15:10 Stratford

Monday 9 October 2023

All14:0514:4015:1015:4016:1016:4517:15

Newport Recycling Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:12 | Winning time: 4m 1.20s

Captain Attridge¹⁴⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Henry Oliver

22/1

Fair maiden on the Flat (stays 1¼m) who looks a work-in-progress over hurdles, third of 10 in novice hurdle at Ludlow (15.8f, good) in May. Should progress further on his return.

Form: 60-3

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Dixie Flyer^t⁵³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: R P McLernon| T: S Curran| OR: 112

9/2

Fair ex-Irish hurdler. Came in a below-par eighth of 11 in handicap at Tramore (16f, good) on his final run for Henry De Bromhead.but holds leading form claims if back on song for his new yard here.

Form: 0/360-58

Global Esteem^t³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Liam Harrison| T: F O'Brien

10/1

Fairly useful 1m handicapper on Flat for John Gallagher, ninth in 1m Ascot handicap last month. Much respected on his hurdles/yard debut.

Form:

Kenzai Warrior⁴⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: R A Teal| OR: 104

5/1

Fairly useful winner on Flat. Good second in 2m Worcester novice in June but only ninth in handicap there 48 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 425-29

Blackacre⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

125/1

Back in trip when only ninth of 11 in novice hurdle at Newton Abbot (16.8f, soft) 7 days ago. Sort to do better once qualified for handicaps.

Form: 3-59

Footloose Man^h,t1²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: R Hobson

18/1

Modest maiden hurdler who wasn't disgraced when fifth of 11 in novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) 20 days ago. Tongue strap on for 1st time with more needed if he's to get off the mark.

Form: 23445

Jormungandr⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: D J Jeffreys

200/1

Nathaniel gelding who showed a bit when fifth on Southwell bumper debut but he beat only one on his hurdles debut at Fontwell last time. Lots more is required.

Form: 57

Mountain Bay¹⁸²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins

200/1

Has offered little in bumpers at Fontwell and Plumpton this winter. Off 6 months ahead of his hurdles debut with lots to prove.

Form: 97-

Schmilsson³⁸⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

7/2

Fairly useful 10f winner on Flat in 2022. Gelded and bought from Andrew Balding 40,000 gns so he's an interesting hurdling debutant despite his long absence for a yard among the winners.

Form:

Shetland Tony³⁴⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 114

7/2

Fair maiden hurdler for Gordon Elliott. Returns from 11 months off now but new yard is going well so he can't be discounted.

Form: U4356-

Shinji^h¹⁷⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: B S Hughes| T: M Keighley| D

4/1

Proved a class apart in Fakenham bumper for Roger Varian (subsequently sold £60,000) in November. Good third in listed bumper at Newbury after but well held in a hood in Aintree Grade 2 bumper in April. Very much one to consider now going hurdling.

Form: 130-

Forecasts

Shetland Tony (7/2), Schmilsson (7/2), Shinji (4/1), Dixie Flyer (9/2), Kenzai Warrior (5/1), Global Esteem (10/1), Footloose Man (18/1), Captain Attridge (22/1), Blackacre (125/1), Mountain Bay (200/1), Jormungandr (200/1)

The market should reveal plenty here but Olly Murphy has his string in excellent nick so his SCHMILSSON, a fairly useful Flat winner for Andrew Balding, is taken to defy a long absence and go in at the first time of asking in this sphere. Shinji brings fairly useful bumper form to the table and is greatly respected on his hurdles bow, while the ex-Irish pair Dixie Flyer and Shetland Tony have the form to play a part too if at their best on their respective debuts for new handlers.