16:10 Newbury

Friday 24 March 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

Download The BetVictor App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:23 | Winning time: 6m 21.95s

Ballymagroarty Boy^b¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 12-2| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 117

5/1

Sole success to date was gained in a Haydock handicap hurdle back in December 2018 but appears to retain plenty of ability judged on solid placed efforts on last 4 starts in this sphere. Trip/ground fine and likely to be on the premises once more.

Form: 623U32

Haas Boy^t¹²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-1| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 116

12/1

Bagged 2m maiden at Huntingdon last spring and would have made a winning handicap debut but for falling at Ludlow on return. Not at the same level in 3 subsequent starts, for all that he was a creditable second at Market Rasen (20.6f) recently, and more needed now upped in trip.

Form: 12-F452

Sporting Mike^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Luca Morgan| T: B Pauling| OR: 115| D

11/1

Point winner who made a successful handicap debut in this sphere at Southwell (20.4f) in November. However, latest effort wasn't particularly inspiring and, still 14 lb above his Southwell mark, he needs to take a step forward now moving up in trip.

Form: 431247

Ernest Gray²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 115| D

5/1

Useful dual bumper winner who appeared to improve for the step up to 24.4f/switch to handicap company when landing a 4-runner contest at Doncaster (24.4f) 3 weeks ago. 6 lb rise fair enough and while this is tougher, he has low mileage and may well have more to offer.

Form: 10-4541

Raddon Top^p²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 115| D

28/1

Landed hat-trick of handicap hurdles at Exeter last term and built on promising chasing debut when landing an 8-runner handicap there (3m) in January. Both subsequent efforts have been lacklustre and needs to bounce back now returned to this sphere.

Form: 23315P

Howaya Now⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 113

11/1

Made the frame both completed starts in Irish points and placed twice in maiden hurdles (the latest when upped to 23.3f at Uttoxeter) since embarking on a career under Rules. Yard in good nick and this 5-y-o may do better now pitched into a handicap but a sizeable chunk of improvement is needed.

Form: 2F-4253

No Tackle⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: R T Dunne| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 113

28/1

Just modest in bumpers but showed much improved form to get off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles in a heavy-ground Lingfield maiden (19.5f) in December. Only eighth in handicap at Ffos Las tried in a tongue strap (discarded here) last time, though, and needs to get back on track.

Form: 7-7418

Way Out^h¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Nick Scholfield| T: S Hosie| OR: 112| BF| D

28/1

Off the mark in Irish points at the third attempt and displayed plenty of ability on first 2 starts in bumpers. Runner-up twice from 4 starts in this sphere, too, but will need to improve for the switch to handicap company/step up in trip if he's to open his hurdles account here.

Form: 302862

Island Run¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 110

7/2

Found some improvement when proving 1¾ lengths too strong for Ballymagroarty Boy over 24.7f at Wincanton recently, jumping with greater fluency than is usually the case. Couldn't grumble with a 4 lb rise and another bold show likely, provided his jumping is again on point.

Form: 13-4261

Ballycamus²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 107| D

11/1

Scored on handicap debut at Hereford last spring and best effort since when just touched off here (20.5f) 3 weeks ago. Step back up in trip shouldn't be an issue (didn't appear to fail through lack of stamina tried over 3¼m at Fontwell last year) and he's an each-way player.

Form: 41-35P2

Shot Boii^v¹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 107| D

7/1

Has returned an improved model, completing the hat-trick in determined fashion at Uttoxeter on New Year's Eve. Did little wrong when hitting the crossbar in a first-time visor (retained) at Wetherby (3m) last time but continues to edge up the weights and this demands a clear personal best.

Form: 111422

Grey D'alco¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: R Rowe| OR: 105| D

12/1

Winning pointer who has made the frame on a couple of occasions in this sphere but hasn't made any impact switched to handicap company the last twice.

Form: 1-3449P

Non-Runners

Young Butler³⁰

Weight: 12-1| Age: 7

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Joe Anderson

General Probus¹²⁶

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: Kieran Burke J: Non Runner

Some Scope³²

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: R Hobson J: G Sheehan

Coillte Eile³¹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 10

T: A West J: Lee Edwards

Forecasts

Island Run (7/2), Ballymagroarty Boy (5/1), Ernest Gray (5/1), Shot Boii (7/1), General Probus (10/1), Some Scope (10/1), Ballycamus (11/1), Howaya Now (11/1), Sporting Mike (11/1), Haas Boy (12/1), Grey D'alco (12/1), Coillte Eile (14/1), Young Butler (16/1), Way Out (28/1), Raddon Top (28/1), No Tackle (28/1)

The vote goes to GENERAL PROBUS, who returned from a two-year absence with a solid effort in defeat upped to this trip at Ascot in November and he will surely have a big part to play if all is well following a break. Island Run is greatly respected on the back of his recent Wincanton success but Ernest Gray, who remains relatively unexposed, is feared most. Ballymagroarty Boy, Ballycamus and handicap-debutant Some Scope are others to consider.