14:45 Newcastle

Thursday 16 January 2025

All11:5512:2513:0013:3514:1014:4515:2015:54

Download The At The Races App Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 14:57 | Winning time: 5m 23.1s

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Selected odds by:

Aquitaine Boy⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-9| J: Jamie Hamilton| T: Ruth Jefferson| OR: 95

10/1

Belied odds of 40/1 back from nearly 3 years off when making a winning start for this yard in a 15.8f novice at Southwell (good) in May but had fortune on his side that day and failed to make a major impact back in handicap company there last month. Could come on for that.

Form: 470F/16

Call Your Bluff^t1⁵⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Miss Gina Andrews| T: T Ellis| OR: 93

16/1

Best effort over hurdles when third over 2m at Kempton in November. Steps up in trip for handicap debut with a first-time tongue tie also added.

Form: 730

Faha Belle⁵⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Sean Quinlan| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 92

16/1

Previous connections (Fergal O'Brien) would have been frustrated not to get her head in front (0-14 under Rules), latest a disappointing effort on second chase outing. Change of scenery may help and it would be no surprise to see an improved effort on return to hurdles for new yard.

Form: 226446

On We Go³⁴⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: B S Hughes| T: G Boanas| OR: 88

66/1

Largely struggled since landing an Ayr handicap in February 2023 but she has fallen down the weights and stopped the slide when third at Sedgefield (27f, heavy) on final start of last season. Couldn't be sure that she'll build on that here following a 11-month absence, though.

Form: 6860P3-

Agilulf^h1³³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-1| J: Craig Nichol| T: A Nicol| OR: 87

17/2

Still to register a victory and while he again performed with credit at Musselburgh (19.8f, good to soft) on latest completed outing, one or two of these look more solid.

Form: 038P4U

Mister Smarty²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-0| J: Alan Doyle⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss T Jackson| OR: 86| C

8/15

Belied 10-month absence when successful here on return and backed it up with another likeable display to score at Wetherby. Should get the strong pace to suit once more and is worth a chance to land the hat-trick.

Form: 6094-11

Bridgetjoans^p³⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: Charlie Maggs⁽⁵⁾| T: S Waugh| OR: 84

9/1

Left some lacklustre efforts behind when producing her best effort of the season in first-time cheekpieces, finishing fifth of 13 in handicap hurdle at Catterick (19.3f, good) 30 days ago. Entitled to build on that.

Form: 2-0P065

Noble Affair²⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 10-11| J: Ross Chapman| T: Mrs J Walton| OR: 83| D

50/1

Well-beaten on last hurdle outing in May and pulled up on her second chase start later that month. Not seen since and others appeal more.

Form: 84P0-0P

Penpal³³

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Emma Smith-Chaston⁽³⁾| T: Micky Hammond| OR: 82| C

28/1

Capable off this sort of mark on his day but lacks consistency and arrives on the back of a tame effort over C&D. Others preferred.

Form: 3P/1P-2P

Prince Nino^t,p²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-5| J: Peter Kavanagh⁽³⁾| T: Lizzie Quinlan| OR: 77| D

7/1

Back on track when second of 13 in handicap hurdle at Sedgefield (19.8f, good to soft) 21 days ago. Has slipped to an appealing mark and should be involved if he's able to back that up.

Form: 8P03P2

Non-Runners

Balking⁴³

Weight: 12-0| Age: 7

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: C O'Farrell

Wearelongterm³⁸

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: Mrs Dianne Sayer J: Henry Brooke

Foreva Alfie¹⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 7

T: Paul Robson J: Ryan Mania

Moroccan Moon⁴⁸

Weight: 11-0| Age: 6

T: G Boanas J: Non Runner

Westerdale³⁶

Weight: 10-12| Age: 6

T: M Walford J: Jamie Hamilton

Monklaw³⁹

Weight: 10-11| Age: 8

T: W Coltherd J: Danny McMenamin

Didntgotwenty²¹

Weight: 10-3| Age: 6

T: M Todhunter J: William Maggs

You Say Its Over⁵¹

Weight: 10-2| Age: 7

T: Micky Hammond J: Joshua Thompson

Forecasts

Mister Smarty (8/15), Prince Nino (7/1), Balking (7/1), Agilulf (17/2), Bridgetjoans (9/1), Aquitaine Boy (10/1), You Say Its Over (10/1), Foreva Alfie (11/1), Didntgotwenty (11/1), Call Your Bluff (16/1), Faha Belle (16/1), Westerdale (25/1), Wearelongterm (25/1), Penpal (28/1), Monklaw (33/1), Moroccan Moon (33/1), Noble Affair (50/1), On We Go (66/1)

MISTER SMARTY has returned thriving and has the right circumstances (best in well-run races) again, so he's fancied to complete the hat-trick. It looks wide open otherwise, with cases to be made for plenty, although Prince Nino looks the pick of the opposition.