14:40 Newbury

Friday 24 March 2023

All13:3014:0514:4015:1015:4016:1016:45

BetVictor Gamble Responsibly Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 4m 7.0s

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Selected odds by:

Totterdown^h²⁷

Age: 12| Weight: 12-0| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: R T Phillips| OR: 123| D

25/1

Back with former yard and won 6-runner handicap hurdle at Leicester in November, responding well. Brushed aside in a deeper race at Chepstow 3 months later but this is more his level.

Form: F955/15

Thibault^t³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-13| J: Lee Edwards| T: A West| OR: 122| D

10/1

Dual-purpose performer who won on the Flat at Chepstow and in this sphere at Plumpton last spring. Mixed bag under both codes subsequently, though this is an easier race than Ascot last month.

Form: 7-13049

Dr T J Eckleburg⁷⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Aidan Coleman| T: O Murphy| OR: 121| D

3/1

Fair winner on Flat who made a promising start over hurdles last term, building on his debut second to record back-to-back wins at Ludlow and Taunton. Returned with a brace of in-frame efforts this season and represents a yard in excellent form.

Form: 2118-24

Russian Ruler^t⁴¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 120| D

10/3

Warwick bumper winner who was fifth in a Kempton Grade 2 novice on second of his 2 hurdle starts last term. Hasn't really been seeing his race out since, albeit he was in second at the time when falling fitted with a tongue tie over C&D last month. Handicap debut.

Form: 135-3PF

Mothill¹¹²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 117| D

6/1

Won first 2 starts this term and not disgraced in defeat since, latest when fifth of 8 in handicap hurdle at Sandown (16f, soft, 6/1) in December. Drying ground would be in his favour on return to action.

Form: 72-1145

Poncho²⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-6| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 115| BF| D

9/2

Promising start to his career, building on hurdle debut second when landing short odds at Plumpton in January. Well backed but failed to give his running on handicap debut over C&D 3 weeks ago.

Form: 23216

Arqoob¹⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-5| J: Bryony Frost| T: L Wadham| OR: 114| D

9/2

Useful handicapper on the Flat for William Jarvis and did well under circumstances (jumped tentatively) when runner-up on hurdling debut in January. Didn't need to improve on that to land the odds back there 3 weeks ago and has scope to rate higher in this sphere.

Form: 241

Denable¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Nick Scholfield| T: A Carson| OR: 104| D

40/1

Fit from the Flat, showed much-improved form over hurdles when opening his account in novice handicap at Worcester in July. Progressed again when following up at Uttoxeter/second at Fontwell in September and he's entitled to come on for reappearance 3 weeks ago.

Form: 68-1124

Non-Runners

Puffin Bay²⁴⁵

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: Harry Derham J: Non Runner

Postmark²⁷

Weight: 10-10| Age: 4

T: M F Harris J: Mitchell Bastyan

Forecasts

Dr T J Eckleburg (3/1), Russian Ruler (10/3), Arqoob (9/2), Poncho (9/2), Mothill (6/1), Postmark (7/1), Puffin Bay (8/1), Thibault (10/1), Totterdown (25/1), Denable (40/1)

ARQOOB could do with brushing up his jumping but the assessor has taken a chance with his opening mark in this sphere based on his Flat ability so he looks the most persuasive option. Dr T J Eckleburg represents a yard in excellent form and he's a threat, while the market may help assess Puffin Bay starting out for a new stable.