15:35 Newbury

Sunday 21 February 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:45

Betfair Hurdle (Handicap) (Grade 3) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:37 | Winning time: 3m 50.48s

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Selected odds by:

Buzz⁶⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: N J Henderson| OR: 152| C| D

10/1

Useful on the level and quickly developed into an even better hurdler, winning 3 of first 4 starts and improving again when second in Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot. More to come. Major player.

Form: 114-312

Gumball⁵⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 150| D

50/1

Smart hurdler who quickly reached a similar level over fences in autumn, looking all set to land a Cheltenham Grade 2 when falling 2 out. Not so good at Kempton over Christmas and now back hurdling.

Form: 00-31F4

Wild Max^t⁷¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Angus Cheleda⁽⁷⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 147| D

25/1

Form: 114-411

Edwardstone³⁶^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 141

14/1

Back hurdling after an early fall on chase debut and better than ever when winning easily in small field at Market Rasen last month. 5 lb penalty to shoulder in much deeper race now, though.

Form: 126-5U1

For Pleasure⁹⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 145| D

50/1

Headstrong front runner who was in a rich vein of form in first half of season, making it 4 wins in 5 starts when landing Grade 2 novice at Cheltenham in November. Harder to dominate this field.

Form: 311141

Fred¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: D A Jacob| T: N J Henderson| OR: 144| D

50/1

Useful novice hurdler last season. Failed to match that when fourth on Warwick chase debut in November and opening handicap mark not obviously generous now back hurdling after a break.

Form: 2/3311-4

Thyme White⁸⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 141| D

28/1

Won Musselburgh listed last term and returned much improved to win 2m Chepstow handicap in October. Yet to be asked for effort when unseated 2 out over C&D since. Remains capable of better.

Form: 2210-1U

Highway One O Two^h⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: J E Moore| T: C Gordon| OR: 141| D

66/1

Made up into a smart novice hurdler last term, including 2m Kempton Grade 2 success. Failed to complete both starts over fences and needed to see more at Sandown back hurdling latest.

Form: 111-FU6

Milkwood⁸⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 141| D

12/1

Low-mileage hurdler who would have gone close with a clear run when third of 9 in C&D listed handicap in November, headway when badly hampered 2 out. Has a bigger performance in him.

Form: 132-143

Lightly Squeeze^t²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-0| J: Bryan Carver⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 140| D

66/1

Back to form after wind surgery when third (Buzz second) in Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot (2m) in December. Didn't see it out over 19f there since and will be more at home back at 2m.

Form: 11F-738

Mister Coffey^h⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 138| BF| CD

8/1

Improved again to win on handicap debut at Sandown (2m, good to soft) in November. Speed possibly blunted by heavy ground when third there in December. Freshened up since. Remains capable of better.

Form: 1/12-13

Cadzand⁵⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| D

11/2

Rapidly developed into a useful hurdler, quickening clear to see off 12 rivals on 2m Kempton handicap debut over Christmas. Yet another progressive type in this line-up.

Form: 1/32-211

Shakem Up'arry⁵⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-10| J: P J Brennan| T: B Pauling| OR: 136| D

11/1

Useful form. Couldn't live with Metier in Tolworth at Sandown last month but has the potential for further progress back in a handicap.

Form: 220-142

Guard Your Dreams^h⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135| D

14/1

Going the right way, making it 3-4 over hurdles when staying on well to beat reopposing Friend or Foe by 1¾ lengths at Sandown (2m, soft) last month. Yard seeking a fourth win in this since 2019.

Form: 2-1411

Annual Invictus⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-9| J: R Johnson| T: C Gordon| OR: 135| D

10/1

Irish point winner who is progressing well, notching third novice hurdle win of winter when seeing off 6 rivals at Plumpton (20.5f, soft) last month. Handicap debut. Should have even more to offer.

Form: 25-2111

Galice Macalo⁵⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 10-8| J: Chester Williams⁽⁵⁾| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 134| D

20/1

Won first 2 starts this term. Improved again when second (Mister Coffey third) in Sandown handicap next time and perhaps worth forgiving run in Tolworth there since as she pulled way too hard.

Form: F6-1125

Soaring Glory⁶⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-7| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 133| D

17/2

Useful bumper winner and made a perfect start over hurdles at Chepstow in October. Better form in defeat since and he's one of a few unexposed novices in the line-up.

Form: 12-12F3

Night Edition^h⁶⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 133| D

33/1

Did well on coming over from France last winter, including excellent second of 22 in Fred Winter at Cheltenham Festival. Disappointed in Betfair Exchange on return but could be sharper now.

Form: 4212-0

Mack The Man³¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 127| D

40/1

Won listed handicap hurdle at Sandown last winter. Well below that level in 2 chase starts this season but returned to hurdling sparked him back to life at Wincanton last month. Penalty demands more.

Form: 11B-251

Fifty Ball⁷⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 131| D

14/1

Dual French bumper winner who has made a very bright start over hurdles, tanking through the race when making it 2-2 in handicaps at Sandown (2m) in December. Capable of better again.

Form: 11-3211

Glory And Fortune^h,t1¹⁰²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-5| J: J J Burke| T: T Lacey| OR: 131| DWS

33/1

Bumper winner who was a pretty useful novice hurdler last term. Didn't take to chasing in the autumn but could get back on the up now returning to hurdles after wind surgery (also tongue tied).

Form: 1352-84

On To Victory⁴³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-3| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 129

18/1

Smart effort to win November Handicap winner on Flat last year so bit of a surprise that it took him 6 attempts to get off the mark over hurdles, finally getting job done in maiden last month.

Form: U32F-F1

Ballinsker²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-3| J: R M Power| T: Evan Williams| OR: 129| D

50/1

Point winner who made successful hurdle bow at Ludlow in October 2019. Has run creditably over hurdles, including sixth in Greatwood in November. Latest jumpers bumper run too bad to be true.

Form: 1/14-260

Non-Runners

Friend Or Foe¹

Weight: 11-6| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Bryony Frost

Forecasts

Cadzand (11/2), Mister Coffey (8/1), Soaring Glory (17/2), Annual Invictus (10/1), Buzz (10/1), Shakem Up'arry (11/1), Milkwood (12/1), Fifty Ball (14/1), Edwardstone (14/1), Guard Your Dreams (14/1), On To Victory (18/1), Galice Macalo (20/1), Friend Or Foe (20/1), Wild Max (25/1), Thyme White (28/1), Glory And Fortune (33/1), Night Edition (33/1), Mack The Man (40/1), For Pleasure (50/1), Ballinsker (50/1), Fred (50/1), Gumball (50/1), Lightly Squeeze (66/1), Highway One O Two (66/1)

Always one of the most competitive races of the season and this looks a particularly good renewal, featuring several unexposed sorts who could be ahead of the handicapper. Nicky Henderson has a very strong hand courtesy of BUZZ and Mister Coffey, with the former taken to build on his Betfair Exchange Trophy second with crack claimer Kevin Brogan taking a handy 5 lb off. Fifty Ball looks next best.