15:38 Newton Abbot

Friday 17 September 2021

All13:5314:2815:0315:3816:1316:4517:15

newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 15:40 | Winning time: 4m 6.1s

Flamenco De Kerser^h¹²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford| OR: 107

18/1

Winning Irish pointer who showed plenty of ability in pair of bumpers/hurdles in the spring. Looks the type to do better in handicaps.

Form: 2142-34

Borak^p,t¹⁴⁷

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: D Faulkner| OR: 105

100/1

Shaped as if better for first outing in 8 months when well-held fourth at Chepstow (2m, good) in April but off again since and left Bernard Llewellyn in the meantime.

Form: 37B17/4-

Percy^b1²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Stan Sheppard| T: M Sheppard| OR: 103

66/1

Ended losing run at Uttoxeter (15.7f) last summer but proved a disappointment in 5 starts thereafter for Sophie Leech. Struggled both starts for this yard and lots to prove. Blinkered for 1st time.

Form: 04-PP6P

Blazing Saddles^p1,t³²

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

40/1

Off the mark over hurdles at Stratford and hit the frame on 3 of next 4 starts. Made little impact sent chasing last time but should bounce back returned to the smaller obstacles with cheekpieces on.

Form: 2-25240

Easkey Lad^p⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Ben Jones| T: D Burchell| OR: 96

7/1

Back-to-back last-gasp 2m handicap wins at Ffos Las in June and didn't do a lot wrong when second over C&D following month. Good test at 2m will suit him.

Form: 2P-6112

Just No Risk¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Thomas| OR: 95

11/1

Bits and pieces of form for Nigel Twiston-Davies, though shaped as if amiss on handicap bow/final start in April. On a workable mark starting out for this yard at least.

Form: 503430-

Alramz⁶⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 89| C

14/1

Career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle here (18.5f, soft) in June but disappointed at Uttoxeter since. This test looks more suitable.

Form: 09-2516

Thinque Tank^t¹⁹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 86

9/1

4/1 and tongue strap on for 1st time, showed improved form to get off the mark in 17-runner handicap hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, soft), all out. Off 6 months.

Form: 086531-

Sergeant^p¹⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-3| J: Mitchell Bastyan⁽³⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 84| CD

11/10

Fair ex-German Flat winner. No form of note in qualifying runs over hurdles but proved a different proposition making handicap debut when easily winning over C&D 17 days ago. Can defy 9 lb rise.

Form: 4P50-1

Invincible Wish³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-0| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 79

28/1

Flat winner who, after a slow start over hurdles, improved when first past the post (demoted for interference) in a handicap over C&D in July. Well held both starts since, though, including chase bow.

Form: 0-75D89

Balzac⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-0| J: Sean Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: Sheila Lewis| OR: 79

4/1

Fairly useful form when winning a 1¼m novice on the Flat last summer but nowhere near that level in 5 subsequent attempts over hurdles, though did at least show a bit more at Worcester on Monday.

Form: P9-753

Non-Runners

Good Bye¹²³

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: A E Jones J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Sergeant (11/10), Balzac (4/1), Easkey Lad (7/1), Thinque Tank (9/1), Just No Risk (11/1), Alramz (14/1), Flamenco De Kerser (18/1), Good Bye (20/1), Invincible Wish (28/1), Blazing Saddles (40/1), Percy (66/1), Borak (100/1)

SERGEANT proved a different proposition making handicap debut from just out of the weights when beating 13 rivals over C&D last month and the manner of victory suggests he can defy a 9 lb rise. Easkey Lad arrives in top form so rates the main threat ahead of Flamenco de Kerser, who can improve again now handicapping.