13:00 Newbury

Saturday 2 April 2022

All13:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:5516:30

John Haine Memorial Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 13:00 | Winning time: 3m 54.6s

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Selected odds by:

Surtitle⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| CD

2/1

€62,000 purchase who cemented positive start made in bumpers to make a winning hurdles debut in a C&D novice in February, overcoming inexperience to do so. Boasts potential to rate a fair bit higher moving forward and shortlisted.

Form: 321

Benandgone³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Thomas Doggrell⁽⁷⁾| T: B Barr| OR: 105

18/1

Hallowed Crown gelding who is steadily going the right way over hurdles, running to a fair level when runner-up in a Taunton novice (19f) 4 weeks ago. Still, needs to take another step forward to open his account here.

Form: 5-0832

Grand Knight²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: S Curran| D

33/1

Easy winner of his sole point and fair form when runner-up in a Warwick bumper in December. However, not kicked on since, including when well beaten on hurdles bow at aforementioned venue last month.

Form: 1/2876

Jet Marshall³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Mr Ben Sutton⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White

33/1

£50,000 purchase after finishing runner-up on both starts in Irish points. Proved far too head strong/ran green when midfield in a Taunton bumper (16.5f) on Rules bow 4 weeks ago and no doubt he's capable of better now hurdling.

Form: 226

The Plimsoll Line¹¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: Rex Dingle| T: J Scott| OR: 115

6/1

Placed both starts in bumpers last winter and similar story first 2 starts in maiden/novice hurdles at up to 19.6f this term. Well below par at Chepstow (19.5f) in December but given a break since and bounce back distinctly possible.

Form: 33-330

Malakahna^t¹⁴

Age: 4| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Buckley⁽³⁾| T: Ian Williams| OR: 117| D

9/4

Fair Flat winner in France who matched previous best to double hurdles tally in a Kempton mares' novice (2m) 2 weeks ago, overcoming a mistake at the last. No surprise to see her thereabouts with a repeat.

Form: 15241

Encashment²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: K Brogan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling

300/1

Poor maiden on the Flat who has offered little either start over hurdles to date for present stable. Passed over.

Form: 00

Kilfords Queen²³

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: James Davies| T: N J Gifford

300/1

Well held all 3 starts in bumpers and similar story on hurdles debut in a mares' novice at Wincanton last month.

Form: 30700

At A Pinch^h³⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Harry Eustace| D

9/2

Fairly useful 11f Flat winner for John & Thady Gosden and perfect start for new yard when taking a Huntingdon novice hurdle (15.8f) in February, scoring convincingly. Entitled to progress again fitted with a hood.

Form: 1

Issar D'Airy¹⁵²

Age: 4| Weight: 10-6| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore

10/1

Sinndar gelding. Dam, 17f/2¼m hurdles/chase winner, half-sister to fairly useful hurdler/chaser (17f-2½m winner in France) Quaska d'Airy. Improved on debut form when second in French bumper in November and betting should guide here having changed hands for €90,000 later that month.

Form: 52

Non-Runners

Storm Hill³³

Weight: 11-7| Age: 7

T: P Henderson J: Nick Scholfield

Inca De Lafayette³⁹

Weight: 10-13| Age: 4

T: P F Nicholls J: H Cobden

Doublethetrouble²⁰⁹

Weight: 10-6| Age: 4

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Surtitle (2/1), Malakahna (9/4), Inca De Lafayette (10/3), At A Pinch (9/2), The Plimsoll Line (6/1), Issar D'Airy (10/1), Doublethetrouble (10/1), Storm Hill (11/1), Benandgone (18/1), Jet Marshall (33/1), Grand Knight (33/1), Encashment (300/1), Kilfords Queen (300/1)

Plenty arrive with claims in the opener, including INCA DE LAFAYETTE. An €80,000 purchase on the back of success in a French bumper, he made light work of 13-rivals when landing a Taunton maiden hurdle in February and could well be the way to go with progress anticipated. C&D winner Surtitle, At A Pinch and Malakahna head up the dangers.