15:15 Newton Abbot

Friday 7 July 2023

All14:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:35

Mary Hooper Retiring After 50 Years Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:16 | Winning time: 5m 13.16s

Clapton Hill^t1²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Lorcan Williams| T: B Pauling| OR: 97

9/2

Shaped well when placed only start in bumpers but record over hurdles is patchy, only sixth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Aintree (20f, good to firm) 21 days ago. Player on pick of efforts though with tongue strap on 1st time.

Form: 334P-46

Oval Street⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Theo Gillard| T: Mark Gillard

50/1

Three-time point winner showed up well for a long way before taking a fall late on his hunter debut at Stratford last year. Little promise when down the field at Fakenham in May, though, and has plenty to prove making yard/hurdles debut here.

Form: F4P24-4

Sandalwood^p,t⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 96

4/6

Has improved for the step up to 3m+ this spring, passing the post first at Taunton (subsequently disqualified after impeding the runner-up) before second at Plumpton. Dropped in trip but should go well again for top yard.

Form: U875D-2

Supreme Johnson¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Lucy Gardner| T: Mrs S Gardner

16/1

Dual point winner made the frame once from 3 starts in bumpers for M. Osborne. Shaped reasonably well when fourth of 8 in novice hurdle at this C&D (good, 20/1) on hurdles bow 10 days ago, in contention until weakening from the home turn, but a step forward is required.

Form: P-3P474

Just Hannah^h1,t³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: C Gethings| T: A Ralph| OR: 101

4/1

Point winner showed modest form in Ireland for Donal Commins and then Charles Byrnes, failing to land a gamble for the latter yard when eighth of 14 in novice hurdle (11/4) at Tramore (21.6f, good) 34 days ago. Others preferred.

Form: 585U-98

Musical Mistress^t1¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: James Best| T: L Hurley

300/1

Pulled up sole start in points and on Rules debut over C&D last month. Tongue strap applied but she's impossible to fancy.

Form: PP

My Keepsake^p1⁴⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: David Noonan| T: Miss G Haywood| OR: 74

25/1

Fair in bumpers but has yet to come close to matching that form over hurdles, no improvement for the application of blinkers in a Doncaster handicap (24.4f, soft) when last seen 18 months ago. Hard to warm to having since left Philip Hobbs.

Form: 98/3-RU1

Chosen Bae⁴⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: R Potter

12/1

Mount Nelson filly from the family of useful hurdler/high-class staying chaser Burton Port. Runner-up on debut in Irish points before coming home last of 3 finishers latest. Market can guide as to expectations.

Form: 223

Non-Runners

Presenting Nelly²⁵

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Bridget Andrews

Summerleaze³⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 6

T: T Dennis J: Sean Houlihan

Forecasts

Sandalwood (4/6), Just Hannah (4/1), Presenting Nelly (4/1), Clapton Hill (9/2), Summerleaze (12/1), Chosen Bae (12/1), Supreme Johnson (16/1), My Keepsake (25/1), Oval Street (50/1), Musical Mistress (300/1)

PRESENTING NELLY shaped well until her absence told when making her hurdles debut at Southwell late last month. She's fancied to add to her bumper success with improvement anticipated, though Sandalwood is a threat after good efforts in handicaps on his last 2 outings. Clapton Hill has struggled for consistency over hurdles but he also possesses the ability to get involved if putting his best foot forward.