14:35 Newbury

Wednesday 20 December 2023

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

BetVictor EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:36 | Winning time: 5m 34.26s

East India Express³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| D

9/4

Easy winner only start in bumpers and looked potentially useful when winning 13-runner Kempton novice (21f) in November. Big shout under a penalty with prospect of more to come.

Form: 1-1

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Gidleigh Park³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry

1/1

From a good family and having impressed when landing only start in bumpers, he ran out a good winner of an Exeter novice hurdle (16.7f) on return 30 days ago. Longer trip promises to be within range and very much one for the shortlist.

Form: 1-1

Itseemslikeit²⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

16/1

Shaped like a stayer when fourth in a Chepstow bumper in October and, ridden to make use of his stamina, ran out a good winner of a Ffos Las maiden (20f, heavy) from the front on hurdles bow 4 weeks ago. This tougher, but likely there's more to come.

Form: 3-41

Fire Flyer³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

10/3

Well-bred gelding who made a winning start in bumpers at Ascot (15.7f, good) 14 months ago. Disappointed final start last term but quickly back on track when second in listed bumper at Cheltenham (16.4f) on return last month. Exciting prospect now hurdling.

Form: 17-2

Jolyjump²³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

100/1

€40,000 3-y-o, Kapgarde gelding. Easy to back and ultimately shaped like a longer-term project when seventh of 10 in novice hurdle at Kempton (2m) on debut 23 days ago. Up in trip.

Form: 7

Last In Line²⁶⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Davies| T: G Deacon

400/1

Saddler's Rock gelding. Half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Norse Legend. Well held eighth of 9 in a Fontwell bumper on debut back in April. Passed over now hurdling.

Form: 8-

Pic Roc²⁵⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: B Pauling

40/1

Mount Nelson gelding who progressed with each start in bumpers, second of 9 at Chepstow (2m) back in April. No reason why he won't make his mark over timber.

Form: 532-

Theformismighty⁵²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton

33/1

Expensive point winner who offered something to work on when fifth in maiden company at Aintree (20f, soft) on Rules debut in October. Yard going much better now and he should improve.

Form: 41/5

Touch Of Thunder¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Reed| T: C Poulton

80/1

Modest in bumpers and has only run to a similar level in 2 starts over hurdles in recent weeks. Likely type for handicaps.

Form: 5-576

Non-Runners

Catch Catchfire

Weight: 11-0| Age: 4

T: Ian Williams J: Tom Cannon

Champetre⁵²

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: O Signy J: Charlie Deutsch

Sonification⁴²⁰

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Harry Derham J: Paul O'Brien

Thunder N Lightnin³⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: Harry Derham J: Brendan Powell

Forecasts

Gidleigh Park (1/1), East India Express (9/4), Fire Flyer (10/3), Itseemslikeit (16/1), Theformismighty (33/1), Sonification (33/1), Thunder N Lightnin (33/1), Pic Roc (40/1), Champetre (50/1), Catch Catchfire (50/1), Touch Of Thunder (80/1), Jolyjump (100/1), Last In Line (400/1)

Penalised pair GIDLEIGH PARK and East India Express marked themselves down as useful novices when winning on their respective hurdling debuts and rate the pair to focus on. The former gets the nod to maintain his 100% record now upped in trip. Fire Flyer, a useful bumper recruit, is also highly respected on hurdles bow. Itseemslikeit is another worth keeping an eye on.