15:15 Newton Abbot

Monday 2 October 2023

All14:1514:4515:1515:4516:1516:4517:15

Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow Novices' Hurdle (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:17 | Winning time: 4m 16.6s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Afta Party^h,t⁶⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Theo Gillard| T: Mark Gillard| OR: 93

50/1

Fairly useful Flat winner for Alice Haynes but failed to better modest form over hurdles for Syd Hosie and left that yard after finishing well held back on the Flat in July.

Form: 44F-743

Colonel Whizz¹³³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: S Bowen| T: O Murphy| BF

8/1

Soldier of Fortune gelding who shaped like a stayer when runner-up in bumper at Market Rasen (16.6f, good) back in May. Looks one to note sent hurdling and is seemingly the choice of Sean Bowen.

Form: 2

Damarta^h¹⁴⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Lewis Stones⁽³⁾| T: O Murphy

11/1

Showed more than first time up when third in a Hereford bumper in March and carried over his headstrong tendencies on hurdling debut when fourth at Uttoxeter (15.8f, soft) 5 months ago, very much catching the eye under exaggerated hold-up tactics (rider suspended for 2 weeks). Interesting.

Form: 43-4

Lone Soldier²⁶²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| BFWS

6/1

Soldier of Fortune gelding was strong in the betting and shaped with some encouragement first time up when mid-field in a newcomers bumper at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to soft) 8 months ago. Makes hurdles bow (had wind op) and is certainly worth a second look for his top yard.

Form: 6-

Prince Imperial^p,t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-0| J: H Cobden| T: M F Harris| OR: 107| D

9/4

Some encouragement in all 4 starts over hurdles at the start of the year (for Richard Hughes) and but arrives on the back of a lamentable effort on the Flat at Goodwood (20.4f, soft) a couple of months ago. Must bounce back but can on first start over obstacles for this yard.

Form: 2348-

Roger Pol²¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden

6/5

Runner-up in an Irish point and went one better on Rules/bumper debut at Worcester (2m) last October. Doubled his tally when last seen at Huntingdon (15.8f, good to soft) 7 months ago and he looks a likely contender now hurdling.

Form: 21931-

Vinnie Sparkles¹⁹⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-0| J: Tristan Durrell⁽⁵⁾| T: D Skelton| BF

50/1

Won his sole outing in points but proved to be a disappointment on Rules bow when tailed-off last in a bumper at Exeter (16.7f, soft) 6 months ago. Makes hurdles debut and looks yard second-string on jockey bookings.

Form: 18-

Blackacre⁶³

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams

40/1

Aided by a good position but still showed ability when third on debut in Ludlow bumper in April. Acquired by new yard for £17,000 in May and probably needed the run making his hurdling debut after 3 months off when well held at this track (21.6f, good) 9 weeks ago.

Form: 3-5

No Mean Feat^t1⁶⁷

Age: 4| Weight: 10-13| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Alexandra Dunn

150/1

Milan gelding who was pulled up sole start in points and given a considerate introduction to hurdles when down the field at Limerick (16f, soft) in July. Has since left Padraig Roche and a first-time tongue strap is applied.

Form: P-0

Hidden Belle³²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Rex Dingle| T: Tim Vaughan

250/1

Showed nothing in pair of novices hurdles so he's impossible to fancy returning from 10 months off.

Form: 00-

Wonderweasle¹⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan

66/1

Sound start to her career when third at Market Rasen last October but failed to match that effort 7 months later when fifth at Plumpton (15.9f, good to firm) in May. Off since and tough to know what to expect.

Form: 3-5

Forecasts

Roger Pol (6/5), Prince Imperial (9/4), Lone Soldier (6/1), Colonel Whizz (8/1), Damarta (11/1), Blackacre (40/1), Afta Party (50/1), Vinnie Sparkles (50/1), Wonderweasle (66/1), No Mean Feat (150/1), Hidden Belle (250/1)

Olly Murphy saddles a couple of interesting contenders in COLONEL WHIZZ and Damarta and it's the former who gets the narrow vote under Sean Bowen having shaped with plenty of encouragement when runner-up in a Market Rasen bumper back in May. Roger Pol and Lone Solider are another couple of interest representing top yards and they should also be in the mix.