14:00 Newbury

Tuesday 23 January 2024

All12:5013:2514:0014:3515:1015:4516:20

Newbury Welcomes Sky Sports Racing Junior 'National Hunt' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:00 | Winning time: 4m 15.35s

Valadon³³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: H Fry

85/40

Both starts at Exeter, building on a promising debut second when going one better in a small field 25 days later. Has a penalty to shoulder but he's likely capable of better. Leading claims.

Form: 21

Kabuki³¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

9/2

Made a winning start to his career in a Newcastle bumper just before Christmas. Interesting recruit to hurdles.

Form: 1

Kadiwo¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore

100/1

Half-brother to 4 winners, including smart hurdler Lucky One, but no short-term promise on recent Ludlow debut.

Form: 6

Kalif D'airy²²

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

4/1

Authorized gelding who hinted at ability when 13¾ lengths ninth of 11 to Kel Du Large in listed bumper (14/1) at Cheltenham on debut 22 days ago. Makes a quick switch to hurdles for last year's winning yard.

Form: 9

Macari¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: M Goldstein| T: Miss S West

33/1

Modest form when mid-field in 2 bumpers in November and similar story in a pair of juvenile hurdles in recent weeks. Others preferred.

Form: 7663

Marrakushi²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: M Blake

11/1

Well held in bumper/maiden hurdle for David Pipe but more encouraging signs for new stable when 15 lengths third of 11 in juvenile hurdle at Taunton just after Christmas.

Form: 9P3

Wreckless Eric

Age: 4| Weight: 11-0| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

3/1

Masterstroke gelding. Dam (c125/h122), 2¼m/19f hurdle/chase winner in France, sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser in France (17f-2¼m winner) Dianakova. Newcomer to note in the betting.

Form:

Dameofthecotswolds¹⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 103

9/1

Bumper winner. Promising first run over hurdles when second at Ludlow in December but not in anything like the same form when a remote third back there 16 days later.

Form: 5123

Non-Runners

Maria's Flame³⁴

Weight: 10-7| Age: 4

T: F O'Brien J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Valadon (85/40), Wreckless Eric (3/1), Kalif D'airy (4/1), Kabuki (9/2), Dameofthecotswolds (9/1), Marrakushi (11/1), Maria's Flame (16/1), Macari (33/1), Kadiwo (100/1)

There should be more to come from VALADON, who might be up to defying a penalty here. Newcastle bumper winner Kabuki could pose a threat if taking well to hurdling, while Gary Moore's Kalif d'Airy more than hinted at ability pitched into a Cheltenham listed bumper on debut and Gary Moore won this race last year.