16:45 Newbury

Saturday 8 February 2025

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

William Hill More Top Prices Beacons Bumper (Standard Open NH Flat Race) (Listed) (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:45 | Winning time: 3m 58.3s

Act Of Innocence²⁸⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls

6/1

My Dream Boat gelding who was friendless in the betting but produced a promising first effort when third of 25 in bumper at Punchestown (16.7f) back in the spring. Has since made a very interesting yard switch so he's one to take seriously.

Form: 3-

Baron Noir⁶⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

15/2

Took a backward step from debut when 38 lengths eighth of 10 to Shuttle Diplomacy in listed bumper at Limerick (16.2f, heavy). Off 8 months and having moved to Alan King, he landed a few bets when winning 8-runner content at Plumpton in December.

Form: 38-1

Colin Hobbs²⁹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| D

33/1

First foal, dam (h150) 19f-3m hurdle winner. Won sole start in point bumpers but also pulled up in point in 2024. No easy task on debut.

Form: 1P-

Great Fleet⁷³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Skelton

22/1

€30,000 3-y-o, £60,000 4-y-o, Doyen gelding. Dam (c111/h110), 17f-3m hurdle/chase winner, half-sister to useful hurdler (stayed 23f) Boreham Bill. Runner-up sole outing in Irish points in May and went one better despite signs of greenness switched to a bumper at Market Rasen. Open to improvement.

Form: 21

Maldini Milano⁸²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls

14/1

€80,000 3-y-o, Milan gelding. Dam (h134), 2½m-3m hurdle winner, half-sister to useful hurdler/chaser (winner up to 3m) Marinero. Overcame inexperience to land the odds in what was a very thin 3-runer race at Exeter in November. This will reveal more.

Form: 1

Realco²⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: D Skelton| D

7/1

£80,000 buy after a storming success in Uttoxeter bumper for Tom Weston in April and he defied a penalty on stable debut/reappearance at Exeter 4 weeks ago. Displayed taking turn of foot in the process and that puts him right there.

Form: 31-1

Sober Glory⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| D

15/8

£110,000 4-y-o, dam, unraced, closely related to very smart hurdler/smart chaser (stayed 3m) Fingal Bay. Won sole start in Irish points in May and maintained unbeaten record in bumpers to end 2024, supplementing his Chepstow win in ready fashion under a penalty at Exeter. Sets the standard.

Form: 111

Swindon Village⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| D

22/1

Cost plenty following success only start in points and also landed a Ffos Las bumper in November, despite failing to settle. Surpassed that form when third under a penalty at Aintree.

Form: 2-13

West Hill Verde⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: J W Mullins

25/1

€45,000 3-y-o, Planteur gelding. Half-brother to 10.5f-1½m winner in France Frame. Dam placed at 9f/1¼m in France. Bred for the Flat and having failed to settle fully, he showed a lot to work on when second on debut a year off. Off 10 months and found out in better company at Ascot.

Form: 2-9

Kernie D'airy⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

15/2

Half-sister to 1½m French bumper winner Furda d'Airy. Dam, French chaser, half-sister to fairly useful French hurdler/chaser Argolas d'Airy. Won 12-runner maiden bumper at Durtal in November by 9½ lengths from Kelijoe (successful next time). Left Hugo Merienne £155,000 later that month.

Form: 1

Precious Metal³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight

6/1

Runner-up on debut at Wincanton and derived plenty from that as he went one place better in a listed contest at Cheltenham on New Year's Day. Gets weight allowance so isn't taken lightly.

Form: 21

Forecasts

Sober Glory (15/8), Act Of Innocence (6/1), Precious Metal (6/1), Realco (7/1), Baron Noir (15/2), Kernie D'airy (15/2), Maldini Milano (14/1), Swindon Village (22/1), Great Fleet (22/1), West Hill Verde (25/1), Colin Hobbs (33/1)

A good-quality contest with any number to consider. Top of the list is SOBER GLORY, who has passed each of his 3 tests so far and there looks to be plenty of substance to his form. Realco displayed a nice turn of foot when successful at Exeter and may have ever more to offer for Dan Skelton, while French-recruit Kernie d'Airy saw off a subsequent winner when last seen.