12:20 Newbury

Wednesday 18 December 2019

All12:2012:5013:2013:5514:2515:0015:30

Prodec Networks Juvenile Hurdle

Off time: 12:28 | Winning time: 4m 10.15s

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Selected odds by:

Deebee¹³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Nick Scholfield| T: J & A O'NeillWS

16/1

Fair maiden on the Flat when with Declan Carroll, stays as far as 1m2f. Below form on his last two starts on the level wearing headgear on both occasions (first-time visor last time). Starts out over hurdles for a new yard on the back of a wind op.

Form:

Fraser Island⁹⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson

1/1

Useful sort on the Flat who stayed 1m4f with his solitary win coming over 2f less. Joined a top-class jumping yard who have done well with his sort before, lots to appreciate about his chance and sure to be towards the head of the market.

Form:

John Betjeman⁸

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Fergus Gillard⁽⁷⁾| T: Mark Gillard

3/1

A maiden on the Flat (showed some fair form at up to 7f); proved his stamina for this sphere when exceeding expectations on debut at Fontwell. Looks more of a stayer than his form suggests, now has to build on his second last time in better company.

Form: 2

Percy Alexander^p1²³⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Brendan Powell| T: C J Mann

33/1

Cheekpieces on for his hurdling debut (has worn blinkers/visor on the Flat); cost 14,000 guineas from the James Tate yard. Flat win on the Flat came over an extended 1m1f at Wolverhampton, now gelded, should run his race.

Form:

Rafiot⁴⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

10/1

A French Flat winner on his debut over 1m2f he shaped as though he would be better for the run on his hurdling debut at Kempton (finished third). Checked out tamely when well supported last time at Huntingdon, needs to bounce back from that.

Form: 3P

Royal Born¹¹

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Hammond⁽³⁾| T: R J Price

66/1

Ran poorly on both his Flat starts on the AW one for Mark Johnston the other for this yard. Hard to think that he's going to be better in this sphere and readily passed over.

Form:

Sephton⁷⁷

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King

16/1

Modest maiden on the Flat (stays 1m2f) he's in good hands for this discipline and he offered something to work on sent hurdling last time at Huntingdon. Travelled better that most in the field, should come on for the run and better expected here.

Form: 7

Sir Canford²²

Age: 3| Weight: 10-12| J: David Noonan| T: A Stronge

7/1

Only a modest sort on the Flat with his one win coming at 1m2f having been tried over further on the AW of late. Now makes his hurdling debut; half-brother to fairly useful hurdler Majestic Touch, may perform better than market suggests.

Form:

Delta Bravo⁶

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Dave Crosse| T: J S Moore

100/1

Flat form is moderate and so far she's performed no better in two efforts in juvenile hurdles finishing last of five and pulled up last time. Hard to see how she can make an impact off the back of those two performances.

Form: 5P

Ideal Grace²⁵

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Paul O'Brien⁽³⁾| T: B Barr

66/1

Only performed in a moderate fashion when with Eve Johnson Houghton on the Flat and showed little more in the same sphere in two runs for this yard. Would be a rather unlikely winner switching to hurdles for the first time.

Form:

Mrs Meader^h¹⁴⁰

Age: 3| Weight: 10-5| J: Kevin Jones⁽³⁾| T: J W Mullins

25/1

Like a lot of the field never managed to win a race on the Flat and was only a modest performer in that sphere. Not disgraced when she was last seen on the Flat with the trip (1m1f) a little too short; hard to see her improving enough to win this.

Form:

Non-Runners

Pourmorechampagne¹⁷⁷

Weight: 10-12| Age: 3

T: P R Webber J: G Sheehan

Forecasts

Fraser Island (1/1), John Betjeman (3/1), Sir Canford (7/1), Rafiot (10/1), Sephton (16/1), Deebee (16/1), Mrs Meader (25/1), Percy Alexander (33/1), Pourmorechampagne (33/1), Ideal Grace (66/1), Royal Born (66/1), Delta Bravo (100/1)

A contest that has been dominated by the big stables with Alan King training the winner three times in the last eight years. This time around he’s represented by Sephton who showed up better than his finishing position suggests on his hurdling bow and given the trainer’s record in this race he’s likely to be a leading contender. Rafiot and John Betjeman are two others with hurdling experience although they will both need to improve on what they have accomplished so far. FRASER ISLAND having shown plenty of ability on the Flat has joined Nicky Henderson and he looks just the sort for a juvenile hurdling campaign. Deebee and Sir Canford are two other newcomers who should be respected.