promising start over hurdles, making it 2 wins from 3 starts when landing a juvenile handicap at Sandown 2 weeks ago. That ought not to prove his limit.

Form: 721211

Minella Tara^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 118

11/1

£90,000 point recruit who got off the mark over hurdles in unlikely fashion, seemingly beaten before rallying to good effect at Southwell recently. Longer trip a plus now handicapping.

Form: 10-6F31

Non-Runners

Hooper¹⁴

Weight: 10-8| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Forecasts

Good Ball (2/1), Hudson De Grugy (9/2), One True King (9/2), Hooper (11/2), Sometimes Always (6/1), Mount Windsor (7/1), Minella Tara (11/1), Press Your Luck (14/1)

GOOD BALL and Hudson de Grugy are improving types both in receipt of a handy 4-y-o allowances and rate the pair to focus on. The former is narrowly preferred of the pair, with Press Your Luck and Minella Tara, at the foot of the weights, a couple of others worth considering.