13:40 Newbury

Saturday 2 December 2023

All11:5512:3013:0513:4014:1514:5015:25

Coral Racing Club Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:43 | Winning time: 4m 53.62s

Sebastopol^t,v⁷³

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: Cameron Iles⁽⁷⁾| T: T Lacey| OR: 143| BF| C

12/1

Smart chaser who capitalised on his much lower hurdles mark back from 6 months off at Newton Abbot (21.5f) in September. Didn't find a great deal for pressure when third at Kelso (20.9f) later that month but given more of a break ahead of this. Rider takes off handy 7 lb.

Form: 2P1F-13

North Lodge⁶⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 142

7/1

Low-mileage 6-y-o who won first 2 starts over hurdles (latterly Grade 2) and upped his game further in defeat, last seen posting a good third in Grade 1 Mersey at Aintree in spring 2022. Absent subsequently but unlikely to be lacking for fitness on return/handicap debut.

Form: 1123/

Anyharminasking¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 136

10/1

Has a largely progressive profile and he ran right up to his best when second on return in Welsh Champion Hurdle in October. Not in same form when ninth in last month's Greatwood Hurdle but return to less testing conditions here may help.

Form: 1/634-29

Cobblers Dream^t¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: J M Quinlan| T: B I Case| OR: 134| D

16/1

Enjoyed an excellent 2021/22 campaign, winning the Lanzarote prior to a fine second in the Martin Pipe at the Cheltenham Festival. Seen only 3 times last term but confirmed he retains plenty of ability when third on last month's return at Kempton. Another who has slipped in the weights.

Form: 20/22P-3

Rock My Way^p1¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Freddie Gingell⁽⁵⁾| T: S Hosie| OR: 133

12/1

Winning Irish pointer who landed a 2½m Grade 2 novice hurdle at Cheltenham in January. Disappointed in 2 starts thereafter but showed benefit of his reappearance run when fifth of 9 in handicap hurdle back at that venue 2 weeks ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time.

Form: 21P9-05

Jet Powered³³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 131| BF| C

5/2

350,000 gns purchase after winning sole start in Irish points and impressed when making winning hurdles debut here (16.3f) 12 months ago. Clearly not himself when well held a month later and he remains with potential now handicapping up in trip.

Form: 1/15-

Get A Tonic²⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

28/1

Won only start in Irish points and quickly made up into a useful hurdler, winning 3 times during novice campaign. Didn't kick on from a promising return display in handful of starts last season and returns to hurdles having not convinced on chase debut at Warwick last month.

Form: 24665-4

Irish Hill¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

5/1

Progressive when completing a handicap hurdle hat-trick last winter. Higher marks found him out at the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals in the spring and possible he needed the run back from 7 months off at Kempton (21f) 12 days ago.

Form: 11100-4

Uncle Bert¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 125| BF

5/1

Resumed with victory in 2m4f Perth handicap in September but seemed anchored by 9 lb rise when fourth at Chepstow (19.5f) a month later. Fell early on at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago but it does remain early days with him in handicaps at least.

Form: 41P-14F

Off To A Flyer¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard| OR: 120

10/1

Back on track when signing off last term with success in an Ayr maiden (24.3f) in April and better than bare result when midfield in 20-runner Cheltenham handicap (21f, soft) on return 2 weeks ago, losing place when badly hampered 2 out. Remains one to be interested in.

Form: 632P1-0

Non-Runners

Soaring Glory¹⁹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 8

T: J & A O'Neill J: 2nd Preference

Forecasts

Jet Powered (5/2), Uncle Bert (5/1), Irish Hill (5/1), North Lodge (7/1), Anyharminasking (10/1), Off To A Flyer (10/1), Rock My Way (12/1), Sebastopol (12/1), Cobblers Dream (16/1), Soaring Glory (20/1), Get A Tonic (28/1)

Firmly back on track when opening his account at Ayr back in the spring, OFF TO A FLYER shaped much better than the bare result on his return at Cheltenham 2 weeks ago and he's well worth another chance to prove his revised mark a workable one. Jet Powered and North Lodge are a couple of fascinating contenders back from absences and they need factoring in. Cobblers Dream is another worth a look.