16:05 Newbury

Friday 4 March 2022

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

Play Pick 6 At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:05 | Winning time: 6m 16.1s

Barbados Buck's^p⁶⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 135| D

16/1

Big-money buy from Irish points who proved useful over hurdles last term (won 3 times). This season has been disappointing, though, including back hurdling latest. Cheekpieces back on.

Form: 110-3PP

Who Dares Wins^p³⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 134| C

18/1

Fine dual-purpose performer over the years. Better effort over hurdles this winter when 8 lengths third of 9 at Huntingdon (25f) in January. One of 2 from his yard with a decent shout.

Form: 210/P-73

Stellar Magic^p1¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 133| D

9/2

Impressed when landing pair of novice hurdles last winter and good second in 19f Haydock handicap on return. Hasn't built on that since but perhaps headgear and a longer trip will help.

Form: 11P-2P4

Risk And Roll²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Tabitha Worsley⁽³⁾| T: H J Evans| OR: 130

7/2

In good form back hurdling for this yard, winning at Huntingdon before third past post (demoted to fourth) over C&D. Likely to be competitive again.

Form: U-4141D

Solo Saxophone²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: A M Hales| OR: 128

20/1

Has developed into a useful stayer on the Flat in recent years and second back hurdling at Wetherby in November. Not so good in hurdle and AW Flat handicap since. Has left Ben Haslam.

Form: 1322/26

Hurricane Harvey³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 128| D

11/1

Improved sent chasing last season, winning twice, notably Grade 2. Good third in Badger Ales at Wincanton in November but hasn't come close to reproducing that twice since. Back hurdling now.

Form: P8-4358

Scarpia²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| BF

14/1

Career best when making all at Plumpton (25) at the end of January. Blotted his copybook by running out at Doncaster the following week.

Form: 15-281R

Coeur de Lion^p²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 123

11/2

Useful on the Flat, including scoring at Royal Ascot in 2020. Similar standard over hurdles, shaping well when second (Risk And Roll narrowly behind) over C&D 20 days ago. Taken to go one better now.

Form: 58/6U-92

Guerlain De Vaux⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: J J Burke| T: O Sherwood| OR: 121

6/1

Showed plenty in a bumper and unbeaten in 2 over hurdles, showing a good attitude to land a 6-runner novice at Catterick in January. Potential for better again now handicapping.

Form: 511

Potters Hedger^b²³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: L Wadham| OR: 120| D

12/1

Suited by emphasis on stamina when winning at Haydock (3m) last winter. Best effort this term when fourth back at Haydock on penultimate start. Starting to look well treated but need to see bit more.

Form: 503-643

Vive Le Roi³⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-1| J: J E Moore| T: A W Carroll| OR: 110| CD

10/1

Losing run stretches back to November 2018 and he doesn't look the force of old, finishing only fifth in a claimer last time. Would be a surprise winner.

Form: 65-64P5

Forecasts

Risk And Roll (7/2), Stellar Magic (9/2), Coeur de Lion (11/2), Guerlain De Vaux (6/1), Vive Le Roi (10/1), Hurricane Harvey (11/1), Potters Hedger (12/1), Scarpia (14/1), Barbados Buck's (16/1), Who Dares Wins (18/1), Solo Saxophone (20/1)

COEUR DE LION hasn't actually had too many attempts over this sort of trip over hurdles and is taken to build on his good second over C&D last month. The unexposed Guerlain de Vaux has the potential for better now handicapping. Risk And Roll wasn't too far behind the selection last time and completes the shortlist.