13:45 Newbury

Friday 4 March 2022

All13:4514:2014:5515:3016:0516:3517:05

West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:45 | Winning time: 5m 10.80s

Shearer^p1⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 120| BF

3/1

Bumper winner who has finished in the money on each of his 3 hurdles starts, most recently hitting the crossbar on handicap bow at Lingfield (19.5f). Cheekpieces added and likely to be in the mix.

Form: 210-232

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Neon Moon^b,t¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 119| D

3/1

Wincanton maiden winner last March and firmly back on track in this headgear combination when landing a 20.5f Plumpton handicap 18 days ago. More needed up 7 lb, but merits respect all the same.

Form: 461-071

Petit Palais^t1⁵¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 117| BF

22/1

Snapped a losing run on debut for new connections at Lyon Parilly (18.9f) in October 2020, but subsequent absence is an obvious concern. Tongue strap applied.

Form: 46P/341-

Top Of The Bill⁸³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Jordan Nailor⁽³⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 113| BF

9/2

Fairly useful form in bumpers, placed all 4 starts in that sphere last term. Has failed to threaten in a couple of novice events since switched to hurdles, but may do better now handicapping.

Form: 3223-44

Elham Valley^t²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 112

6/1

Hasn't fired on all cylinders so far this season, and the cheekpieces he sported when third at Warwick (2m) recently are dispensed with here. Still, he's dangerous to discount off this reduced mark.

Form: 33-7863

Kuraka⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: David Prichard| T: J Scott| OR: 111

8/1

Sole hurdles success was gained in a Limerick maiden for Gordon Elliott back in April 2018. On a handy mark nowadays but again showed signs of not being straightforward here in January.

Form: 53-3534

The Knot Is Tied^p,t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Andrews| T: N B King| OR: 107| C

25/1

Dotted up over 2½m at Fakenham in October, but has completely misfired there the last twice and hopes now pinned on cheekpieces (on for all 4 of his Flat wins) helping to turn the tide.

Form: 6134P4

Stratton Oakmont⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽³⁾| T: K Woollacott| OR: 106

9/1

Showed ability in bumpers and stepped up on initial hurdles efforts when third at Bangor in December. Not disgraced on subsequent handicap bow at Exeter (18.5f) and this stiffer test should help.

Form: 38-U734

Stringtoyourbow¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-1| J: Jack Tudor⁽³⁾| T: Christian Williams| OR: 95

33/1

Little impact in a trio of starts under Rules so far and while it's possible that he'll be seen in a better light now pitched into a handicap, a big step forward is certainly needed.

Form: 3-769

Forecasts

Shearer (3/1), Neon Moon (3/1), Top Of The Bill (9/2), Elham Valley (6/1), Kuraka (8/1), Stratton Oakmont (9/1), Petit Palais (22/1), The Knot Is Tied (25/1), Stringtoyourbow (33/1)

A chance is taken on ELHAM VALLEY, who appears to be working his way back to form judged on his recent Warwick effort. This step up in trip could be a good move and he's now 12 lb lower than when third in last season's Fred Winter. Shearer heads a rather long list of dangers, which also includes handicap-debutant Top of The Bill, recent Plumpton winner Neon Moon and Stratton Oakmont.