12:10 Newbury

Friday 1 December 2023

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Coral Get Closer To The Action 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:10 | Winning time: 4m 3.23s

Centara²³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| D

11/4

Mirrored her dam by making an impressive winning bumper debut at Taunton in March. Ruined his chance by refusing to settle in Grade 2 at Aintree last time but still rates a good hurdle prospect.

Form: 1P-

Grasshopper Time⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales

22/1

Modest in bumpers and similar form both starts over hurdles, second in 9-runner maiden at Tramore (2m) latest. More needed on first run for new yard after leaving Roger McGrath.

Form: 7-062

Jeriko Du Reponet²⁶⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

4/11

Choeur Du Nord gelding. Dam unraced. Won only start in Irish points in March and of obvious interest having joined powerful connections. Yard has a tremendous record in this race.

Form: 1-

King William Rufus²²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon

40/1

Showed plenty when placed all 3 bumper outings last season but went backwards from hurdling debut when only seventh of 13 over C&D 22 days ago, again let down by his jumping.

Form: 232-67

Mountain Pass¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham

20/1

Showed more than in a Plumpton bumper for Oliver Sherwood 6 months earlier when fifth of 9 on Doncaster hurdle debut (16.6f, good) 2 weeks ago. May do better.

Form: 55

Plaisir Des Flos¹⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

33/1

Showed only modest form in bumpers for Thomas Gallagher but wasn't seen to anything like best effect switched to hurdles when a well-held fifth at Taunton (16.5f) 15 days ago, making late headway without being given at all a hard time. Sure to do better at some stage.

Form: 95-465

Sea Invasion¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gordon⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon

40/1

Bought for £110,000 after a promising point run but just minor encouragement in a bumper/maiden hurdle so far.

Form: 2-35

I'm On My Way²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N P Mulholland

200/1

Well held in a pair of novice hurdles 20 months apart.

Form: S3P0/0

Non-Runners

Heard That¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 4

T: O Murphy J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Jeriko Du Reponet (4/11), Centara (11/4), Mountain Pass (20/1), Grasshopper Time (22/1), Plaisir Des Flos (33/1), Heard That (33/1), King William Rufus (40/1), Sea Invasion (40/1), I'm On My Way (200/1)

Nicky Henderson has introduced some smart ones in this race over the years and JERIKO DU REPONET could be another having joined him following an Irish point success in March. Centara created a good impression on his bumper debut at Taunton and strikes as the obvious threat.