16:15 Newbury

Saturday 1 March 2025

All13:2013:5514:3015:0515:4516:1516:50

Football Betbuilder Boosts At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 16:15 | Winning time: 5m 23.3s

Guard Duty^h⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 124

4/1

Hooded when landing 2m Uttoxeter novice in July but hasn't been the slickest of jumpers. Progressed in handicaps, well-backed when landing a novice handicap hurdle (20f, good to soft) at the Windsor Winter Million meeting, having jumped better. Lightly-raced for his age and could be more to come.

Form: 413U21

Go To War^t⁶³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 124| BF

11/2

Dual novice hurdler winner for Fergal O'Brien and showed plenty of promise when runner-up on debut for this yard (Huntingdon 15.8f), only bettered by one with a fitness edge. Disappointed next time, his fate sealed by his jumping rather than a lack of stamina. Interesting if he can bounce back.

Form: U311-28

Aboutdamntime³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Toby Wynne⁽³⁾| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 120

40/1

£50,000 Irish point recruit who scored on hurdle debut (2½m Carlisle maiden) in November before being outclassed at Cheltenham the following month. Off the bridle a long way from home when fifth of 12 at Carlisle on final qualifying run and this could be a stiff enough opening handicap mark.

Form: P/2-165

Ninth Loch^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: Miss Victoria Malzard⁽⁵⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 120

15/2

Bumper scorer for Willie Mullins prior to winning 3 times over hurdles in France. Plenty of encouragement in a couple of starts for his new yard, well-backed when doing well to finish third at Taunton (16.5f, soft) having made a serious mistake 3 out. Remains of interest now up in distance.

Form: P47143

Taita Hills¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 118

18/1

£35,000 purchase after winning Irish point, showed plenty of promise in novice/maiden hurdles and progressed when stepped into handicap company latest, winning a 5-runner race at Sandown (19.8f) having been suited by the emphasis on stamina. Testing ground/extra distance will be in his favour here.

Form: 14/6231

Solar System⁴²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 118| D

6/1

Thriving this season, showed much improved form to make it 3 wins from his last 4 starts (second only to a fellow progressive type on sole defeat) when winning 11-runner handicap hurdle at Haydock (21.2f, soft) 42 days ago. Respected despite a 6 lb rise and step up in class.

Form: 531211

Fine Casting^p⁴⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 118| C

14/1

More than 2 years since last win but took a step in the right direction when chasing home a younger/improving sort at Lingfield in December. Failed to build on that promise when jumping poorly at Wincanton the following month but remains fairly-treated and will be suited by underfoot conditions.

Form: P2-6027

Lemoncello^h1⁴⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117

22/1

Winner (both spheres) in France showed signs of finding his feet when chasing home an easy winner at Hereford (19.7f) in December, before disappointing at the same venue when too keen 45 days ago. Hooded on first try at longer trip and while capable of better, he may come into his own over fences.

Form: 21-P425

Raffles Nobu^t1¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: N J Henderson| OR: 117

66/1

Fair hurdle winner in France for Marcel Rolland but made an underwhelming U.K. debut (raced without usual headgear) when fifth of 7 in handicap hurdle at Sandown (16f, soft). Up in trip/tongue-tie back on but jockey bookings would suggest he is the stable second string.

Form: 23P-705

Eaton Anne²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| OR: 116

13/2

Successful sole outing in Irish points and has found his confidence since wind surgery earlier in this season, looked an out and out stayer when winning decisively at Lingfield (19.5f, soft). Should relish this stiffer test of stamina and remains unexposed having only his 7th start under Rules.

Form: 322411

Loverdose^p³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 114

3/1

French Flat winner has proved highly progressive over hurdles, winning 4 of his last 5 starts (all in handicap company) and looked better than ever when winning at Sandown (19.8f, soft) in January, forging clear of some useful types. 7lb rise looks fair and he remains open to further improvement.

Form: 81-1211

Non-Runners

Balboa¹⁷

Weight: 11-5| Age: 5

T: J W Mullins J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Loverdose (3/1), Guard Duty (4/1), Go To War (11/2), Solar System (6/1), Eaton Anne (13/2), Ninth Loch (15/2), Fine Casting (14/1), Taita Hills (18/1), Balboa (20/1), Lemoncello (22/1), Aboutdamntime (40/1), Raffles Nobu (66/1)

A decent race for the grade and while the testing ground should go some way to providing the stamina test that plenty of these are needing, there doesn't appear to be much pace on. That won't bother the highly-progressive LOVEDOSE who has sat close to the speed when winning 4 of his last 5 starts. He's most interesting ahead of Ninth Loch, who's shown plenty to suggest he's capable of going close from this mark, while Go To War can't be ruled out if recapturing the form of his stable debut.