13:50 Newbury

Friday 1 March 2024

All13:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Howden Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:51 | Winning time: 5m 31.00s

Hercules Morse³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Beau Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 117

17/2

Blue Bresil gelding who struck at the third time of asking over hurdles in Ffos Las maiden (2½m, soft) over a year ago. Probably needed run when sixth in handicap at Exeter on only start since and he's still unexposed.

Form: 351-6

Knockanore^p¹⁰⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Finn Lambert| T: R Potter| OR: 117

28/1

A dual hurdles winner last term and he resumed with a good third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Aintree. Fell at Cheltenham next time but has been given time to recover.

Form: P371-3F

Farmer's Gamble^p⁹⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽³⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 117

20/1

Scored over C&D last season and looked back to form before falling in a handicap chase at Uttoxeter 3 months ago. Returns to smaller obstacles on a reasonable mark.

Form: 2210-PF

Sizing Pottsie^t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Gearoid Harney⁽⁶⁾| T: D Pipe| OR: 115

28/1

Smart chaser for Jessica Harrington in 2021/22 and, on his first run following another breathing op, he hit the crossbar in a 2m Uttoxeter handicap (heavy) in November. That form hasn't worked out, though, and he's run poorly since.

Form: P9-2644

Douglas Dc¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Lily Pinchin| T: A W Carroll| OR: 115

33/1

A fairly useful hurdler in Ireland for Gordon Elliott who shaped well on his yard debut when fourth in a handicap at Ascot (15.7f) in December. Has shaped as if still in form since.

Form: 974523

Thunderclap²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: N F Houlihan| T: H Morrison| OR: 114| D

9/2

12/1, career best when winning 10-runner handicap hurdle at Kempton (21f, soft) 21 days ago, suited by increase in trip. May well have more to offer and he makes plenty of appeal.

Form: 421-551

The Bomber Liston^p⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 113

8/1

Fairly useful hurdler who didn't convince in trio of starts over fences earlier this year. Took a step back in the right direction when third in Ludlow handicap hurdle last time but needs to build on that now.

Form: U55433

Havaila¹³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: Bradley Harris⁽³⁾| T: Anthony Charlton| OR: 112| BF

6/1

Resumed winning ways in 2m4f handicap hurdle at Sandown ( heavy) in January but failed to back it up at Ascot subsequently. Needs to bounce back quickly.

Form: 231-61P

Soldierofthestorm¹⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Jack Hogan| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 111

10/3

Comfortable winner of a Warwick maiden (2m) on his hurdles debut in May. Firmly back on track having attracted support when landing a 7-runner handicap at Hereford last time and he's capable of defying a rise.

Form: 2-17641

Kruger Park^t³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 105

7/1

Didn't pull up any trees in a trio of novice hurdles before Christmas but he's from a top stable and upped his game when second at Fontwell last month.

Form: 5P-9342

Il Va De Soi^p1⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Alice Stevens| T: Harry Derham| OR: 104| BF

6/1

Lightly-raced maiden under NH rules. 5/2, below form seventh of 12 in handicap hurdle at Doncaster (19.4f, good to soft) 77 days ago. Cheekpieces on 1st time. May yet have a bigger effort in him and its too soon to write him off.

Form: 3/24-447

Non-Runners

Monjules³²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 6

T: H Fry J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Soldierofthestorm (10/3), Thunderclap (9/2), Il Va De Soi (6/1), Havaila (6/1), Kruger Park (7/1), The Bomber Liston (8/1), Hercules Morse (17/2), Monjules (16/1), Farmer's Gamble (20/1), Knockanore (28/1), Sizing Pottsie (28/1), Douglas Dc (33/1)

SOLDIEROFTHESTORM was gambled on when landing a Hereford handicap with something in hand last time, so he's worth a chance to defy a rise at the possible expense of fellow last-time-out winner Thunderclap. Kruger Park is another one of interest.