16:00 Newton Abbot

Saturday 8 April 2023

All13:4014:1514:5015:2516:0016:3517:10

Sky Sports Racing Sky 415 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 4m 56.18s

Bampton Star^t⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 86

8/1

No impact in a trio of hurdles outings thus far, going in snatches when fifth of 12 in novice at Chepstow (19.4f, good to soft) latest.

Form: 0P5

Bob Bank¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: W T Kennedy| T: Christian Williams

50/1

Well beaten in 2 bumpers and been a similar story in both attempts over hurdles.

Form: 9680

Hammer Dan^h1,t⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Fergus Gillard⁽³⁾| T: D Pipe

33/1

Fetched £62,000 after finishing second in a maiden point in February but shown little in either start under Rules, most recently on Taunton hurdles debut 9 days ago. Tried in hood now.

Form: 207

King Conker⁵⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: R T Dunne| T: R G Hawker

50/1

Schiaparelli gelding. Dam 2½m-3m hurdle/chase winner. Makes Rules debut here. Pulled up sole start in points and looks one for the longer term.

Form: P

Knowwhentoholdem⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Mitchell Bastyan| T: M F Harris| C

8/1

Fairly useful 17f bumper winner who shaped with some encouragement, after 16 months off, when third in novice at Exeter (16.7f, good to soft) on hurdles bow last month. Not in same form at Ascot since but it's still early days in this sphere.

Form: 13-36

Red Notice⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Christian Williams

7/1

£42,000 3-y-o: first foal: dam little impact in bumpers/over hurdles, half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (stayed 25f) Ericht and useful bumper winner/fairly useful hurdler (2m winner) Celtic Folklore. Won final start between the flags in February and warrants respect on NH debut for new yard.

Form: P-P61

Tout Paris²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Philip Armson⁽³⁾| T: B Lund| OR: 70

40/1

Respectable second in Exeter novice hurdle on stable debut in February but well beaten on completed start over fences at Chepstow since. Place claims if switch back to smaller obstacles has desired effect.

Form: 005-2U7

Western General²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Kimber⁽³⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 113

1/3

Well backed and posted improved form when runner-up in Taunton handicap (16.5f, heavy) last month, pulling clear with another unexposed sort who has won again since. Returns to maiden company here and will be hard to beat.

Form: 3-242

Whynotnowroy²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Kieran Burke

50/1

Third in a bumper at Wincanton in November but offered nothing in either start over timber, including on yard bow at Chepstow last month.

Form: 309

Zufal⁷¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost

125/1

Down the field in bumper at Punchestown (16.4f, good to soft) on NH bow 23 months ago. Not seen since and can only be watched on yard/hurdles debut here.

Form: 0/

Sweet Saffron²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-13| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Mrs S Gardner

125/1

Well held in a pair of bumpers and failed to beat a rival on hurdles debut at Fontwell last month.

Form: 807

Forecasts

Western General (1/3), Red Notice (7/1), Knowwhentoholdem (8/1), Bampton Star (8/1), Hammer Dan (33/1), Tout Paris (40/1), Bob Bank (50/1), Whynotnowroy (50/1), King Conker (50/1), Zufal (125/1), Sweet Saffron (125/1)

It's hard to look past WESTERN GENERAL, who upped his game when second at Taunton last month and likely has more to offer yet. Point-winner Red Notice may prove most dangerous on his NH debut, particularly if the market vibes are strong, whilst Knowwhentoholdem can also make his presence felt.