14:10 Newbury

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Bet In-Play On Racing With BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:34 | Winning time: 4m 36.95s

Spirits Bay¹⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Jordan Nailor| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 126

13/2

Useful dual bumper winner last season who showed promise on first 2 hurdle starts before making the most of a good opportunity at Exeter in February. Followed up from what looked a lenient opening mark back there 15 days ago and looks capable of better again.

Form: 31-2F11

Into The Park³²

Age: 5| Weight: 12-0| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 126| C

13/2

Plenty about him physically and is improving with experience, making all for a ready success in a big-field maiden here (16.3f) in January. Followed up in the manner of one that looks up to completing a hat-trick on handicap bow at Taunton (16.5f, soft) last month so he's shortlisted.

Form: F-7U311

Idy Wood²⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 124| C

9/1

Bumper winner who looked right back on song when readily doubling his hurdles tally in 2m4f novice at Plumpton in January. Ran respectably tried at Grade 2 level for a second time when third in Dovecote at Kempton (16f, soft) last month and heads back up in trip for his handicap debut.

Form: 1-13213

I Love My Baie⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J J Slevin| T: S R B Crawford| OR: 123

22/1

Likeable type who resumed winning ways back up in trip 4-runner novice hurdle at Ayr (20.4f, soft) in December. Proved to be a disappointment when tailed off in Grade 2 event at Doncaster a month later so needs to get back on track now handicapping dropped back in distance.

Form: 312318

The Good Doctor⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 123

16/1

Built on encouraging yard debut when winning at Fontwell novice (17.7f, soft) on Boxing Day and lost little caste in defeat when conceding lumps of weight to a promising rival at Sandown (16f, good to soft) 7 weeks ago. Remains early days (this just his second handicap start).

Form: P-31412

Onethreefivenotout^p³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-5| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 117

14/1

Made a winning bumper debut at Worcester in October 2021 then off 2 years. Didn't need to be at his best to land the odds returned to maiden company at Wincanton (15.2f, heavy) 5 weeks ago and now heads back up in trip. Likely to have more to offer.

Form: 1/P2291

Break My Soul⁶¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 106| BF

11/2

Fetched £290,000 after landing sole start in Irish points and shaped with plenty of encouragement when third in 2m course novice on hurdling debut in November. Had a wind op and shaped similarly when runner-up at Warwick a couple of months ago and now makes an early switch to handicaps.

Form: 1-32

Pretending²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 105

11/1

Opened her account as a hurdler at Sandown (2½m) in December and has remained in good form, leaving the impression the longer trip was beyond her when second of 8 in at Ludlow (23.8f, heavy) 23 days ago. More required back down in trip.

Form: 2-F1432

Kartoon And Co^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-2| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 112| BF

7/4

Made a successful start in 4-runner juvenile hurdle at Stratford in October and has shown better form in defeat on 3 subsequent outings, finishing with running left after conceding first run on handicap debut at Sandown (16f, soft) 2 weeks ago. Nudged up 3 lb but ought to soon make amends.

Form: 1232

Non-Runners

Home Free¹⁸

Weight: 11-3| Age: 6

T: D Skelton J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Kartoon And Co (7/4), Home Free (9/2), Break My Soul (11/2), Into The Park (13/2), Spirits Bay (13/2), Idy Wood (9/1), Pretending (11/1), Onethreefivenotout (14/1), The Good Doctor (16/1), I Love My Baie (22/1)

KARTOON AND CO left many scratching their heads ridden more patiently at Sandown on handicap debut a fortnight ago (finished with running left having allowed the winner first run) so he's fancied to make amends if adopting more positive tactics at the expense of Into The Park, who is improving in leaps and bounds and arrives on a hat-trick. Spirits Bay and Onethreefivenotout can do battle for third spot.