14:45 Newton Abbot

Thursday 21 August 2025

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2517:0017:35

South West Rail Solutions Ltd. Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:45 | Winning time: 4m 27.36s

Songo^h,t³⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 12-0| J: R T Dunne| T: R G Hawker| OR: 100| CWS

14/1

Winless since landing back-to-back novice events here in 2023 but posted best effort for a while when fourth of 7 over C&D in a first-time tongue strap last time. Goes again in same headgear combination and live each-way chance off this reduced mark if recent wind op had the desired effect.

Form: 245-P04

Stinginhisstep³²

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Sean Houlihan| T: Mrs S Gardner| OR: 97| CD

9/2

Has improved since sent handicapping at this venue, winning twice and runner-up once from 3 runs over C&D since May (sole low-key run was when a well-held third tried over 21.5f here on penultimate start). Beat Square Du Roule in decisive fashion last time but 9 lb rise will make things tougher.

Form: 69-2131

Whispering Royal⁷⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-9| J: James Best| T: F Brennan| OR: 95

25/1

Fair Flat/hurdles winner for Alan King and performed far better than on first 3 starts for present yard when third in a 10-runner handicap here (16.8f, good) in June, finishing around 3½ lengths adrift of the runner-up Hill Station, a rival he now meets on 7 lb better terms. Couldn't rule out.

Form: 64/74-53

Charlie My Boy⁵¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: H Cobden| T: J R Jenkins| OR: 95| CD

16/1

Returned to form when notching third career back from a break at Huntingdon (20.7f, good to firm) in May. Wasn't disgraced off this 8 lb higher mark next time but others make more appeal on this occasion, for all that the booking of Harry Cobden is an obvious plus.

Form: PP78-14

Ben Lomond^p³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: Harry Reed| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 87

66/1

Improved form in bumpers when third here during the spring and creditable effort when filling the same spot on first completed start in this sphere with cheekpieces enlisted at Worcester in June. However, well held both subsequent starts at the same course and it's easy enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 43-U338

Catboy³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Jack Tudor| T: Christian Williams| OR: 85| D

25/1

Winner of a Fontwell handicap last September but he was 8 lb lower in the weights at that time and there have been few positives to take from his 4 efforts so far this year (last 3 runs have been in handicap chases).

Form: 20-546P

Baikal^p²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Joe Anderson⁽³⁾| T: G Harris| OR: 83| D

18/1

Belatedly opened account on the Flat at the beginning of the year and registered third success in this sphere at Stratford last month. 3 lb rise fair enough and subsequent effort on the level can be overlooked (wasn't seen to best effect). Place possibilities.

Form: 3906-41

Colonel Lesley^p³²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-10| J: B S Hughes| T: R G Hawker| OR: 82| C

22/1

Hasn't hit the target since back-to-back handicap wins (latterly at this course) back in August 2022 but has made the frame on several occasions since, including when going close here (16.7f, good) in June. Excuses over C&D since and he's another with an each-way shout.

Form: U25-626

Lady Henrietta³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: S Bowen| T: B Pauling| OR: 81

15/2

Runner-up on third start in bumpers for the Bowens and while she didn't show much over hurdles for that yard, there were encouraging signs when fourth of 7 back from 9 months off on debut for Ben Pauling at Worcester (2½m, good to soft). Will be sharper now and she's a big player eased 3 lb.

Form: 966PP-4

Square Du Roule^p1³²

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: James Davies| T: N J Hawke| OR: 80

7/1

Placed on 3 of his 5 runs since undergoing a wind op, most recently chasing home 6-length winner Stinginhisstep over this C&D. Ought to finish closer to that rival on these revised terms but the first-time cheekpieces will need to give him a lift if he's to shed his maiden tag this time.

Form: 54-3422

Hill Station^t³⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-8| J: Luke Scott⁽⁵⁾| T: Dr R Newland & J Insole| OR: 80

5/1

Four-time winner on the Flat (all on AW) and though yet to score following 13 attempts over hurdles, he was runner-up twice here in June and put in another good shift when third of 14 at Uttoxeter (15.8f, good) last month. Needs considering off the same mark.

Form: 6/62263

Greystoke^t¹²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 10-4| J: Ben Godfrey| T: J D Frost| OR: 76| C

66/1

Flat/hurdles winner for Alan King but efforts since joining this yard have not been overly inspiring.

Form: 598P05-

No Guarantee^t,v⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-2| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: M Comley| OR: 71

2/1

Record stands at 0-18 overall but his latest second to a highly progressive one from the James Owen yard at Market Rasen (18.6f, good) was a solid effort, even before taking into account that he was 6 lb 'wrong' at the weights. Reproduction of that would give him a fighting chance in this contest.

Form: 879-342

Forecasts

No Guarantee (2/1), Stinginhisstep (9/2), Hill Station (5/1), Square Du Roule (7/1), Lady Henrietta (15/2), Songo (14/1), Charlie My Boy (16/1), Baikal (18/1), Colonel Lesley (22/1), Whispering Royal (25/1), Catboy (25/1), Greystoke (66/1), Ben Lomond (66/1)

The pick of several viable candidates could be LADY HENRIETTA, who shaped well when returning to action for her new yard at Worcester and, with that run under her belt and now 3 lb lower, she is pretty appealing. It's surely only a matter of time before Hill Station deservedly gets his head in front in this sphere and he is feared most, with No Guarantee, also a maiden in this sphere, and Whispering Royal strongly considered.