newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 18:00 | Winning time: 3m 53.0s

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Selected odds by:

Court Minstrel³¹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 137| CD

8/1

Had some tough tasks so far this year so it was slightly worrying that he could never get competitive when dropped in grade here in June. Tailed off since and stable not really firing.

Form: 9380-00

Garo De Juilley^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Adrian Heskin| T: Mrs S Leech| OR: 133

16/1

Had some consistent form in defeat for Paul Nicholls and then hit with a shocking 8lb rise following his defeat in a sub-standard class 3 at Wincanton. Has not always looked the most straightforward and that is reflected in an £8,000 purchase price.

Form: P/233F-2

Red Tornado³⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 133| D

7/4

Completed a five-timer in 2016 including a prestigious summer handicap hurdle off a 4lb lower mark than today. Went through a lean spell but a reduced mark and a race run to suit saw him return to winning ways last time.

Form: 040-821

Utility^b1³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Aidan Coleman| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 124

10/1

Registered back to back wins at Worcester last summer but paid a heavy price to the handicapper and has barely beaten a rival since. Down to his last winning mark and blinkers applied this time.

Form: 67-R7P6

Bleu Et Noir^h³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 122| CD

16/1

Rated 130 at his peak over hurdles in 2016 when recording three successes including one here. Has been campaigning on the level more recently and scored at Wolverhampton during the winter. Could have got in lightly here.

Form: 21F6P/7-

Passing Call^p¹⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 120| D

9/4

Has had two confidence boosting victories and now switches back to handicaps but no shoe in off this mark. Stable 4-10 here this season.

Form: 23-2211

Cleni Wells^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: R Johnson| T: M Hill| OR: 113| C

13/2

His best performances have come here but his form lately has been inconsistent. Better required than we have seen lately and he now gets the aid of cheekpieces plus the champion jockey.

Form: 659-494

Forecasts

Red Tornado (7/4), Passing Call (9/4), Cleni Wells (13/2), Court Minstrel (8/1), Utility (10/1), Garo De Juilley (16/1), Bleu Et Noir (16/1)

Passing Call has a high cruising speed and may have more to offer now she has discovered the winning habit but RED TORNADO appeals as being better handicapped having capitalised on a good mark last time and being suited to quick tracks such as this. Bleu Et Noir is fit from the Flat, has C&D winning form and on a good mark if anywhere near his 2016 performance levels.