If In Doubt - (Wetherby, 12:50) 1.58/1 (Betfair) 2nd Dual winner at Towcester who posted useful efforts when second in handicap hurdles at Kempton/Exeter earlier this year. However, he only got as far as the second on his recent chasing bow at Exeter. Held up in rear, headway 14th, hit 3 out, handy 3rd 2 out, switched left and chased winner approaching last, stayed on same pace (op 6/5 tchd 11/10)
Ma du Fou - (Wetherby, 13:20)0.89/1 (Betfair)3rd Overcame some signs of inexperience to make a winning start in bumpers here in April, doing so in really good style, and could be an above-average recruit to the hurdling ranks.
Chased leaders, 4th when hit 5th, stayed on from 2 out, took 3rd last 75yds (op 8/13 tchd 4/9, 4/6 in a place)
Smiles For Miles - (Wetherby, 15:00) 0.73/1 (Betfair) Winner With first-time blinkers added to the tongue strap, was much improved with reappearance/chasing debut under his belt to score at Chepstow (3m) last week, eased markedly run-in. Hard to beat.
Chased leader after 1st, pushed along to lead approaching 4 out, mistake 4 out, clear next, mistake 2 out, 15 lengths clear last, heavily eased run-in (tchd 8/11 and 5/6)
Un De Sceaux - (Thurles, 12:20) 1/5 (Paddy Power) X Top-class winner at 19f over hurdles. 11/10, didn’t need to be at best when winning 7-runner Gr 2 hurdle at Auteuil (19.4f, soft) by 2½ lengths from Le Grand Luce, driven out. Makes chase debut.
Led 1st and extended advantage before 3rd, over 15 lengths clear before 8th, still well clear and in command when fell 3 out (op 1/6)
Southfield Theatre - (Newbury, 14:10) 1/3 (William Hill) 2nd Smart hurdler who has quickly reached the same level over fences, supplementing his Chepstow novice success in Grade 2 company at Wincanton earlier this month. 3m will suit and sets a high standard.
Tracked winner, mistake 7th, ridden 3 out, driven and chance when blundered and lost ground last, ran on (op 4/9 tchd 1/2 in places)
Saphir Du Rheu - (Newbury, 14:05) 1/1 (Bet 365) X Highly progressive over hurdles last season, winning the Lanzarote and Welsh Champion Hurdle, and has the potential to make up into a top-class chaser. Raced keenly, chased winner until blundered and unseated rider 7th (op 10/11 tchd 5/6)
Tea For Two - (Newbury, 15:15) 7/4 (Bet365) X Smart dual bumper winner under this rider and overcame inexperience to make a successful start in this sphere at Kempton (21f). Very good prospect for staying novices and leading claims here.
With leader until led 6th, ridden soon after 3 out, headed next, every chance until unable to quicken and beaten flat, eased close home (op 7/4 tchd 6/4 and 2/1 in a place)
Foryourinformation - (Newbury, 15:15) 5/1 (Bet365) X Off the mark in Ffos Las bumper in February. Step up in trip will suit on hurdles bow after 10 months off and looks good prospect.
Took keen hold, chased leading pair, joined leaders 3 out, led next, headed last, ridden and no extra flat, weakened final 100yds, eased towards finish (op 13/2)
Unbeaten and made astonishing progress last term, producing the best performance by a hurdler all season when beating Annie Power in the World Hurdle. Hard to beat on return with conditions fine. Tracked leader, nudged along after 9th, ridden after 2 out, close 3rd but looking held when not fluent last, weakened run-in (op 4/9 tchd 8/13 in a place)
Adriana Des Mottes - (Fairyhouse, 11:55) 2/1 (sky) Winner Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. 28¼ lengths 9th of 13 to Abbyssial in AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (14/1) at Punchestown (16f, good). Off 7 months. Makes chase debut. Yard in good form.
Chased leaders, close up when slightly hampered 2 out, ridden to dispute before last where slight mistake, rallied run-in and kept on best closing stages to lead final stride (op 5/2)
Definitly Red - (Newcastle, 13:05) 6/4 (ladbrokes)2nd Successful first 2 starts in bumpers prior to respectable seventh in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Improved to score at that venue on return, and bred to be suited by this trip now hurdling. In touch, smooth headway to chase winner after 4 out, effort and chance 2 out, ridden when jumped left last, kept on same pace run-in (op 11/10)
Aurore D'estruval - (Newcastle, 14:05) 10/3 (bet365) 2nd Progressed to smart level when impressively landing small-field listed mares’ event at Wetherby (2m) on reappearance. More to come and strong claims in receipt of 7 lb allowance. Chased leader, led going well after 4 out, shaken up and quickened next, not fluent and ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace (tchd 10/3)
Bobcatbilly - (Newbury, 13:20) 9/1 (bet365) X Further progress when recording third chase win at Haydock (21f) in February. Not shaped like a stayer since, finding 3m too far on return at Exeter this month, but not taken lightly back at 22f now.
Mid-division, tracked leaders, 9th, ridden 4 out, not pace to get on terms, no extra from last (op 10/1)
Djakadam - (Newbury, 15:00) 11/2 (betfair) X Quickly made up into smart chaser last season, winning first 2 starts at Leopardstown (including Grade 2 over 21f) before falling 4 out (still going well) in the JLT at Cheltenham. More to come.
In touch, headway 16th, ridden on 5th after 4 out, soon held, weakening when mistake 2 out (op 11/2 tchd 9/2)
Fingal Bay - (Newbury, 15:00) 8/1 (ladbrokes) X Returned from tendon injury as good as ever last season, winning handicap hurdles at Exeter and Cheltenham (Pertemps Final). Successful as a novice over fences and remains unexposed in this sphere.
Soon tracking leaders, reached for 2nd, dropped away tamely after 16th, tired when mistake 3 out, pulled up before next
Many Clouds - (Newbury, 15:00) 9/1 (sky) Winner Could boast some smart novice chase form from 2013/14 and made a perfect return in a listed intermediate event at Carlisle. Longer trip fine, jumping is an asset and likely has more to offer.
Jumped right, mid-division, headway from 13th, prominent 16th, ridden after 3 out, led last, stayed on strongly, driven out (op 17/2 tchd 15/2)
Rocky Creek - (Newbury, 15:00) 11/1 (paddy power) X Second in this and then second in Argento Chase and fifth in Grand National in 3 outings last season. Creditable second in JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on return and tongue tie tried now.
In touch, lost place and struggling approaching 12th, never back on terms, behind when pulled up before 3 out (op 9/1)
Sir Vinski - (Newcastle, 15:15) 0.88/1 (betfair) 3rd Half-brother to bumper winner/fair hurdler Railway Zira and showed useful form when winning sole bumper start at Kelso impressively in March. Good prospect. Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway and every chance when jinked left approaching 3 out, outpaced before next, plugged on from last, no chance with first two (op 5/6)
Next Sensation - (Newbury, 15:35) 14/1 (sky) X Won a trio of handicaps last autumn (unseated in this 12 months ago) and did well to finish fourth in the Grand Annual. Disappointing start to this season, though, so has questions to answer.
Led, soon clear, joined 4 out, ridden and headed when blundered 2 out, soon no extra (op 10/1)
Comments
Dual winner at Towcester who posted useful efforts when second in handicap hurdles at Kempton/Exeter earlier this year. However, he only got as far as the second on his recent chasing bow at Exeter.
Held up in rear, headway 14th, hit 3 out, handy 3rd 2 out, switched left and chased winner approaching last, stayed on same pace (op 6/5 tchd 11/10)
Overcame some signs of inexperience to make a winning start in bumpers here in April, doing so in really good style, and could be an above-average recruit to the hurdling ranks.
With first-time blinkers added to the tongue strap, was much improved with reappearance/chasing debut under his belt to score at Chepstow (3m) last week, eased markedly run-in. Hard to beat.
Top-class winner at 19f over hurdles. 11/10, didn’t need to be at best when winning 7-runner Gr 2 hurdle at Auteuil (19.4f, soft) by 2½ lengths from Le Grand Luce, driven out. Makes chase debut.
Smart hurdler who has quickly reached the same level over fences, supplementing his Chepstow novice success in Grade 2 company at Wincanton earlier this month. 3m will suit and sets a high standard.
Highly progressive over hurdles last season, winning the Lanzarote and Welsh Champion Hurdle, and has the potential to make up into a top-class chaser.
Raced keenly, chased winner until blundered and unseated rider 7th (op 10/11 tchd 5/6)
Smart dual bumper winner under this rider and overcame inexperience to make a successful start in this sphere at Kempton (21f). Very good prospect for staying novices and leading claims here.
Off the mark in Ffos Las bumper in February. Step up in trip will suit on hurdles bow after 10 months off and looks good prospect.
Unbeaten and made astonishing progress last term, producing the best performance by a hurdler all season when beating Annie Power in the World Hurdle. Hard to beat on return with conditions fine.
Tracked leader, nudged along after 9th, ridden after 2 out, close 3rd but looking held when not fluent last, weakened run-in (op 4/9 tchd 8/13 in a place)
Fairly useful winner at 20f over hurdles. 28¼ lengths 9th of 13 to Abbyssial in AES Champion Four Year Old Hurdle (14/1) at Punchestown (16f, good). Off 7 months. Makes chase debut. Yard in good form.
Successful first 2 starts in bumpers prior to respectable seventh in Champion Bumper at Cheltenham. Improved to score at that venue on return, and bred to be suited by this trip now hurdling.
In touch, smooth headway to chase winner after 4 out, effort and chance 2 out, ridden when jumped left last, kept on same pace run-in (op 11/10)
Progressed to smart level when impressively landing small-field listed mares’ event at Wetherby (2m) on reappearance. More to come and strong claims in receipt of 7 lb allowance.
Chased leader, led going well after 4 out, shaken up and quickened next, not fluent and ridden 2 out, headed last, kept on same pace (tchd 10/3)
Further progress when recording third chase win at Haydock (21f) in February. Not shaped like a stayer since, finding 3m too far on return at Exeter this month, but not taken lightly back at 22f now.
Quickly made up into smart chaser last season, winning first 2 starts at Leopardstown (including Grade 2 over 21f) before falling 4 out (still going well) in the JLT at Cheltenham. More to come.
Returned from tendon injury as good as ever last season, winning handicap hurdles at Exeter and Cheltenham (Pertemps Final). Successful as a novice over fences and remains unexposed in this sphere.
Could boast some smart novice chase form from 2013/14 and made a perfect return in a listed intermediate event at Carlisle. Longer trip fine, jumping is an asset and likely has more to offer.
Second in this and then second in Argento Chase and fifth in Grand National in 3 outings last season. Creditable second in JNwine.com Champion Chase at Down Royal on return and tongue tie tried now.
Half-brother to bumper winner/fair hurdler Railway Zira and showed useful form when winning sole bumper start at Kelso impressively in March. Good prospect.
Held up in touch, not fluent 3rd, headway and every chance when jinked left approaching 3 out, outpaced before next, plugged on from last, no chance with first two (op 5/6)
Won a trio of handicaps last autumn (unseated in this 12 months ago) and did well to finish fourth in the Grand Annual. Disappointing start to this season, though, so has questions to answer.