14:30 Newton Abbot

Saturday 3 April 2021

All13:5514:3015:0515:4016:1516:5217:2518:00

South West Racing Club Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:30 | Winning time: 4m 6.4s

Floy Joy³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 103

9/2

Opened his account in a jumpers bumper at Kempton in February. Only fifth back over hurdles since but it's possible his form could take off now handicapping.

Form: 550515

Chiavari⁷¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: Alexandra Dunn| OR: 102

100/1

Fairly useful Flat winner but not at that level of late. Also well held back over hurdles in December. Others much more obvious.

Form: 602/8

Peloric⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 102

11/2

Has shaped as if retaining ability on both starts since returning from an absence but needs to deliver more at the finish.

Form: 57F3/70

She's A Novelty^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Max Kendrick⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 100

11/1

Fair maiden on the Flat. Similar form when in the frame in maiden/novice hurdles last year (including C&D) but her 2 handicap efforts since have been underwhelming.

Form: 624766

Bempton Cliffs^h¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Alan Johns| T: S Allwood| OR: 100

5/1

Front-runner who faded into third in 2m Huntingdon handicap 17 days ago but it's possible that first run in 20 months was needed and he may last longer this time.

Form: 5/4659-3

Nachi Falls¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 97| CD

14/1

Gained second hurdles win of season at Fontwell in August but has struggled for form since.

Form: 119680

Ronde De Nuit³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-2| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 101

3/1

Fair form on sole run on Flat in France. Promise on a couple of his hurdle starts for this yard and appeals as the sort to go on to better things in handicaps.

Form: 584

Magical Thomas^p,t¹⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Reed| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 95| D

22/1

Fell in the weights without hinting at a revival in the autumn. Hopes pinned on a break having a reviving effect.

Form: 4-35060

Timeforadance⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R T Dunne| T: B Eckley| OR: 93

16/1

Little impact in bumpers in 2019 and only poor form in three runs over hurdles, stiff task when remote fourth at Ascot last month. Needs more from this opening mark.

Form: 0/65-794

Orchard Grove^t¹²²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 91

11/1

Runner-up in Kilbeggan handicap on final start for Shark Hanlon. Fair fourth on yard debut in October but checked out tamely in a tongue strap (retained) at Ludlow 5 weeks later. Given break since.

Form: 689248

Fs Lola^t¹¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: J D Frost| OR: 90WS

66/1

Poor form in novice hurdles towards end of 2020. Subsequent wind op needs to spark improvement ahead of chase debut after 113 days off.

Form: 4/085P5

Gates Pass^h,t¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Patrick Cowley⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 83

20/1

Maiden on Flat and over hurdles. Creditable third at Wincanton on last hurdle start in November and also placed over C&D in September. Well held on AW Flat when last seen in December.

Form: 90-3663

Non-Runners

Pasley²⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 5

T: J & A O'Neill J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.

Chez Castel Mail⁹⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 9

T: A Stronge J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Ronde De Nuit (3/1), Floy Joy (9/2), Bempton Cliffs (5/1), Peloric (11/2), Pasley (11/2), Orchard Grove (11/1), She's A Novelty (11/1), Chez Castel Mail (12/1), Nachi Falls (14/1), Timeforadance (16/1), Gates Pass (20/1), Magical Thomas (22/1), Fs Lola (66/1), Chiavari (100/1)

RONDE DE NUIT looks a likely type for handicaps and gets the nod, with confidence increased should the betting speak in his favour. Fellow J P McManus runner Pasley will be a threat if bouncing back to the level of his penultimate Warwick third. Bempton Cliffs could be sharper with a recent comeback run behind him and is also on the shortlist.