14:00 Newbury

Friday 20 March 2026

All14:0014:3015:0015:3216:0716:4217:16

BetVictor Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:02 | Winning time: 5m 5.62s

Came From Nowhere^t⁶²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Lorcan Williams| T: J Scott| OR: 132WS

13/8

Lightly raced 7-y-o who has been much improved sent handicapping, opening his hurdles account at Hereford in December and following up in the Holloway's Handicap Hurdle at Ascot (19f, soft). Leading contender with further progress to come (has had a breathing operation).

Form: 33-3211

Itsinthename^t²⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: James Bowen| T: Nick Scholfield

15/2

Third on sole outing in Irish points. Close second in all-weather bumper at Lingfield in January (only start for Nigel & Willy Twiston-Davies), before making a winning hurdling/stable debut in a Catterick maiden (2m, soft) last month, despite finding it a barely adequate test.

Form: 321

Le Frimeur¹¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Slevin| T: Harry Derham

2/1

Easy winner of an Irish point and created a good impression when making a successful Rules debut in 7-runner maiden hurdle at Chepstow (19f, soft) in November, scoring with a bit in hand. Open to improvement and he's not taken lightly.

Form: 1-1

Agent Argylle²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Harry Bannister| T: R T Phillips

250/1

Irish point winner who shaped like a stayer when mid-field sole outing in bumpers. Similar story both starts over hurdles, well-beaten fifth of 6 in novice hurdle over C&D (good to soft) 3 weeks ago.

Form: 5-1875

Doujadou³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

9/2

Irish point winner at the third attempt and made an encouraging start to his Rules career when staying on for second in 14-runner novice hurdle at Chepstow (2m, soft) 5 weeks ago. Could be in the mix with this step up in trip promising to suit.

Form: P-C12

Global Fortune³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: R P McLernon| T: G Brown

400/1

Dead-heated for first on second start in Irish points. However, found it a different test sent hurdling when tailed off in maiden at this course (2m, heavy) a month ago.

Form: 6-10

Grand Garcon^t1¹¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: H Cobden| T: P F NichollsWS

14/1

Showed promise when runner-up in a Chepstow bumper and did the same despite still looking green when third on hurdling debut there over 2m in November. However, was pulled up in a C&D novice 3 weeks later. Has had a breathing operation since with tongue strap now added.

Form: 2-3P

Mr Finch⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Ben Jones| T: B Pauling

10/1

Runner-up sole start in Irish points and, having been very well backed, offered something to work on when fourth of 12 in novice hurdle at Fontwell (19.1f, soft) on Rules debut in January. However, went backwards from that effort when pulled up at Warwick 6 weeks ago.

Form: 24P

Forecasts

Came From Nowhere (13/8), Le Frimeur (2/1), Doujadou (9/2), Itsinthename (15/2), Mr Finch (10/1), Grand Garcon (14/1), Agent Argylle (250/1), Global Fortune (400/1)

CAME FROM NOWHERE's form has taken off since switched to handicaps, coming clear with a useful type when landing the Holloway's Handicap Hurdle at Ascot in January, and he can go on to land the hat-trick. The main danger could be Le Frimeur, whose trainer has landed the last 2 renewals of this race, ahead of Doujadou.