15:05 Newton Abbot

Friday 22 September 2017

All14:0014:3515:0515:4016:1016:4517:15

PKF Francis Clark Novices' Hurdle

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 4m 6.0s

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Selected odds by:

Amour de Nuit¹³⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-10| J: Bryony Frost⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| BF| CD

4/7

Emphatic wins here and at Taunton make him the standout option. However, he is considered better on quicker ground and when able to lead. Flashing Glance is a potential spoiler in his bid to give top trainer a third straight win in this.

Form: 73121-2

Flashing Glance¹³

Age: 4| Weight: 11-4| J: R Johnson| T: T Lacey

6/4

Clearly not short of speed and ability as proven when galloping his rivals into the ground under the champion jockey at Stratford. Looked a hairy ride that day and, if those wayward tendencies can be ironed out, he could turn out useful.

Form: 355-61

Rocket Ronnie³⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: W Featherstone⁽⁵⁾| T: B Barr

12/1

Lost his way on the Flat this summer during a quiet period for the yard. Looks out of his depth in this company on his hurdling debut.

Form:

Subtle Soldier^t¹⁷⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: Conor Ring⁽³⁾| T: Evan Williams

33/1

Has shown precious little in bumpers and sole start over hurdles. Needs to have improved considerably during a summer break.

Form: 05P8-

Truckers Tangle¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-12| J: R P McLernon| T: Alexandra Dunn

33/1

Runner-up in a couple of minor point-to-points but tailed off in each of his starts over hurdles including here 11 days ago.

Form: 226465

Chica Rapida¹³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Alice Mills⁽³⁾| T: Miss G Haywood

40/1

Of little account on the Flat and no better since going hurdling. Possible stamina doubts and others have far stronger profiles.

Form: PP

Georgina Joy¹⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-5| J: James Best| T: N J Hawke

28/1

Related to winning hurdler Southport and makes a bit of appeal on pedigree. 100/1 and tailed off on debut and that leaves her with an awful lot to find in this grade.

Form: 9

Sugar Glider¹¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: David Noonan| T: J D Frost

50/1

Well beaten on both starts in point-to-points and hard to see her landing this. Yard 2-101 in novice hurdles over the past five seasons.

Form: P3

Theatre Royale³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-5| J: Dave Crosse| T: B Barr

33/1

Tailed off last of seven on hurdling debut having promised little on bumper debut. May improve with time but hard to see her being competitive at this level.

Form: 9U-

Forecasts

Amour de Nuit (4/7), Flashing Glance (6/4), Rocket Ronnie (12/1), Georgina Joy (28/1), Truckers Tangle (33/1), Subtle Soldier (33/1), Theatre Royale (33/1), Chica Rapida (40/1), Sugar Glider (50/1)

This looks a clear match between AMOUR DU NUIT and Flashing Glance. The latter looked a tearaway when romping home at Stratford two weeks ago. He overcame some scary moments to prove himself a capable performer if his rider can get him round. The champion jockey retains the ride and it will be interesting to see if Sam Twiston-Davies tries to test his character on board AMOUR DU NUIT. He is considered better when dictating the pace and on a sounder surface. Nevertheless, he boasts the pick of the form and looks more straightforward than his market rival.