16:35 Newbury

Saturday 27 March 2021

All14:2014:5015:2516:0016:3517:1017:45

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:36 | Winning time: 3m 55.61s

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Selected odds by:

Bombyx¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| D

9/4

Useful on Flat for James Fanshawe and showed he still retains a good deal of his ability when returning from a 21-month absence to readily make a winning start over hurdles at Huntingdon 10 days ago.

Form: 1

Lord Baddesley¹⁰⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 121

6/1

Fairly useful form in defeat in bumpers and won in good style on hurdle bow at Fontwell. Similar form when second back there in November. Unseated early in Grade 2 since. Remains open to progress.

Form: 25-12U

Osprey Call³¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Alex Edwards⁽³⁾| T: A Ralph| OR: 118| D

13/8

AW bumper winner last season and struck at just second time of asking over hurdles in 2m Doncaster novice last month. May have more to come for a yard in good form.

Form: 18-41

Across The Channel^h1¹⁶⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White

18/1

Cost £150,000 after winning his completed start in points but well held on his Wetherby hurdle debut in October. Given time since and returns with a hood added. Still early days.

Form: F1-0

Italian Spirit¹¹⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy

11/2

Fame And Glory who confirmed the promise of his Ascot second debut when going one better in Market Rasen bumper in December. Ought to be up to making an impact in a race like this now hurdling.

Form: 21

Lissitzky¹⁰⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: James Bowen| T: Miss R Curtis

33/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Andrew Balding. Showed promise when fifth of 16 on 2m Ludlow hurdle bow which makes his subsequent effort over 21f at Warwick disappointing. Back down in trip now.

Form: 50

Naturally High⁹²³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore

33/1

Useful on Flat in France (stays 1½m) for Pascal Bary in 2018 but it's taken a long time for new connections to get him to the track. Perhaps best watched unless betting vibes strong.

Form:

Rocco Du Berlais^h1¹⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

200/1

Looks more one for handicaps based on his 2 hurdle runs in recent weeks.

Form: 09-9P

Byzantine Empire^t²³⁸

Age: 4| Weight: 10-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

25/1

Fairly useful maiden on Flat (stays 1¼m) for John Gosden. Sold for 20,000 gns in August. Makes hurdle debut for a respected yard so worth a second looks in betting.

Form:

Non-Runners

Zuba³¹

Weight: 11-0| Age: 5

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Forecasts

Osprey Call (13/8), Bombyx (9/4), Italian Spirit (11/2), Lord Baddesley (6/1), Across The Channel (18/1), Zuba (20/1), Byzantine Empire (25/1), Lissitzky (33/1), Naturally High (33/1), Rocco Du Berlais (200/1)

BOMBYX probably didn't have much to beat at Huntingdon last week but it was still an impressive start to his hurdle career and he looks up to defying a penalty. Lord Baddesley remains open to progress on his first outing since an early unseat in a Cheltenham Grade 2 in January and he can provide the chief threat ahead of Market Rasen bumper winner Italian Spirit.