17:05 Newbury

Friday 28 February 2025

All14:1314:4815:2315:5816:3317:05

One Up On Football Now At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle

Off time: 17:05 | Winning time: 6m 27.0s

Settings

Selected odds by:

Gamesters Guy³⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: Henry Brooke| T: O Greenall & J Guerriero| OR: 130

5/2

Useful bumper scorer who has made a highly promising start in this sphere, very easily landing 12-runner novice at Carlisle (19.3f, soft) in December. Found out in better company at Cheltenham last month but well worth a go at this trip and looks interesting back in calmer waters on handicap debut.

Form: 131-215

Saint Palais²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 130| C| D

11/1

Useful novice chaser in 2021/22 but not seen for 21 months after pulling-up in the 2023 Albert Bartlett at Cheltenham. Left behind low-key comeback when winning a novice hurdle at Uttoxeter (23.3f) earlier this month, relishing the test of stamina. Interesting but needs to prove he can back that up.

Form: 15FP/61

Press Your Luck²⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: Freddie Gordon⁽³⁾| T: C Gordon| OR: 127| D

50/1

A useful winning hurdler/chaser at his best, clearly needed his comeback (carrying plenty of condition, pulled-up) and while he should be sharper on this occasion, he could be vulnerable to some younger/less-exposed runners.

Form: P014/0-P

Magical King^p²⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Charlie Hammond| T: S Edmunds| OR: 125

85/40

Novice hurdle winner last season and has been steadily progressive this season, placing on all of his starts, latest having travelled well when finishing second over C&D earlier this month. He should relish this test of stamina and holds a leading chance.

Form: 512-322

Ramo¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 123

22/1

Fairly useful hurdler who hasn't convinced in two starts over fences this year. Returns to smaller obstacles with conditions in his favour and it would be no surprise to see him bounce back to form.

Form: 232P-68

Wonderful Eagle^p⁷⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 120

5/1

Flat winner in Germany has proved as good as ever over hurdles this season, twice placing at Cheltenham, latterly (3m, good to soft) when keeping on well on first try over this sort of trip in a steadily run affair. Leading contender if he can cope with this greater test of stamina.

Form: 348-133

Itseemslikeit¹²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 118

33/1

Won a Ffos Las maiden hurdle in testing conditions but disappointed at this venue on final start of last season. Weakened quickly again in Newton Abbot handicap on reappearance after wind surgery in October. Lots to prove returning from a near 4-month absence.

Form: 3/417-P

Shutupshirley^t²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: Harry Kimber| T: R Walford| OR: 112| BF

9/2

Landed a hat-trick when making light of a long absence to score in a 7-runner handicap hurdle at Fontwell (25.8f, soft) in December. Not in the same form from an 8lb higher mark when sixth of 12 over C&D (soft) 20 days ago, having threatened to deliver more. Low mileage 8-y-o could bounce back.

Form: 0511/16

Non-Runners

Champagne Twist³⁶

Weight: 11-13| Age: 7

T: B Pauling J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Magical King (85/40), Gamesters Guy (5/2), Shutupshirley (9/2), Wonderful Eagle (5/1), Champagne Twist (8/1), Saint Palais (11/1), Ramo (22/1), Itseemslikeit (33/1), Press Your Luck (50/1)

MAGICAL KING should relish this test of stamina, having finished second over C&D in similar conditions earlier this month. He appeals most ahead of Wonderful Eagle who has placed in some good Cheltenham handicaps this season, while Gamesters Guy could be open to more improvement stepping up in trip on handicap debut.