14:25 Newbury

Thursday 9 November 2023

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:10

Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 15.38s

Bold Endeavour^p¹⁸⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 143| D

4/1

Won twice in this sphere as a novice for Laura Morgan and successful first 2 starts over fences for Nicky Henderson last season. Ended that campaign with a series of creditable efforts back hurdling, but no easy task under top-weight back from a break here.

Form: 11252-2

Our Power²⁰⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Adam Wedge| T: S Thomas| OR: 139| C| D

18/1

Improving and likeable chaser who bagged valuable 3m handicaps at Ascot and Kempton last season. Ran well for a long way in the Grand National when last seen in April, but may prove vulnerable back hurdling for the first time since March 2021.

Form: 135/110-

Zanza^b²³⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 138| C

25/1

Enhanced his very good course record when posting a big career best to land a Grade 2 chase in February. However, he ran no sort of a race returned to this sphere, again at this course, on final start of last season.

Form: 217147-

Dolphin Square^p²⁰⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Mr D Maxwell⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 137| CD

18/1

Perfect start to last season when arriving late on the scene to land a competitive handicap at Sandown (23.5f, soft). Ended that campaign on a low-key note, but he resumes on an attractive mark and his record when fresh is a selling point.

Form: 1/14080-

Grumpy Charley²⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: Finn Lambert⁽⁵⁾| T: C Honour| OR: 134| C

50/1

Multiple hurdles winner who got right back to that level when landing a handicap chase here (3¼m, soft) on New Year's Eve. Pulled up both subsequent starts, but he certainly wouldn't be without hope if on-song back hurdling following 8 months off.

Form: P7/P1PP-

Hititi^t²¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryan Carver| T: R Walford| OR: 130| D

14/1

Ended last season on a high, completing the hat-trick with a bit left up his sleeve at Taunton (3m, good to soft) in April, making it 5-11 in this sphere in the process. This career-high mark demands further progress, but he will be a threat if able to pick up where he left off.

Form: 342111-

Only The Bold^p,t²³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 129| BF| DWS

40/1

Fairly useful hurdles winner for Evan Williams and proved a different proposition over fences in headgear for present connections last term, scoring at Bangor and Hereford. However, he failed to fire at Haydock when last seen in March (since undergone a wind op) and looks vulnerable back hurdling.

Form: 602/114-

Emitom²⁵¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 127| CD

9/1

Grade 2 winning hurdler earlier in his career who justified support when making a winning yard debut from his much-reduced mark over C&D (good to firm) in March. Remains with plenty of handicapping scope on old form and has to be of interest on seasonal bow.

Form: 2PP/4P1-

Martha Brae¹⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124

25/1

Consistent last season and gained due reward when adding to her tally at Hereford (25.5f, good to soft) in March. Matched that form when runner-up from revised mark at Warwick the following month, but will need to raise her game if she's to make a winning reappearance in this contest.

Form: 422212-

Young Butler^p¹⁹²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 121| D

7/1

Won twice in this sphere in 2021/22 and notched third success when accounting for 7 rivals at Kempton (24.5f, soft) in March. However, he again made hard work of things and is probably worth taking on up 5 lb for new yard following a 6-month absence.

Form: URP43-1

Equinus¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 117

1/1

Made a successful handicap debut at Ffos Las in January and doubled his tally in good style on return at Aintree (24.7f, soft) recently. Escapes a penalty for that and, unexposed as a stayer, this 5-y-o may well have more to offer.

Form: 2103U-1

Non-Runners

Fifty Ball³³

Weight: 10-5| Age: 8

T: G & J Moore J: N F Houlihan

Forecasts

Equinus (1/1), Bold Endeavour (4/1), Young Butler (7/1), Emitom (9/1), Hititi (14/1), Our Power (18/1), Dolphin Square (18/1), Martha Brae (25/1), Zanza (25/1), Fifty Ball (25/1), Only The Bold (40/1), Grumpy Charley (50/1)

Though there's still plenty of room for EQUINUS to improve in the jumping department, he clearly has a good engine and will prove a tough nut to crack with no penalty to carry for his recent reappearance success in a conditionals' event under James Turner at Aintree. Emitom scored over C&D on debut for the Alan King yard when last seen in March and, still on a good mark up 5 lb, he could be the one to follow the selection home. Dolphin Square goes well fresh and merits respect, too.