17:29 Newton Abbot

Saturday 19 April 2025

All13:5914:3415:0915:4416:1916:5417:29

St. Austell Brewery Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:29 | Winning time: 7m 2.89s

Kruger Park^t⁵⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Freddie Gingell| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 119

11/1

Creditable in-frame efforts in handicaps around 3m on his first 3 outings of the campaign but was possibly amiss at Fontwell (21.8f, heavy) just under 8 weeks ago, his jockey reporting he stopped quickly. Bounce back required.

Form: 12-334P

Rickety Bridge⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-13| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 118

18/1

Took a step forward on just his second handicap start when runner-up in 13-runner handicap hurdle at Chepstow (23.6f, soft) in February. Failed by a long chalk to repeat that at Plumpton the following month but remains with few miles on the clock and is seemingly the choice of Cobden.

Form: 51-3724

Christopher Wood^b⁵⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 118

40/1

Losing run is mounting up but stopped the slide to some extent in first-time blinkers at Hereford (25.2f, soft) just under 8 weeks ago. Back hurdling for the first time since 2022 and others more appealing on balance.

Form: 395-553

Moonset⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 112

3/1

Runner-up on bumper debut and again on hurdling bow (after 10 months off) in 11-runner novice at Worcester last September. Seemingly hard to train but went one better in 6-runner maiden at Market Rasen (20.6f, good) last month and can progress again now handicapping stepped up in trip.

Form: 43/2-21

Striking A Pose^b³²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: J Tizzard| OR: 112

16/1

Dual Exeter winner in the mud early last year. Started the current campaign with decent efforts in a hurdle/chase at same course and having been in the doldrums since, ran better than for a while when third back there (21.6f, good) last month. Step back up in trip rates a plus.

Form: 34P563

Coconut Twist^b⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Robbie David⁽⁷⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 108| CD

6/4

Course winner has yet to finish out of the places over hurdles for this trainer. Landed a gamble back at Exeter back in January and better than ever when winning his last couple, latest in 6-runner handicap at this C&D (good) 9 days ago. 7 lb higher but hard to envisage him not being in the mix.

Form: 313311

Copshill Lad^p²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Alice Stevens⁽³⁾| T: Harry Derham| OR: 108

5/1

Justified support after 9 months off when scoring on yard debut at Stratford in October. Fifth next 3 starts but wasted no time getting back to form when third of 12 at Uttoxeter (23.3f, good to soft) 3 weeks ago. Capable from this mark if he's in the mood.

Form: P-15553

Barricane^b⁵⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Lewis Saunders⁽⁷⁾| T: O Murphy| OR: 107| D

17/2

Showed his form for the first time this season when winning 12-runner handicap hurdle at Warwick (26f, heavy) just over 8 weeks ago, the introduction of more severe headgear (first-time blinkers) seeming to spark him back to life. Claims from 4 lb higher and any rain would enhance his chance.

Form: 33-7F41

Non-Runners

Rockadenn²³

Weight: 11-8| Age: 9

T: M Comley J: David Bass

Despereaux¹³

Weight: 11-2| Age: 6

T: Mrs J Williams J: David Noonan

Forecasts

Coconut Twist (6/4), Moonset (3/1), Copshill Lad (5/1), Despereaux (8/1), Barricane (17/2), Kruger Park (11/1), Rockadenn (12/1), Striking A Pose (16/1), Rickety Bridge (18/1), Christopher Wood (40/1)

Plenty in with a squeak but the vote goes to MOONSET, who has clearly been hard to get to the track but made a winning return at Market Rasen last month and is open to further progress now heading up in trip on handicap bow. Yet to finish out of the places over hurdles for this trainer, Coconut Twist heads up the opposition arriving in the form of his life, while Barricane and Copshill Lad can fight out third.