14:25 Newbury

Wednesday 19 January 2022

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

Book The Lodge Hotel At Newbury Racecourse Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: -

Opening Bid^h⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 117| D

50/1

Newton Abbot novice winner in the spring who got firmly back on track to land Warwick handicap (2m) in November. However, that form didn't work out and he disappointed at Taunton later that month.

Form: 1-55317

Alborkan^p,t⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J M Quinlan| T: Miss A Murphy| OR: 116| D

18/1

Hooded for first time when landing a Plumpton maiden in April. Best effort since switched to handicaps when runner-up with cheekpieces/tongue strap added at Uttoxeter in December. However, this deeper

Form: 613-432

Chanceux²⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Ralph| OR: 116| D

6/1

Fair maiden in bumpers who has made a bright start over hurdles, landing novice events at Chepstow/Plumpton in recent months. May do better again now handicapping.

Form: 243-211

Nobby⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 115| D

16/1

Dual bumper winner here in 2018 and shaped with some promise over hurdles early last year. Not kicked on subsequently, well held on return at Warwick but can't be entirely written off now handicapping

Form: 12/3-230

Fine Casting³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| OR: 114| CD

5/2

C&D bumper winner who is proving steadily progressive over hurdles, making it third time lucky in a Ffos Las maiden (15.8f) last month. Looks a big player with more to come now handicapping.

Form: 210-621

Fontana Ellissi^h1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 114

13/2

Dual novice hurdles scorer (at 21f) for Nigel Twiston-Davies. Seemingly finding his feet in a couple of starts for new stable but he will need to settle better if he's to play a lead role here.

Form: 421205

Mascat³⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 113

17/2

Useful Flat performer (stays 1¼m) and perfect start over hurdles when landing a Wincanton maiden (15.2f) in October. Creditable third under a penalty there since. Handicap debut.

Form: 13

Sheldon⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: Sean Houlihan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 113| BF| D

3/1

Fakenham maiden winner (2m) who has run with credit in hitting the frame in pair of Lingfield handicaps (19.5f) in recent months, albeit seemingly holding no excuses. Still, each-way player again.

Form: 1266-33

Ar Mest⁸⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: H Brown| OR: 113| CD

33/1

Managed to get his head back in front in a Fakenham selling hurdle (2m) in May but not in same form over fences/hurdles for 2 different stables thereafter. Looks best watched back from a short break.

Form: 2-13745

Kuraka^b²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 112| D

10/1

Sole hurdles success was gained in a Limerick maiden for Gordon Elliott back in April 2018. On a handy mark nowadays and possible refitting of blinkers will put an edge on him on latest evidence.

Form: 053-353

John Betjeman^b²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 110| D

20/1

Shed maiden tag at Ffos Las (15.8f) in May and back to that sort of form in recent weeks, no match for winner but pulling clear of remainder when second at Wincanton latest. Claims of hitting frame.

Form: 139522

Non-Runners

Canford Light⁹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: Evan Williams J: Adam Wedge

Howling Milan¹²¹

Weight: 11-5| Age: 8

T: S Drinkwater J: Danny Burton

Forecasts

Fine Casting (5/2), Sheldon (3/1), Chanceux (6/1), Fontana Ellissi (13/2), Mascat (17/2), Kuraka (10/1), Howling Milan (12/1), Nobby (16/1), Alborkan (18/1), John Betjeman (20/1), Canford Light (25/1), Ar Mest (33/1), Opening Bid (50/1)

FINE CASTING boasts a steadily progressive profile over hurdles, off the mark in good style in a Ffos Las maiden (15.8f) last month. He looks a solid proposition now handicapping with the prospect of more to come and he earns the vote. Fellow handicap debutant Chanceux is feared, along with Kuraka, who may well be aided by refitting of blinkers, and Canford Light.