12:50 Newbury

Wednesday 20 December 2023

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:45

BetVictor Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 12:50 | Winning time: 4m 18.73s

Arthurian Fable⁸⁹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey

8/1

Useful on the Flat (stays 1¾m) for Brian Meehan. Has a long absence to overcome but worth a precautionary betting check now hurdling.

Form:

David's Well⁴¹

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

12/1

Placed on completed start in Irish points in April and showed a fair level of ability when fourth of 13 in a course bumper 6 weeks ago. Wastes no time switching to hurdles.

Form: U3-4

Denburn²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: A King

11/1

Made a winning debut in a Market Rasen bumper in May. Fifth of 10 there under a penalty 6 months later. Tackles hurdles for the first time now.

Form: 15

Diplomatic Ash

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: David Noonan| T: G & J Moore

40/1

Cost €68,000 as a 3-y-o. Dam (c127/h118), 2¾m/3m chase winner (stayed 29f), half-sister to smart hurdle winner/top-class chaser (stays 3¼m) Minella Indo. Likely to need further judged on breeding but still worth checking out in the market.

Form:

Donald Llewellyn⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| D

50/1

Remote fourth in a juvenile hurdle back in 2020. Fair 3-time winner at up to 2m on AW Flat at Kempton in the first half of 2023. Should be sharper for comeback run there last month.

Form: 4/

Fortunate Man^t⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill

9/1

€210,000 buy after winning an Irish point in April. Didn't get the chance to show what he could do on last week's Ffos Las hurdle debut, hampered and unseating early.

Form: 1-U

Harry Gulliver²¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Bryan Carver| T: A M Hales

300/1

No more than hinted at ability in a bumper and 2 maiden hurdles in the spring. Best watched back from 7 months off.

Form: 75-6

Highway One O Five²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed| T: C Gordon

28/1

Fair form first 2 runs in bumpers. Given a considerate introduction to hurdling when sixth of 10 at Kempton (2m, soft) last month. Likely to progress.

Form: 33-06

Melton Mossy³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: L Horsfall

125/1

Has hinted at ability in a bumper/maiden hurdle but unlikely to be of any interest until qualified for handicaps.

Form: 44

Pyrotechnic²⁹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

7/2

Winner on the Flat in France. Much better effort in novice hurdles for new connections when 2 lengths second of 8 at Lingfield (2m, good to soft) 29 days ago.

Form: 52

Salvatore⁵²³

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

11/2

Useful on Flat for Peter Schiergen in 2022. Claimed for €50,210 after winning over 1½m at Clairefontaine in July of that year. It's taken a bit of time for new connections to get him to the track but still an interesting runner, particularly if the betting vibes are strong.

Form:

Samazul³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling| D

40/1

Half-brother to numerous winners and won one of his 3 bumper starts last season. Didn't shape with great deal of short-term promise on last month's Exeter hurdle debut, though.

Form: 714-8

Sapperdean^h³²

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Weaver⁽⁷⁾| T: L A Dace

400/1

Poor maiden on Flat (stays 1m). Outsider now hurdling.

Form:

Shillanavogy⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: J J Burke| T: W Greatrex

125/1

Cost £65,000 after making the frame both starts in Irish points but well held in a bumper and novice hurdle at Ffos Las for his new connections.

Form: 436-5

Star Of Affinity³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: J Tizzard

20/1

Some promise when fifth in Taunton bumper and 2m Kempton novice hurdle 7 months apart. Open to progress.

Form: 5-5

Strutter^h⁴¹

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

5/2

Left his Warwick debut in April well behind when 3 lengths fourth of 13 in a course bumper 6 months later. Respected now hurdling for his top yard.

Form: 8-4

Willsburg²⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: O Signy| D

9/1

Won the first of 2 starts in bumpers but well held on 19f Ascot hurdle debut 26 days ago. Needs to leave that well behind.

Form: 1-68

Charmian's Place³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| BF

80/1

Fair form when reaching the frame in 2 bumpers in the spring. Well below that level when a remote fourth on Fakenham reappearance. Switches to hurdles now.

Form: 2-44

Non-Runners

Home Free²⁹⁸

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: D Skelton J: Harry Skelton

Rivers Corner²⁶⁵

Weight: 11-4| Age: 5

T: S Hosie J: Harry Reed

Forecasts

Strutter (5/2), Pyrotechnic (7/2), Home Free (7/2), Salvatore (11/2), Arthurian Fable (8/1), Fortunate Man (9/1), Willsburg (9/1), Denburn (11/1), David's Well (12/1), Star Of Affinity (20/1), Highway One O Five (28/1), Diplomatic Ash (40/1), Samazul (40/1), Donald Llewellyn (50/1), Charmian's Place (80/1), Rivers Corner (100/1), Shillanavogy (125/1), Melton Mossy (125/1), Harry Gulliver (300/1), Sapperdean (400/1)

HOME FREE offered enough in bumpers last season to suggest he can win races over hurdles so he gets the nod for Dan Skelton. Strutter hasn't achieved quite as much as the selection in his 2 bumpers but Nicky Henderson has won 4 of the last 5 runnings of this race so he's a must for the shortlist. Harry Derham's Salvatore has been off a while but he did show plenty on the Flat in 2022. Pyrotechnic looks pick of those with hurdle experience.