12:53 Newbury

Wednesday 17 December 2025

All11:5312:2312:5313:2313:5814:3315:08

Best Odds Guaranteed Still At BetVictor Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race)

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Harvey| T: W Harvey

Irish raider who failed to build on his debut third when fifth of 9 in novice hurdle at Galway (16.4f, good to soft) 53 days ago. Needs to bounce back.

Form: 35

Contacto⁶¹

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: L Wadham| BF

15/2

A fairly useful 1m4f Flat winner for Andrew Balding who posted a good second in handicap at Haydock (14f) in October. Not without interest on his yard/hurdles bow here.

Form:

Kadastral⁴²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| CD

2/5

£82,000 Cokoriko gelding who emphatically landed a valuable bumper here in March. Shaped very well under a considerate ride on his hurdling bow when second of 13 at Chepstow (2m, soft) 42 days ago. Has plenty about him physically and is the one to beat.

Form: 21-2

Legal Weapon²⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling| D

18/1

A fairly useful bumper winner who took a step forward when third of 9 in novice hurdle at Lingfield (16f, good) 29 days ago. Very much one to consider.

Form: 190-23

Loustic Du Chatel^h1⁴⁶

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Brendan Powell| T: Miss H C Knight| D

9/2

11/2, created a good impression when making all in 5-runner bumper at Ascot (15.7f, good) on NH debut 46 days ago. This Masked Marvel gelding rates an interesting hurdling debutant with hood added.

Form: 1

Monsieur Jaco³²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: C O'Farrell| T: N P Mulholland

66/1

Points winner but looks to be being brought along steadily in this sphere, eighth in 2m novice at both Stratford and Uttoxeter this winter. Probably more one for handicaps later on.

Form: 33-188

My Fortune¹⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling

100/1

Son of Milan who beat just one in 2m novices at Sandown and Leicester last month. May still do better in due course.

Form: 0-65

Romany King^h,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon

33/1

£45,000 purchase after winning sole start in Irish points last December. Last on his hurdling bow at Ffos Las but had a wind op before coming in fourth of 6 in 2m Leicester novice 13 days ago. Needs to take another step forward here though.

Form: 1-04

Secret Beach^t⁸³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr

14/1

Fair winner on Flat for Ben Brookhouse, bagging 1m4f handicap at Newmarket in September. One to consider for his new yard starting out in this sphere.

Form:

Simiyann^p²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: G Sheehan| T: Ian Williams| D

100/1

A fair stayer on Flat, adding another 2 to his tally in 2025. Has cut little ice all three runs over hurdles though, beating one in 2m4f Windsor novice 24 days ago. Lots more is required.

Form: P/P-8

Spanish Dancer^h1²⁴⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: J M Quinlan| T: R Bandey

40/1

Still looked in need of the experience when seventh of 10 in bumper at Ffos Las (15.8f, good to soft) in April. Goes over hurdles with hood added and he's no forlorn hope.

Form: 47-

Victory Shout^h⁴⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Harry Kimber| T: S Hosie

66/1

A fairly useful 1m4f Flat winner but well held both runs over hurdles, 11th in 2m1f Fontwell maiden in November. Others are much preferred.

Form: P-0

Yummy²⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: Liam Harrison| T: D Skelton

66/1

Never dangerous in bumper at Worcester and 2m Warwick novice hurdle this winter. In very good hands so could still do better however.

Form: 60

Forecasts

Kadastral (11/10), Contacto (7/2), Loustic Du Chatel (4/1), Secret Beach (6/1), Legal Weapon (16/1), Campbell Black (20/1), Romany King (33/1), Spanish Dancer (33/1), Yummy (66/1), Monsieur Jaco (66/1), My Fortune (66/1), Victory Shout (100/1), Simiyann (100/1)

Plenty of potential here but Dan Skelton's KADASTRAL made a highly promising start over hurdles when runner-up at Chepstow and rates a confident choice to build on it and go one better. Henrietta Knight's Loustic du Chatel created a good impression when landing an Ascot bumper and could emerge as the main threat, although fellow hurdling newcomer Contacto also needs considering given his winning Flat form. Lingfield third Legal Weapon completes the shortlist.