16:35 Newton Abbot

Sunday 23 July 2023

All14:3515:0515:3516:0516:3517:10

Happy 70th Birthday Steve Robinson Novices' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:35 | Winning time: 4m 0.83s

Getaway Tom^p⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 99

7/4

Confirmed previous promise to get off the mark in decisive fashion at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good to soft) a couple of months ago, just shake up to assert. Hiked up 9 lb but with better still to come from him, he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 5/8545-1

Cumhacht^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 95

14/1

Standout effort when runner-up at Ffos Las (20f, good) on penultimate start. Proved to be a disappointment back down in distance when mid-field at Uttoxeter since, so he needs to bounce back quickly.

Form: 843-326

Bala Brook²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁷⁾| T: J Tizzard| OR: 93

6/1

Failed to build on promise of his bumper debut at the second attempt in that sphere and has finished runner-up on both starts over hurdles so far at this track (21.6f, good). Makes handicap debut and worth a market check.

Form: 40-22

Sassified^p²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 85| C

6/4

Fairly useful on Flat in Ireland for Johnny Murtagh and confirmed previous promise when getting off the mark at this course (18.5f, good) 26 days ago. Up 6 lb and he may well win again now in the groove.

Form: 88-6431

Olly's Folly³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-6| J: David Noonan| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 77

28/1

Long-standing maiden who hasn't shown his form for a while but wasn't seen to best effect after 13 weeks off when mid-field in handicap over C&D last month, left with too much to do. Still looks set for another struggle.

Form: 7P5P7-6

Marley Head^t¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 80

18/1

Fair maiden on the Flat but has yet to better poor form over hurdles, though did shape better than the bare result upped in trip after a wind op when eighth at Worcester (20f, good) earlier this month. Needs to brush up his jumping if he's to feature.

Form: U6-898

Allez Allez Dancer³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-4| J: James Davies| T: Ella Pickard| OR: 75WS

80/1

Well held in maiden/novice hurdles but capable of making more of an impact now handicapping (also has had a breathing operation since last seen).

Form: 5/753

Tally's Son²⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-3| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 74

12/1

Poor strike rate on the Flat (1-42) and he's 0-10 over hurdles. Produced his best effort yet in this sphere when runner-up from 6 lb out of the weights over C&D last month but went off far too hard on his subsequent effort at Southwell (15.8f, good to soft). Must bounce back.

Form: 6P/P-726

Non-Runners

Vision Of Hope¹³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 4

T: James Owen J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Sassified (6/4), Getaway Tom (7/4), Vision Of Hope (3/1), Bala Brook (6/1), Tally's Son (12/1), Cumhacht (14/1), Marley Head (18/1), Olly's Folly (28/1), Allez Allez Dancer (80/1)

SASSIFIED opened his account in this sphere in good style here last month and now up and running, he can make light of a 6 lb rise in the weights and follow up at the expense of Getaway Tom, who got off the mark in decisive fashion at Uttoxeter a couple of months ago and there should be better still to come from him. Vision of Hope and Bala Brook can fight out minor honours.