17:30 Newton Abbot

Thursday 22 August 2024

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:0017:30

William Hill Leading Racecourse Bookmaker Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:30 | Winning time: 6m 19.72s

Fine By Me³²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Jamie Brace⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 99| D

6/1

Got off the mark in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Stratford (26.4f, good) 32 days ago. Up 6 lb but scored cosily there so merits serious consideration.

Form: 255-251

Dancingontheedge^t³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 98| C

7/2

Course winner in July who comes here on the back of a creditable second of 8 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (26.4f, good) 32 days ago. Ought to be thereabouts once more.

Form: 8/24-512

Esperti^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: James Bowen| T: D A Rees| OR: 98

14/1

Winless since 2022 and only tenth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Worcester (23f, good) 35 days ago. Tongue strap back on with work to do.

Form: 78PP-50

Borderline^h,t³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 92

9/1

Still a maiden but he got back on track when third of 9 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f, good) 39 days ago. Up in trip and needs considering.

Form: 458-6U3

Mountain Bay^p³⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: M G Nolan| T: J W Mullins| OR: 90

40/1

Looked to be getting the hang of things as a hurdler until only sixth of 9 in handicap hurdle at Stratford (22f, good) 39 days ago when fitted with cheekpieces for the first time. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 6P4-326

Frankie Faulkner¹²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Isabel Williams⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams| OR: 90| C

18/1

Course winner but he was pulled up in handicap chase at Ffos Las (23.8f, soft) 128 days ago. Has something to prove now back over hurdles after a break.

Form: 34P36P-

Greystoke^t,p³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 86| C

40/1

Won a 2m course novice hurdle for Alan King in May 2022 but has been unable to make an impact in 5 handicaps since joining this yard at the beginning of 2024. On a lenient mark though if back on his A-game here.

Form: 6/55-598

Danzini^t⁸⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Adam Wedge| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 85| D

9/1

Resumed winning ways in 7-runner handicap hurdle at Fontwell (25.8f, good) 88 days ago. Up 4 lb but she's not taken lightly in her current mood.

Form: P/7336-1

Saxon Queen^p³⁵⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 80| CD

11/2

Unreliable type overall but in good nick, inlcuding claiming a C&D win, when last seen out 11 months ago. Needs to hit the ground running on her comeback though.

Form: 0/21222-

Wearapinkribbon⁷¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Mrs H R J Nelmes| OR: 76

28/1

It's now 19 runs since his last win in 2020 and only seventh of 10 in handicap hurdle at Fontwell (25.8f, good to firm) 71 days ago. Needs to take a step forward.

Form: 4/30PP-7

Rubys Reward^t⁶⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: Ben Jones| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 75| D

13/2

Arrives in decent nick without winning, fifth of 12 in handicap hurdle at this C&D (good) 69 days ago. No forlorn hope off an easing mark.

Form: 2P5-485

League Clash^t1⁵⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-3| J: Charlie Price⁽³⁾| T: R L Llewellyn| OR: 74

11/1

Only poor form shown over hurdles and pulled up on his chase debut in handicap chase here (25.8f, good) 58 days ago for Sheila Lewis. Needs this yard switch to spark major improvement.

Form: P58-97P

Via Dante^b,t1³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 72

12/1

Maiden hurdler/chaser who came in a below-form sixth of 10 in handicap chase at Uttoxeter (26.1f, soft) 36 days ago. Tongue strap goes on for 1st time with work to do.

Form: FF/4P2-6

Non-Runners

Lady Harriett³²

Weight: 10-3| Age: 5

T: P & M Bowen J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Dancingontheedge (7/2), Saxon Queen (11/2), Fine By Me (6/1), Rubys Reward (13/2), Borderline (9/1), Danzini (9/1), League Clash (11/1), Via Dante (12/1), Esperti (14/1), Frankie Faulkner (18/1), Wearapinkribbon (28/1), Lady Harriett (33/1), Mountain Bay (40/1), Greystoke (40/1)

Not as competitive as the numbers suggest and FINE BY ME is fancied to defy a 6 lb weights rise and follow up his cosy breakthrough victory at Stratford last time out. Course scorer Dancingontheedge is next on the list ahead of Fontwell scorer Danzini and handily-weighted Greystoke.