15:35 Newbury

Saturday 11 February 2023

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:43

Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 3m 41.4s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Glory And Fortune^t⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Stan Sheppard| T: T Lacey| OR: 148| CD

33/1

Much improved hurdler last season, including winning this race. Let down by his jumping when resuming his chase career this winter but given a bit of a chance by the handicapper in this sphere (now 5 lb lower than when beaten under 3 lengths in Welsh Champion Hurdle on reappearance).

Form: 154-4U3

Icare Allen^t⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: W P Mullins| OR: 146| BF| D

12/1

Useful juvenile last term and made an encouraging return to action when third of 17 in 2m Fairyhouse handicap at the beginning of December. Has to enter the reckoning for his top Irish stable.

Form: 15143-3

Highway One O Two⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: G Sheehan| T: C Gordon| OR: 143| D

14/1

Suited by the drop back to 2m and better than ever when taking a 19-runner Ascot handicap in October. Faced a stiff task and ran respectably for third behind Constitution Hill in Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day. Looks feasibly treated back in a handicap.

Form: 12P-213

Tritonic^p1⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 141| C| D

20/1

Well-served by strongly-run race when landing valuable Betfair Exchange handicap at Ascot (2m) last winter. As good as ever on the Flat in 2022 (won at Goodwood in October) but well held in Relkeel at Cheltenham on hurdle return, although he faced stiff task in that Grade 3. Cheekpieces added.

Form: 51400-9

No Ordinary Joe⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 139| D

6/1

Promising type who was placed in the Greatwood at Cheltenham last season and took his form up another notch when making a successful reappearance at Kempton (2m, soft) over Christmas. Raised 5 lb for that but there could easily be more to come from this 7-y-o after only 6 hurdle starts.

Form: 4/113P-1

Faivoir^p⁴⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 138| C| D

25/1

Talented hurdler/chaser who shaped quite well when 12½ lengths fourth of 14 to No Ordinary Joe in 2m Kempton handicap on his reappearance over Christmas, keeping on from too far back. Top stable has a strong record in the leading 2m handicap hurdles. Cheekpieces refitted. One to consider.

Form: 23305-4

Aucunrisque⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Nick Scholfield| T: C Gordon| OR: 138| D

9/1

Grade 2 novice hurdle winner last season who has taken well to fences this time round, finishing second in 2m Kempton Grade 2 when last seen over Christmas. Not discounted back over the smaller obstacles.

Form: 141-122

Filey Bay⁷²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: D Meyler| T: E Mullins| OR: 133

4/1

Had plenty in hand when winning 2m handicaps at Doncaster and Wincanton handicaps at the start of the winter on his first 2 outings for the Emmet Mullins yard. Seemingly saved for this since and obvious contender for his much-feared stable.

Form: 5633-11

Onemorefortheroad⁸⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-13| J: J M Quinlan| T: N B King| OR: 133| BF| CD

33/1

A bit disappointing in 2 comeback outings in the autumn but given a bit of a chance by the handicapper as a result (now 3 lb lower than when second to Tritonic in last season's Betfair Exchange at Ascot) and could play a prominent role if bouncing back to form after a break.

Form: 1243-48

Teddy Blue¹¹^{(ex 5)}

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: Caoilin Quinn⁽⁵⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 128| BF| D

10/1

Free-goer who finally came good when landing short odds in 2m Lingfield maiden 11 days ago. Not obviously well-treated under a 5 lb penalty but it's possible this big-field scenario could play to his strengths.

Form: 20-2131

Monviel⁸⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 10-10| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 130| D

12/1

Dual winner in his novice season and took another step forward when dominating a 2m Ascot handicap on his reappearance in November. Will find it harder to boss this field but he's one who should have more to offer.

Form: 66118-1

Rubaud⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 130| BF| D

8/1

Useful performer on the Flat in France and it hasn't taken long for him to reach a similar level over timber, winning maiden/novice events at Taunton before improving again when chasing home the promising Rare Edition at Kempton over Christmas. Unexposed now handicapping for top stable.

Form: 8-112

Restitution⁴⁴

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Alexander Thorne⁽⁵⁾| T: A King| OR: 127| D

33/1

Well suited by the emphasis on speed when showing much improved form to land a third handicap hurdle success of his career at Doncaster (2m) over Christmas, quickening clear to score by 12 lengths. Hit with an 11 lb rise but he is relatively unexposed around 2m.

Form: 14-2171

Yorksea⁴⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 10-6| J: N F Houlihan⁽³⁾| T: G & J Moore| OR: 126

20/1

Fair Flat winner in France who built on his C&D reappearance fourth in November when winning at Fontwell on Boxing Day, taking his hurdle record to 2-5. This is much more competitive but this low-mileage sort is likely capable of even better.

Form: 321-41

Glorious Zoff^t²³

Age: 6| Weight: 10-6| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 126

100/1

Fairly useful hurdler for Gordon Elliott in 2021 but not seen again until never involved on AW Flat at Kempton for this yard last month. Feasibly treated on his best form but a leap of faith is required.

Form: 230/034-

Master Chewy⁴⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 124| BF

8/1

Scopey sort who has made a promising start over hurdles, bumping into good prospects when runner-up in novice company at Cheltenham and Plumpton on last 2 outings. Very interesting at the foot of the weights for a yard with a good record in this race.

Form: 24-3F22

Non-Runners

Hacker Des Places¹⁴

Weight: 11-8| Age: 6

T: P F Nicholls J: Non Runner

Deere Mark²⁸

Weight: 10-5| Age: 6

T: S Thomas J: Charlie Deutsch

Forecasts

Filey Bay (4/1), No Ordinary Joe (6/1), Hacker Des Places (7/1), Master Chewy (8/1), Rubaud (8/1), Aucunrisque (9/1), Teddy Blue (10/1), Monviel (12/1), Icare Allen (12/1), Highway One O Two (14/1), Deere Mark (14/1), Yorksea (20/1), Tritonic (20/1), Faivoir (25/1), Onemorefortheroad (33/1), Restitution (33/1), Glory And Fortune (33/1), Glorious Zoff (100/1)

Given that Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this 3 times with novices MASTER CHEWY catches the eye off bottom weight. His maiden status doesn't do him justice as he would have won at Ascot but for falling at the last and he's bumped into very promising sorts on his 2 outings since. Filey Bay, who has been purchased by J P McManus since scoring twice for this yard at the start of the winter, looks to have been laid out for this and is an obvious threat. Faivoir and Deere Mark are also shortlisted.