16:10 Newbury

Saturday 12 February 2022

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

My Odds Boost On Betfair Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 16:13 | Winning time: 3m 59.5s

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Selected odds by:

Sonigino^t²¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 122

16/5

Won 4-y-o events in the spring for David Cottin. Shaped well when third on stable debut at Haydock and back to a similar level when fourth in a useful handicap at Ascot 3 weeks ago. The one to beat.

Form: 4-11354

Great Heart'Jac³²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Liam Harrison⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 116

3/1

Fairly useful in bumpers and stepped up on his hurdling debut form when narrowly denied in a Doncaster novice (16.6f) 32 days ago, albeit with the run of the race. In the mix.

Form: 647-222

Groom De Cotte^t²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: J R Wildman⁽⁷⁾| T: S Curran

200/1

Well held in bumper/2 novice hurdles.

Form: 998

King Ottokar¹⁵⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| C

10/3

Useful Flat performer for Charlie Fellowes. Failed to beat a rival at Chester when last seen in September, but he's still a most interesting hurdling newcomer.

Form:

Make My Day⁵¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

6/1

Useful on Flat (should stay 2m), won 5-runner handicap when last seen in 17 months ago. Sold from Ralph Beckett for 75,000 gns. Interesting hurdling debutant.

Form:

Matchmaking¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: S Bowen| T: Mrs Caroline Bailey

150/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Sir Mark Prescott, but off 30 months prior to being pulled up on Leicester hurdles debut 18 days ago.

Form: P

Shalott³⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-2| J: Paul O'Brien| T: G Brown

66/1

Modest in bumpers and ran to a similar level when runner-up on Market Rasen hurdles debut. Comfortably held in minor event on the Flat/jumpers bumper subsequently and this is a tough return.

Form: 5327-

Storm Hill²⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Nick Scholfield| T: P Henderson

66/1

Hinted at ability in a Tipperary bumper (for Maike Magnussen) prior to finishing runner-up completed start in Irish points.

Form: 6-F2

Surtitle¹⁰⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien

7/1

€62,000 purchase who has shown plenty of ability in a brace of bumpers, looking unlucky not to win in a sprint finish over C&D in November. Could take a hand on hurdles debut.

Form: 32

Jaramillo²⁰

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: W Greatrex

9/1

Useful on Flat for Roger Varian (bought for six-figure sum by current connections) and was in the process of recording a promising hurdling debut when falling heavily 2 out at Warwick. Considered.

Form: F

Saligo Bay¹²⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| C

16/1

Dam closely related to useful hurdler (2m winner) Tandem. Fairly useful on Flat for Roger Charlton, stays 1¾m. Sold for 52,000 gns in October and well worth a look on this switch to hurdling.

Form:

Non-Runners

Phoenix Aquilus³²

Weight: 11-2| Age: 5

T: S Durack J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Great Heart'Jac (3/1), Sonigino (16/5), King Ottokar (10/3), Make My Day (6/1), Surtitle (7/1), Jaramillo (9/1), Phoenix Aquilus (10/1), Saligo Bay (16/1), Storm Hill (66/1), Shalott (66/1), Matchmaking (150/1), Groom De Cotte (200/1)

SONIGINO shaped well in a useful handicap at Ascot 3 weeks ago, and with this drop back in trip holding no fears, he's fancied to defy a double penalty. Make My Day and King Ottokar are a pair of interesting recruits from the Flat though, and strong market support for either would need taking seriously.