14:49 Newton Abbot

Saturday 16 April 2022

All12:3013:0013:3714:1414:4915:2415:5916:34

Fudge Bassett Memorial 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:50 | Winning time: 4m 30.8s

Ardenay⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams

40/1

Well held in 2 Exeter bumpers ahead of this switch to hurdles.

Form: 66

Crafty²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Mitford-Slade

125/1

50/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Exeter (21.5f, soft) on debut 25 days ago.

Form: P

Dom Bosco⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George

28/1

Showed a bit in his 2 bumpers but pulled up on Exeter hurdle debut in February.

Form: 36P

Extraordinary Man³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 110| BF

10/3

Fair hurdler. 7/4, bit below form fourth of 10 in novice hurdle at Huntingdon (2m, soft) 31 days ago, once again not seeing his race out. Should be thereabouts but vulnerable to anything with potential.

Form: 7-52394

Herecomeshogan²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: James Best| T: M Keighley

40/1

Poor form. 66/1, pulled up in novice hurdle at Southwell (2m, good to soft) 26 days ago, tailing off end of back straight.

Form: 3973P

Holerday Ridge^h,t¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: Claire Hitch| C

80/1

Fair bumper winner but he's yet to match that form in 3 outings in this sphere, pulling up last twice. Plenty to prove at present.

Form: 817PP

Kingsand Bay^h1³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris

28/1

No show in a bumper and maiden hurdle for Nicky Henderson this year but still early days and his new yard has had an excellent season. Hooded first time.

Form: 8P

Light Em Up Nigel³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: H Cobden| T: Nicky Martin| OR: 119

11/10

Promising sort. 20/1, much improved when second of 9 in maiden hurdle at Exeter (17f, heavy) 36 days ago. Hard to beat with a repeat.

Form: 2/0-42

San Giovanni⁶¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 110

4/1

Made sound start over hurdles for new yard when 9 lengths third of 18 at Wincanton on return. Has gone backwards from that twice since (remote third latest) but this race lacks depth and he should figure.

Form: 50-303

The Big Red One²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Daniel Sansom⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

25/1

Thrice-raced maiden under NH rules. Fifth of 12 in novice hurdle (80/1) at Wincanton (2m, good) 26 days ago. Back up in trip.

Form: 4P5

Zucayan⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Slatter⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 100

13/2

Modest hurdler. 8/1, creditable third of 10 in novice at Ludlow (2m, heavy) 44 days ago.

Form: 222643

Freddie Fleetfoot²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-10| J: Sean Houlihan| T: C J Gray

150/1

Made the frame second of 2 starts in point bumpers (Mar 19). Betting should help guide to expectations on Rules debut.

Form: 54

Forecasts

Light Em Up Nigel (11/10), Extraordinary Man (10/3), San Giovanni (4/1), Zucayan (13/2), The Big Red One (25/1), Dom Bosco (28/1), Kingsand Bay (28/1), Herecomeshogan (40/1), Ardenay (40/1), Holerday Ridge (80/1), Crafty (125/1), Freddie Fleetfoot (150/1)

This looks a very good opening for LIGHT EM UP NIGEL who will be very hard to beat if reproducing anything like the level of his latest Exeter second. The likes of Extraordinary Man, San Giovanni and Zucayan can fight it out for minor honours.