13:15 Newbury

Wednesday 19 January 2022

All12:4513:1513:5014:2515:0015:3016:00

Start Your RacingTV Free Trial Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 12.5s

Hecouldbetheone²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

2/1

€14,000 buy from the family of useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 3m) Beroni. Placed in Irish points and made a successful debut over hurdles at Fontwell (17.7f, heavy) 24 days ago. Should improve.

Form: P31

Alghazaal^t⁵³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: C E LongsdonWS

40/1

Fairly useful on the Flat for Michael Bell and shaped better than bare result on hurdles debut at Doncaster (16.6f). Since undergone a wind op and can be expected to leave that form behind in time.

Form: 5

Ben Lilly⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| D

25/1

Useful Flat winner at up to 2m for David Brown. Ran below that level sent hurdling after 4 months off when a well-beaten fourth at Taunton recently and he'll need longer trips than this.

Form: 4

Card Dealer⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon

14/1

Third both starts in points and filled the same position on Rules debut in an Ascot bumper in October. Not so good back there 3 weeks later and makes hurdles bow here.

Form: 3-337

Groom De Cotte^t1²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: S Curran

200/1

Bred to need time and down the field in bumper at Warwick early last month. Similar story sent hurdling 3 weeks later and a tongue tied is now applied.

Form: 99

Hara Kiri^h¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales

50/1

Fair form when placed all 3 starts in bumpers (trained by Willie Mullins first 2 starts) but was too free when fifth on hurdles bow at Plumpton recently. Will be of more interest in handicaps.

Form: 32-35

Hiway One O Three²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C Gordon

100/1

Showed ability in a trio of bumpers, but has cut little ice in a couple of outings over hurdles, fifth over this C&D 3 weeks ago. Plenty more needed.

Form: 45-495

Logan's Choice^t1⁹⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: N LampardWS

400/1

Modest maiden on the Flat and has failed to complete on all 3 starts in this sphere. Has had a breathing operation.

Form: VPU-P

Maclaine³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood

5/1

€70,000 3-y-o, Masked Marvel gelding who shaped with plenty of encouragement when fourth in a course bumper. Again showed ability on hurdles bow 5 weeks ago and he's dangerous if settling better.

Form: 45

Systemic^t²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tom Cheesman⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore

125/1

Fairly useful but temperamental on Flat (stays 1¾m) who showed a bit more than on hurdling debut when fifth at Plumpton last month. Will need another big step forward to feature.

Form: 85

Walking On Air³⁰⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| BF

5/6

Well-bred 4-y-o who was supported and showed plenty in Kempton bumper last March his yard have done well in, showing signs of greenness. Not seen since, so rates a very interesting hurdling debutant.

Form: 2-

Enchantee³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Page Fuller| T: G Deacon

400/1

Modest maiden on Flat, stays 1¼m. Little show at huge odds for current handler so easy to look elsewhere on hurdling debut.

Form:

Non-Runners

Cousu Main⁴³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Walking On Air (5/6), Hecouldbetheone (2/1), Cousu Main (11/4), Maclaine (5/1), Card Dealer (14/1), Ben Lilly (25/1), Alghazaal (40/1), Hara Kiri (50/1), Hiway One O Three (100/1), Systemic (125/1), Groom De Cotte (200/1), Logan's Choice (400/1), Enchantee (400/1)

Some promising types on show here, not least WALKING ON AIR. Nicky Henderson's charge showed plenty despite being no match for a more speedily-bred rival in a Kempton bumper last March so he gets the nod to make a winning start over timber here. Maclaine and Hecouldbetheone are open to improvement so they rate as obvious alternatives should the selection fail to fire.