16:10 Newbury

Saturday 11 February 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:43

Daily Tips On betting.betfair.com Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:11 | Winning time: 3m 47.2s

Holetown Hero^t⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 121| D

7/4

Progressive in bumpers and also going the right way over hurdles, opening his account with something in hand in a Taunton maiden in December and following up under a penalty there (19f) just 4 days ago. Will need to pull out more to concede weight all round in a warmer event here, though.

Form: 52-4411

Ace Rothstein¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Martin Smith

80/1

Fairly useful performer on Flat (stays 11.5f) but ran a long way below that level when well held on hurdling debut at Huntingdon 15 days ago.

Form: 8

Arqoob¹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| BF

10/3

Useful handicapper on Flat for William Jarvis (stays 1¼m). Did well under circumstances when runner-up on Huntingdon hurdle debut just over 2 weeks ago having jumped tentatively throughout and seems sure to improve.

Form: 2

Benefact⁴³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N J Henderson

66/1

In a top yard and has a useful pedigree but just minor promise in a bumper/novice hurdle so far.

Form: 50

Love Is Golden¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

11/1

Fairly useful handicapper on Flat, stays 12.5f, not seen to best effect last time. Sold from Charlie Johnston for 40,000 gns later in October. Not dismissed on hurdle debut.

Form:

Russian Ruler^t1⁴⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| BF| DWS

5/2

Warwick bumper winner who was fifth in a Kempton Grade 2 novice on second of his 2 hurdle starts last term. Did too much too soon when third on his return here (20.5f) in November and lost shoe/finished lame when pulled up at Chepstow the following month. Had breathing op since. Also tongue tied.

Form: 135-3P

Starevitch¹⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

33/1

Irish point winner who was third in his only bumper and has shaped with some promise on both starts over hurdles after a long absence, but will be of more interest in handicaps after this.

Form: 13/55

Time To Dazzle

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore

20/1

£27,000 3-y-o, Zambezi Sun gelding. Dam, ran once in bumper/twice in points, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/useful chaser (stayed 21f) Le Toscan. Market for clues.

Form:

Way Out¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Hosie

11/1

Off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt and displayed plenty of ability on first 2 starts in bumpers. Showed plenty to work on with a hood fitted when runner-up on Taunton hurdling debut (19f, soft) but was well held upped in grade at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago.

Form: 1-23028

Non-Runners

Rath Gaul Hill⁵¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 5

T: S Drinkwater J: Brendan Powell

Abbeyhill⁴³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: N P Mulholland J: Danny McMenamin

Forecasts

Holetown Hero (7/4), Russian Ruler (5/2), Arqoob (10/3), Rath Gaul Hill (10/1), Love Is Golden (11/1), Way Out (11/1), Time To Dazzle (20/1), Starevitch (33/1), Benefact (66/1), Ace Rothstein (80/1), Abbeyhill (100/1)

ARQOOB, a useful performer on the Flat, did well to finish runner-up on his recent Huntingdon hurdling debut considering he jumped tentatively throughout, so he's fancied to show the benefit of that initial experience and go one better here. Russian Ruler had excuses at Chepstow and is likely to benefit from the drop back in trip, with hat-trick seeker Holetown Hero also respected for all he has more on his plate now.