12:50 Newbury

Wednesday 15 December 2021

All12:2012:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

Prodec Networks Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 5.60s

Cardano¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C J Todd⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams

14/1

Useful Flat performer who has been in excellent form lately, while hurdling debut at Cheltenham in October wasn't without promise. Not taken lightly.

Form: 8

Coupdebol^t1⁷⁴⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: James Bowen| T: T R GeorgeWS

33/1

Showed ability when third in a juvenile at Compiegne on hurdling debut in April 2019. Shaped as if needing run when sixth of 16 in novice hurdle at this C&D on yard debut 8 months later but off since.

Form: 36/

Crypto Currency³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| BF

16/1

Winning pointer who shaped encouragingly switched to a bumper when fifth at Sandown last month, not sustain effort after travelling as well as any into contention. Makes hurdles bow.

Form: 3-15

Head Law^t1⁵⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

12/1

Won maiden bumper at Le Mans last November. Left Gabriel Leenders for €150,000 later that month and shaped as if better for the run sent hurdling after 12 months off at Bangor. Tongue tied.

Form: 1-5

Hipop Des Ongrais²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: R Walford

125/1

Unplaced in pair of bumpers in France and down the field both starts over hurdles for this yard last month.

Form: 75-80

I Am Maximus³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

2/5

Made winning debut in Cheltenham bumper by 1¾ lengths from My Drogo (now very smart). Just found wanting for know-how on hurdling debut at Exeter on belated return and remains a good prospect.

Form: 1-3

Jack's A Legend¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A E Jones

33/1

Standout effort in bumpers is far from solid and made an unpromising start to his hurdling career over C&D on return.

Form: 3/7400-6

Make A Deal³¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: R P McLernon| T: G Brown

250/1

Twice-raced maiden. Blinkered for 1st time, eighth of 10 in bumper at Lingfield (16f, standard, 40/1). Off 10 months. Makes hurdles debut.

Form: 5P/98-

Mark Of Gold¹³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

50/1

Fairly useful on Flat but largely below form in 2021 and sold from Richard Hannon 30,000 gns (gelded since latest start).

Form:

Militry Decoration¹³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Matthew Batchelor| T: C Poulton| BF

80/1

Fair Flat winner (stays 1½m) but up against it on first go in this sphere.

Form:

Motown Lake¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

200/1

In frame both starts in Irish points in April but well held in maiden/novice hurdle.

Form: 42-90

Raymond Tusk³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| BF| C| D

10/3

Smart on the Flat, and though he failed to meet market expectations on hurdling debut at Market Rasen last month, he still offered something to work on.

Form: 6

Sarim^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex

40/1

Fair on Flat, stays 2m, but future over hurdles probably lies over further.

Form:

Non-Runners

Essential Jaco⁷³

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

Forecasts

I Am Maximus (2/5), Raymond Tusk (10/3), Head Law (12/1), Cardano (14/1), Essential Jaco (14/1), Crypto Currency (16/1), Jack's A Legend (33/1), Coupdebol (33/1), Sarim (40/1), Mark Of Gold (50/1), Militry Decoration (80/1), Hipop Des Ongrais (125/1), Motown Lake (200/1), Make A Deal (250/1)

I AM MAXIMUS beat the now very smart My Drogo in a Cheltenham bumper and was just lacking for know-how when third on his hurdling debut/belated return at Exeter 5 weeks ago, form which has been well advertised since. He remains a good prospect and is clearly the one to beat. Raymond Tusk and Cardano were both quality operators on the Flat and are bound to leave their hurdle debuts behind.