16:17 Newton Abbot

Saturday 2 September 2023

All14:3215:0715:4215:4316:1716:5217:27

Neil Evans Memorial Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:18 | Winning time: 5m 2.77s

Sebastopol^t,v¹⁸²

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 138

7/1

Smart chaser who proved better than ever when seeing off Stage Star in a Grade 2 Newbury novice in November. Departed before the race began in earnest there back from a break in March but was good third in the 2022 Swinton Hurdle on latest start in this sphere and merits respect.

Form: 412P1F-

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Caius Marcius^p³³

Age: 12| Weight: 11-6| J: B S Hughes| T: N G Richards| OR: 130| CD

9/2

Admirable veteran who has landed 4 handicap hurdles since October, the latest gained over this C&D when returning from a break at the end of July. This is more demanding up 6 lb but he's a player nonetheless.

Form: 3111-31

Francky Du Berlais^t⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-5| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 129| CD

13/2

Eye-catching third in a 21.4f handicap chase at Market Rasen in June and shaped better than the bare result over the same C&D next time. However, failed to make a meaningful impact returned to this sphere at Cartmel last time and looks vulnerable.

Form: 5R0-305

Fix At All⁴²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 124

15/2

Landed a brace of hunters at Ludlow at the end of last season for Michael Scudamore and performed well on yard debut when runner-up in a Market Rasen handicap chase in June. Not disgraced there next time but on a tough-looking mark for his hurdles debut on these shores (2-6 over timber in France).

Form: P11-228

Get Back Get Back^t⁷⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: Ben Bromley⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 123

9/1

Jumped better than usual when resuming with impressive success in 2m Kempton handicap in November and bounced back to a similar level when runner-up at Plumpton in April. Failed to threaten on the Flat last time, though, and stamina to prove back up in trip here.

Form: 3/4142-8

Pyramid Place^h²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Bradley Harris⁽⁵⁾| T: M F Harris| OR: 121| D

9/2

Winner of 2 of his last 3 hurdles starts, both over 2¾m at Cartmel, and creditable third over this C&D in between. Failed to fire on the Flat recently but it would be no surprise were he to pick up where left off in this sphere and play a leading role. Yard also saddles Songo.

Form: 44-5131

Songo^h³³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Cobden| T: M F Harris| OR: 120| CD

7/2

Developed into a fairly useful performer on the Flat last year, winning three times, and has left previous hurdles form behind of late, landing the odds in a pair of C&D novice events with minimum fuss under Harry Cobden. More on his plate now handicapping in this sphere but he's clearly talented.

Form: 49U4/11

Edison Kent⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: James Owen| OR: 108

11/1

Winner of a big-field Killarney maiden hurdle for Jessica Harrington back in May 2021. Largely struggled since and offered little in 2 starts for Paul Webber but wouldn't be the first to benefit from the switch to this yard and he's one to note in the betting.

Form: 0/P95-9P

Forecasts

Songo (7/2), Pyramid Place (9/2), Caius Marcius (9/2), Francky Du Berlais (13/2), Sebastopol (7/1), Fix At All (15/2), Get Back Get Back (9/1), Edison Kent (11/1)

Milton Harris fields strong candidates in PYRAMID PLACE and Songo. The latter will prove popular following back-to-back C&D novice wins and is accorded plenty of respect. However, his jumping will face a sterner test now pitched into handicap company and Pyramid Place, who was at the top of his game in this sphere prior to a low-key run on the Flat, is preferred at the likely prices. In-form veteran Caius Marcius and Sebastopol are others to consider, while Edison Kent is also worth a look.