13:55 Newbury

Saturday 26 November 2022

All12:1512:4513:2013:5514:3015:0515:40

Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:55 | Winning time: 4m 59.0s

Petit Tonnerre³⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 12-0| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 139

14/1

Winner of both starts over hurdles in France and overcame a late scare to score on his debut for current yard at Market Rasen (16.5f) in February. Pulled up in Aintree Grade 1 final start but very much back on track when 1¼ lengths third of 11 to Peking Rose in 2½m Aintree handicap on return.

Form: 111P-3

Porticello²⁵³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 138

6/1

Won 4 of his first 5 starts, including the Grade 1 Finale at Chepstow. Best of the British when sixth in the Triumph at Cheltenham on his final start. While he will need some improvement to defy his mark it's likely he'll have more to offer at this longer trip.

Form: 1/12116-

Red Risk²⁰³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 136

20/1

Useful chaser who was back on song when scoring over hurdles at Uttoxeter in February. Not in the same form in a couple of outings in the spring but stable's very good form of late provides the hope for better on his return to action.

Form: 35618-0

Lord Baddesley²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 133| C| D

9/2

Built on his encouraging reappearance second in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow when going one better at Plumpton (20.5f) 23 days later. Up 9 lb for that but still enters the reckoning for his in-form stable.

Form: P44F-21

Peking Rose^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 132| C

3/1

Made a winning return to action after wind surgery in a 2½m Aintree handicap (good to soft) 4 weeks ago. Raised 4 lb but there could be a bit more to come,.

Form: 31227-1

Dorking Boy^t¹⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 130| CD

33/1

Three wins last season. Off 6 months, shaped as if better for the outing when sixth of 7 on his 21f Kempton reappearance 19 days ago, forced wide and fading from 2 out. Eased 2 lb.

Form: 2251-56

Washington^h1²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-3| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 127

4/1

2-2 in bumper and also won twice in novice hurdles last season. Showed he can be competitive from his mark when third in a big-field handicap at Ascot (2m) on final start. Shaped as if better for the run when fifth of 10 on last month's reappearance there. Up in trip now. Hood also added.

Form: 23313-5

Current Mood³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| D

10/1

Won 3 times last season and was a creditable third in a 2½m Ffos Las handicap on her reappearance 5 weeks ago. More will be needed in this deeper race, though.

Form: 34310-3

Malakahna^p,t²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: C J Todd| T: Ian Williams| OR: 125| C

13/2

Progressive when racking up a hat-trick over hurdles around 2m last spring. Arrvies on the back of a pair of wins in staying handicaps on the Flat in cheekpieces (on for the first time over hurdles now) this autumn. Likely capable of better again over hurdles now stepping up to 2½m. Big player.

Form: 524111-

Non-Runners

Walking On Air²³¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: N J Henderson J: James Bowen

West Balboa³³²

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Imphal²²⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Forecasts

Walking On Air (11/4), Peking Rose (3/1), West Balboa (10/3), Washington (4/1), Lord Baddesley (9/2), Porticello (6/1), Malakahna (13/2), Current Mood (10/1), Petit Tonnerre (14/1), Red Risk (20/1), Dorking Boy (33/1), Imphal (33/1)

Given how well MALAKAHNA has stayed on the Flat this autumn it's likely she'll have more to come now stepping up to 2½m over hurdles so she's the suggestion in this ultra-competitive handicap. West Balboa, runner-up in the Grade 1 Challow over C&D when last seen, Walking On Air, who is very much an unknown quantity, and Finale-winner Porticello are other fascinating contenders in a seriously hot race.