NEWBURY

1:40 BERKSHIRE STAND BOOKSHOP NOVICES' HURDLE (CLASS 4) (4yo+) 3m

EL ZORRO 12-0 ~ Bought from France the gelding made a winning start for connections in a novice handicap at Warwick. That event was run on bottomless ground over the minimum trip but the horse proved he wasn’t short of stamina by grinding out the win. So when stepped up in trip on better ground the Neil King trained 7yo had no problems getting the trip and recorded his second handicap victory. He laughed at the handicappers’ mark of 110 and ran out a very easy winner. Cold Mountain who was well beaten in third has franked the form since but the winner couldn’t cope with the 15lbs rise in the handicap at Uttoxeter. He has to concede weight to most of the field and although the trip/ground should be to his liking a place looks like the best he can hope for.

VERY COOL 12-0 ~ Showed very little until the application of blinkers at Taunton worked the oracle and he won a staying handicap hurdle at odds of 33/1. Amber Brook who was giving away 11lbs to the Pipe horse has franked the form since. Very Cool proved that win was no fluke when running another big race over the same course and distance behind Iroquois Warrior and Kilbeggan Blade. Raised 7lbs for that effort he improved again at Sandown by easily winning what was a much weaker race than the previous one at Taunton. This was highlighted by the 2nd horse Kristoffersen who again finished 14 lengths behind Very Cool but this time with a 9lbs pull. Still on the upgrade he maybe anchored by his penalty but expect another bold front running display in conditions that suit.

NEVADA ROYALE 11-8 ~ Put in favourite for the Royal And Sun Alliance before the horse had seen a fence in this country. Partly due to noises coming out of Ditchet that connections have high hopes for the 7yo gelding and on debut he started 5/4 favourite in the Grade 2 Worcester Novices' Chase. He put in a shocking error in at the water jump but proved he has an excellent engine by getting back into the race and looking the likely winner until falling at the last. A change of plan meant connections aiming to preserve his novice tag over fences sent him hurdling to gain some experience. At Exeter he won his novice hurdle by 17 lengths from Spare Cash who had ran well behind decent novices Carruthers, What A Friend and Hold’Em. He is the class act in the field and has a strong favourites chance especially as he is getting weight from his nearest market rival.

PANGBOURNE 11-8 ~ Grade 1 winning bumper horse who took the scalp of Tidal Bay at Aintree but his form over hurdles is nothing like that standard. Looked regressive and going nowhere until the headgear was taken off last time out at Chepsow. In testing conditions he won a weak handicap but given the conditions and the class it wasn’t form to get carried away with and back in novice company he has it all to do.

THEATRE DANCE 11-8 ~ Another classy bumper horse that only just went down by less than a length to Pangbourne at Huntingdon. However unlike that rival he has transferred his ability to hurdles and his win at Fontwell has worked out nicely. Unfortunately for connections though the idea of sending him to Cheltenham for the Grade 1 Ballymore Properties Novice’ Hurdle was blown out of the water when next seen at Huntingdon. Despite getting weight from the market leaders he was outclassed so despite his trainer saying he will improve over 3 miles but he will have to get competitive.

AUX LE BAHN 11-2 ~ Showed promise as a bumper horse and was as fat as a house when making his debut over hurdles at Folkestone. So better was expected when next seen out over the same course and distance but he was well beaten by Inghwung who is a solid, if not spectacular performer. He looked very one pace at Folkestone and he repeated that performance at Newbury when beaten 24 lengths by Cryptic. He is getting weight but he looks like he’ll be better served when seen in extreme staying chases.

CRANK HILL 11-2 ~ Finished 15 lengths behind Spare Cash at Hereford so has way too much to find with Nevada Royale. This exposed 6yo has looked nothing special in 7 runs over hurdles and I doubt he’ll no which way they’ve gone.

GENEVA BAY 11-2 ~ Stuffed in both starts over course and distance and has no hope.

ITS ALL CHAT 11-2 ~ Finished 3rd on his debut in a weak Hereford bumper and then bleed when pulling up on his debut over hurdles. Has little chance over getting involved in this race.

STARBURST DIAMOND 11-2 ~ 3rd in an average Chepstow bumper before making an encouraging start over hurdles at Folkestone. Aux Le Bahn who wasn’t fit was only 4 lengths behind the Alan King trained gelding and he hasn’t been seen out since. That was due apparently to a set back so has it all to do in this company despite receiving weight from the horses at the head of the market.

CONCLUSION

This race revolves around the Paul Nicholls trained favourite and it should prove a minor inconvenience for Nevada Royale who has the class to go to the very top, unlike all of his rivals. Even at odds on the bookies look to have taken a chance as he should be nearer 1/4 than 4/6.

Very Cool is the clear 2nd best so the fight for third may prove the most interesting battle.

That looks to be between El Zorro and Theatre Dance. Theatre Dance receives 6lbs from his rival and although outclassed last time out wasn’t disgraced in a competitive race. El Zorro disappointed last time out Uttoxeter but that is a place that some horses don’t take to so back at Newbury he could bounce back. However the safest option appears to be the David Arbuthnot trained Theatre Dance.

1pt PLACE – THEATRE DANCE @ 4.3

RESULT

THEATRE DANCE 2nd = +3.13pts