13:50 Newbury

Saturday 8 February 2025

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

William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 13:50 | Winning time: 6m 2.90s

Haiti Couleurs⁵⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 135| D

4/1

Arrives on a hat-trick after 3m handicap chase wins at Aintree and Cheltenham this winter. Likeable sort who's not taken lightly reverted to this sphere for his handicap hurdle debut.

Form: 411-211

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Santos Blue^t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Sutton⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| OR: 135

14/1

A dual scorer around 2m4f last term and he comes here on the back of a good second of 5 in handicap hurdle at Hereford (19.7f, good to soft) 24 days ago. Must enter calculations stepping back up in trip.

Form: 2101-52

The Four Sixes⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: James Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 133

11/1

A useful 2m5f winning hurdler last term but he unseated his rider 15th in handicap chase at Wetherby (24.2f, soft) 43 days ago. Merits consideration back over the smaller obstacles now.

Form: 32F2-PU

Ballygrifincottage^b1,t²³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: Harry Derham| OR: 132| D

22/1

On a losing run and he was pulled up in handicap chase at Wincanton (26.7f, soft) 23 days ago on his final run for Dan Skelton. Blinkers go on for his new yard back hurdling with more required.

Form: 7-34F6P

Press Your Luck⁶³⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 132| D

66/1

A useful winning hurdler/chaser at his best but he's been off for 21 months since beating only one in 3m handicap hurdle at Haydock. Has his fitness to pove.

Form: PP014/0-

Ivaldi⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129

22/1

Signed off in early 2023 with 2m5f Ascot victory but he came in only ninth after 20 months off in handicap hurdle here (20.5f, good to soft) on his return in November. Needs to get back on track.

Form: 2F451/9

Up For Parol²⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 127| D

13/2

Ended a long losing sequence in 9-runner handicap hurdle at Ffos Las (23.9f, heavy) 28 days ago, quickening clear. Up 6 lb but he can go well again.

Form: 0323-21

An Tailliur^t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 127| D

40/1

Prolific winner in handicap hurdles in 2021/22. However, nowhere near that level in 5 runs this season, including back hurdling. Hard to warm to.

Form: 8/25679

Magical King^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 121| BF

5/1

Has resumed in good nick, second of 9 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f, heavy) 49 days ago when clear of rest. Can make his presence felt once more.

Form: 3512-32

Kruger Park^t⁶⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Freddie Gingell⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 119| BF| C

13/2

Course winner who comes here on the back of a very good third of 8 in handicap hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f, soft) 60 days ago, despite going very keenly. Up 2 lb but that form has been franked so big shout.

Form: 4212-33

Tiny Tetley²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 115| D

9/1

Resumed winning ways at Taunton in December and backed it up with a solid fourth of 11 in handicap hurdle at Haydock (24.3f, soft) 21 days ago. In the mix once more.

Form: 215-214

Shutupshirley^t⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 112

7/2

Made light of a long absence when bagging 7-runner handicap hurdle at Fontwell (25.8f, soft) 44 days ago. Hiked up 8 lb but he can make his presence felt again.

Form: 20511/1

Forecasts

Shutupshirley (7/2), Haiti Couleurs (4/1), Magical King (5/1), Kruger Park (13/2), Up For Parol (13/2), Tiny Tetley (9/1), The Four Sixes (11/1), Santos Blue (14/1), Ballygrifincottage (22/1), Ivaldi (22/1), An Tailliur (40/1), Press Your Luck (66/1)

Plenty are in with a shout but KRUGER PARK rates the pick of the weights with the form of his latest Uttoxeter third working out well so this course winner gets the nod. Recent Ffos Las scorer Up For Parol heads the list of dangers, although a solid case can also be made for Magical King, The Four Sixes, Santos Blue and Haiti Couleurs in a competitive handicap.