15:35 Newbury

Saturday 8 February 2025

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 56.9s

Lump Sum⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Dylan Johnston⁽³⁾| T: S Thomas| OR: 144| D

16/1

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner last season and improved again to make a winning reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ffos Las in October. Stepped up to Grade 1 level since, finishing best of rest behind Sir Gino in Fighting Fifth before a remote last of 4 in Christmas Hurdle.

Form: 215-124

Iberico Lord²²

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| BF| CD

14/1

Won the Greatwood at Cheltenham and this race in an excellent 2023/34 campaign. Failed to convince over fences at the start of this season (despite a win at Kempton) and shaped better than the result suggests back hurdling when fourth of 5 over 2½m at Windsor last month. Enters reckoning back at 2m.

Form: 71P-1F4

Favour And Fortune⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 140| D

17/2

Enjoyed a good first campaign over hurdles, culminating with a win in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (handicap) at Ayr (2m, good to soft) in April. Could only manage a well-held sixth in another valuable handicap on Ascot reappearance before Christmas but expect him to come on plenty for the run.

Form: 12261-6

Minella Missile²⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 138

25/1

Point winner who was unbeaten in two starts as a novice hurdler last season, including a Grade 2 over 21f at Cheltenham. Off 14 months, never involved in 3m Windsor handicap on reappearance 3 weeks ago. Connections have had a big rethink on the trip.

Form: P/1111-9

Fiercely Proud⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| OR: 137| D

11/1

Built on 2 encouraging runs in November when winning a valuable 2m handicap at Ascot just before Christmas. Hit with a 9 lb rise after the first 2 came clear so he will require another career best if he's to land a second big pot of the winter.

Form: 327-F61

Our Champ⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle| T: C Gordon| OR: 136| D

33/1

Returned to his best to win 2m Ascot handicap in November, with Secret Squirrel back in third. Good third to Navajo Indy in Gerry Feilden over C&D next time before going off too hard in the valuable Ascot event won by Fiercely Proud. The type to bounce back.

Form: 13-6135

Beat The Bat²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryan Carver| T: H Fry| OR: 135| D

10/1

Bumper winner who quickly made up into a very useful hurdler last winter. Good second of 14 on 19f Haydock reappearance in November but seemed unsuited by the drop back to 2m when 7¾ lengths seventh of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor since.

Form: 0/212-27

Washington⁶⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 133| D

14/1

Improver for this new yard after wind surgery, winning 2m handicaps at Chepstow and Fairyhouse (valuable event) towards the end of 2024. Freshened up ahead of this tilt at another big prize. Further progress can't be discounted.

Form: 23/9P-11

Aucunrisque⁴³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-3| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 133| CD

28/1

First win since his 2023 success in this when landing a decent 2m Ascot handicap in November but needs to shrug off a poor run at Kempton over Christmas.

Form: 67-3316

Josh The Boss^t⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Mr Jamie Neild⁽⁷⁾| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 131| BF| D

18/1

Resumed progress on return with victory in 17-runner Silver Trophy at Chepstow (19.5f) in October, form which has worked out well. Failed to repeat that effort at Haydock (19f, soft) the following month but he's not ruled out given his yard's decent record in this.

Form: U548-19

Secret Squirrel²²^{(ex 5)}

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: H Morrison| OR: 126| D

10/3

In process of running a cracker when falling at the last in the valuable Ascot event won by Fiercely Proud and confirmed that promise when landing a good prize at Windsor (2m, good to soft) last month. A 5 lb penalty shouldn't prevent another prominent showing.

Form: 215-3F1

Mirabad⁵⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 130| D

16/1

Fairly useful on Flat in France and has a progressive profile around 2m over hurdles, building on Ascot's November third to Aucunrisque when winning a 14-runner race at Cheltenham in December. Did benefit from an enterprising ride, though, and he'll need more again off 10 lb higher.

Form: 1-22131

Williethebuilder⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton| OR: 130| D

50/1

Has advanced his form this term after wind surgery, scoring at Wetherby (2m) in November. Seemed spooked by an early faller when pulled up at Ascot later that month and can be forgiven that run. Freshened up since.

Form: 506-21P

Go Dante^t,p²²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 130| D

28/1

Winner of the Imperial Cup at Sandown (soft) in March but hasn't hit the same heights this season, finishing eleventh of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor latest.

Form: 15-59P0

Navajo Indy^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: G Sheehan| T: T Symonds| OR: 128| CD

6/1

Progressive sort who completed a hat-tick when seeing off 12 rivals, including Our Champ, in Gerry Feilden over C&D in November. Off the bridle a long way out but stuck on for a good 2¾ lengths fourth of 14 to Secret Squirrel at Windsor (2m, good to soft) since. Cheekpieces may help. Respected.

Form: 231-114

Joyeuse⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 123| BF| D

9/2

Half-sister to connections Champion Hurdle winner Epatante. Having just the fourth outing of her career when promising second on 2½m Cheltenham handicap debut in December. There's surely more to come from this unexposed mare.

Form: 1/1-32

King William Rufus⁴³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 122| BF| D

20/1

Likeable front-runner who put an end to a frustrating run of seconds when the dominant winner of what had looked a competitive handicap hurdle at Ascot (2m, good to soft) in December. The run probably came too soon when only sixth at Chepstow a week later. Freshened up since.

Form: 2-22216

Non-Runners

Givemefive²²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: Harry Derham J: H Cobden

Forecasts

Secret Squirrel (10/3), Joyeuse (9/2), Navajo Indy (6/1), Favour And Fortune (17/2), Beat The Bat (10/1), Fiercely Proud (11/1), Iberico Lord (14/1), Washington (14/1), Lump Sum (16/1), Mirabad (16/1), Josh The Boss (18/1), King William Rufus (20/1), Minella Missile (25/1), Givemefive (25/1), Go Dante (28/1), Aucunrisque (28/1), Our Champ (33/1), Williethebuilder (50/1)

A typically strong renewal in which it might be worth siding with FAVOUR AND FORTUNE to bounce back to form with his reappearance behind him. Alan King's charge has had the form of last spring's Ayr Champion success franked on a few occasions and still looks on a good mark. A 5 lb penalty for Windsor shouldn't prevent Secret Squirrel from making a bold bid to land another valuable prize and he's second choice ahead of Washington and Nicky Henderson pair Joyeuse and Iberico Lord.