14:30 Newton Abbot

Monday 15 July 2024

All14:3015:0515:4016:1516:5017:2517:55

Visit attheraces.com Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

Successful on second of his 2 starts in points and having finished runner-up on bumper debut in April, he ran creditably when third of 13 on hurdles debut in a Ffos Las maiden (15.8f) a month later. Claims here with progress anticipated.

Form: 212-3

Johnnie River^h³¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: James Best| T: Mrs S Gardner

Telescope gelding out of 1½m-1¾m winner who stayed 16.5f. Well held only start in bumpers/on Flat to date.

Form: 9-

Killard Point⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Mrs R Ford

€32,500 3-y-o, Kitkou gelding. Dam 17f hurdle winner in France, also 1½m winner on Flat. Off mark in points at sixth attempt (May 26). Betting should prove a useful guide on Rules/hurdles debut.

Form: PP22-51

Manowest⁷⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy

£6,500 6-y-o, Mahler gelding. Dam, ran once over hurdles/once in bumper, half-sister to fair hurdler/fairly useful chase winner (stayed 2½m) Golan Guy. Off mark in Irish points at second attempt (May 6). Goes hurdling now for very good stable and he commands a second look.

Form: P-1

Mr Escobar^h²⁷⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Mr P W Mullins| T: W P Mullins

Fairly useful on Flat (stays 1¾m) and he wasn't disgraced without looking straightforward when tenth in Cesarewitch at Newmarket (18f) back in October. However, he has to merit serious consideration now his attentions switch to hurdles for his leading Irish stable.

Form:

Too Sharp⁴⁵⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Reed| T: Daisy Hitchins

Teofilo gelding who offered little in trio of juvenile hurdles in Ireland during 2022/23 campaign. Will likely hold more chance once sent handicapping for new stable.

Form: 994/

Stage Show¹⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn

Fair maiden on Flat, stays 1½m, not seen to best effect on latest start in that sphere at Lingfield 16 days ago. Looked badly in need of experience when making hurdles debut at Stratford previously and he's best watched at present.

Form: 7

Ask Her Out²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: R P McLernon| T: Mrs R Ford

Fair bumper winner but looks a likely type for handicaps in this sphere judged on her exploits in maiden/novice hurdles in recent months.

Form: 108-6

Miss Goldfire^t⁶⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry

Made a winning bumper debut in March 2023. Seen only twice since and she looked badly in need of the experience when tenth of 13 in novice hurdle at Fontwell (17.7f, good) on hurdles bow 60 days ago. In good hands and this should reveal more.

Form: 1/8-0

Mutley Crew³¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford

Mutathir mare. Dam ran twice on Flat. 66/1, could hardly have shown any less on her belated debut when ninth of 12 in novice hurdle at this course (16.8f, good, 66/1) 31 days ago, losing touch long way out. Readily passed over.

Form: 9

Granny Smith¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe

Unplaced on her sole outing in points and only minor promise on first of 2 starts in bumpers in recent weeks. Probably best watched on hurdles debut.

Form: 460

What An Icon²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: James Davies| T: C J Down| OR: 72

Poor maiden on Flat who has offered little over hurdles so far. Looks set for another struggle returned to maiden company.

Form: PP-8798

Forecasts

Mr Escobar (10/11), Boyles Hill (2/1), Manowest (13/2), Miss Goldfire (12/1), Killard Point (16/1), Ask Her Out (33/1), Granny Smith (33/1), Stage Show (33/1), Too Sharp (66/1), Johnnie River (100/1), Mutley Crew (100/1), What An Icon (100/1)

MR ESCOBAR didn't always look straightforward when campaigned on the Flat but his leading Irish stable looks to have found a very good starting point now his attentions switch to timber and he gets the nod to come out on top. Boyles Hill, following his encouraging Ffos Las third, and point-scorer Manowest can provide chief resistance.