16:00 Newbury

Friday 3 March 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3017:05

Play Pick 6 At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 55.18s

Bothwell Bridge²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Sean O'Briain⁽¹⁰⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131

5/1

Lost the plot after making a winning chase debut in December 2021 but better signs back hurdling when fifth of 14 in 3m Sandown handicap 4 weeks ago. Claims if he can build on that.

Form: 1FPP-P5

Hurricane Harvey^t²⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Hogan⁽⁵⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 129| D

6/1

Has looked hard work on occasions but very much in the mood when winning staying handicap hurdles at Uttoxeter and Ludlow around the turn of the year. Respectable fifth of 13 at Musselburgh (3m) since.

Form: 7P8115

Up The Straight⁴⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 128

22/1

Resumed winning ways when landing a handicap chase at Sandown on final start of last term. Second on Fontwell reappearance in September but pulled up on both outings since. Remains to be seen if a return to hurdling sparks a revival.

Form: P31-2PP

Getalead^t⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-9| J: David Prichard⁽⁵⁾| T: Claire Harris| OR: 126

8/1

Added to his tally with pair of small-field victories in September. Ran below that level on 2 of his 3 starts since, well held sixth of 7 to Hurricane Harvey at Ludlow (3m, soft) on latest 8 weeks ago.

Form: F11656

Emitom⁶⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 122| C| D

10/3

Grade 2 winning hurdler in 2020. Proved he retains abillity when fourth on his Ludlow reappearance in November. Ran a stinker at Kelso the following month but is well treated if a subsequent change of stable has a reviving effect.

Form: 32PP-4P

Hyland⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122

15/2

Won 2 handicaps last spring but faded to finish a remote third of 4 on his 19f Taunton return in December. Steps up in trip back from a further 3 months off. One of 2 runners from his top stable.

Form: 313-213

Halifax^t⁷^{(ex 7)}

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 107

2/1

Placed several times prior to gaining an overdue first success at Exeter (23f) a week ago. Carries a 7 lb penalty. Likely to give another good account of himself.

Form: 523421

Non-Runners

Spike Jones³¹

Weight: 10-8| Age: 6

T: S Drinkwater J: Danny Burton

Forecasts

Halifax (2/1), Emitom (10/3), Bothwell Bridge (5/1), Hurricane Harvey (6/1), Spike Jones (7/1), Hyland (15/2), Getalead (8/1), Up The Straight (22/1)

BOTHWELL BRIDGE is given a chance to build on his fifth in a competitive heat at Sandown with Sean O'Briain, who has partnered a couple of winners in recent days, taking a handy 10 lb off. The consistent Spike Jones and last week's Exeter scorer Halifax are likely to be thereabouts, while Emitom is worth a betting check on first outing for new trainer Alan King.