14:27 Newbury

Saturday 5 March 2022

All13:1513:5014:2715:0215:3716:1216:47

Download The BetVictor App Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:27 | Winning time: 4m 5.50s

Mark Of Gold¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118| D

7/2

Fairly useful winner on the Flat and improving over hurdles, landing the odds in maiden/novice company at Plumpton last 2 starts. Opening mark looks very fair.

Form: 5211

Sherborne³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 114| D

14/1

Modest form in bumpers but confirmed the promise of his hurdles debut when landing big-field novice at Lingfield in November (2m). Disappointing handicap bow at Huntingdon but now back in trip.

Form: 24-418

Pearly Island²⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 113

18/1

Left previous efforts well behind when second of 13 at Fontwell a month ago. Opening mark has taken a hit as a result and he must brush up his jumping to progress.

Form: 5-362

John Betjeman^b²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 110| BF| D

11/1

Is knocking on the door, placed in a competitive handicap fr the third time in a row at Bangor 3 weeks ago. Same mark here but lacks the scope of a couple.

Form: 952223

Madiba Passion³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 110

33/1

Expensive acquisition from points (dual winner) but clearly had his share of issues given his hurdles outings were 27 months apart. In good hands and now goes handicapping.

Form: P1384/3

Punctuation^t⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 106| D

11/8

Fairly useful on Flat, (stays 1¾m) and fitted with a tongue tie, he cashed in on a lowly hurdles mark starting out for Fergal O'Brien in January. 11 lb rise may not prevent follow up.

Form: 46-591

Flinteur Sacre⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: N J Henderson| OR: 104| D

12/1

Brother to Sprinter Sacre and easily won a Kempton bumper in early 2020. Hasn't lived up to expectations over hurdles though, typically too free behind Punctuation at Warwick. Hood off.

Form: 1/40-496

Irish Hill⁴²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 107| BF| D

4/1

Fairly useful on the Flat in Germany and well backed, he made a winning hurdles debut at Taunton last month, left in front. Headgear on and was brushed aside at Ascot but worth another chance.

Form: 13

Fred Bear²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West| OR: 104| D

66/1

Runner-up twice prior to making all in juvenile company at Stratford in August. Limitations exposed in defeat since and remains vulnerable to improvers.

Form: 163543

Forecasts

Punctuation (11/8), Mark Of Gold (7/2), Irish Hill (4/1), John Betjeman (11/1), Flinteur Sacre (12/1), Sherborne (14/1), Pearly Island (18/1), Madiba Passion (33/1), Fred Bear (66/1)

PUNCTUATION justified support in good style starting out for Fergal O'Brien in January and, given his Flat form, this revised mark ought to be within range. Mark of Gold is a big threat on handicap debut, while it would be no surprise to see Irish Hill get back on the up.