July 17 / 16.00 Newton Abbot

16.00

Good To Soft

newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle

  • Prize money: £5255.38
  • 2m 0f 167y
  • Class 4
  • 6 runners
SKY
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newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Hurdle

Runners: 6 runners

Type: Hurdle Turf

Surface: Turf

Weather: Showers

9/2 (Won)

  • Win: £4.50
  • Place: £2.20

Form: 605-31 D

Last run: 13 days

W: 11st 3lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 105

Form & Verdict
Well-held third when odds-on for Stratford seller won by Nevendon in May but rewarded good market support with hard-fought success in maiden there (2m, good) on recent stable debut; has more on his plate in this handicap but might kick on again for his new trainer; versatile regarding ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

4

7th Sep 2024

Good

2m 2f 148y

Class 5

16:12 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 5lb

J: Tristan Durrell

T: Anthony Charlton

Very well handicapped on some of last year's form for Milton Harris and but was out of sorts during three-race spell for Syd Hosie and pulled up on recent debut for latest new trainer; headgear refitted; revival needed.

25/1

9

28th Aug 2024

Good

2m 0f 0y

Class 4

19:10 Worcester

Call Me Rocky

10st 11lb

J: Tom Cannon

T: Anthony Charlton

Well treated now but lost his way badly after leaving Milton Harris and tried chasing last time; too risky.

20/1

4

1st Jun 2024

Good To Soft

2m 0f 213y

Class 4

20:30 Stratford

Call Me Rocky

11st 13lb

J: Micheal Nolan

T: Syd Hosie

in touch with leaders, prominent after 8th, weakened 3 out, pulled up after 2 out

8/1

11/2

  • Place: £2.00

Form: 2P-451 CD

Last run: 20 days

W: 11st 2lb

9 yo Gelding

OR: 104

Form & Verdict
Dual C&D winner, more recently when getting up close home in amateur riders' race three weeks ago (good ground); 4lb rise ought to be manageable and he goes on any ground; no surprise if he's on the premises again.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

24th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

17:57 Newton Abbot

Clearance

12st 0lb

J: Mr Zac Baker

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner, all on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); left behind a couple of poor efforts earlier in the year when a respectable fourth over 2m5f here in May but refused to line up when withdrawn here three weeks ago; well handicapped on old form and hard to dismiss if in the mood.

6/1

7

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Clearance

10st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); woeful in two starts away from this track in the spring but he'd dropped to a dangerous mark when a respectable fourth here (about 2m5f, good; winner's won since) last month; will appreciate a strong gallop on this drop back in trip and can rarely be ruled out here.

10/1

7

4th Jun 2025

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 3

16:05 Newton Abbot

Clearance

10st 5lb

J: Harry Cobden

T: Michael Blake

Six-time course winner on good ground (2m1f-2m2f); woeful in two starts away from this track in the spring but he'd dropped to a dangerous mark when a respectable fourth here (about 2m5f, good; winner's won since) last month; will appreciate a strong gallop on this drop back in trip and can rarely be ruled out here.

10/1

Form: 64P-12 D

Last run: 43 days

W: 11st 6lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 108

Form & Verdict
Ex-Irish 6yo who won modest Stratford seller (2m, good; first-time tongue-tie) on stable debut in May and also ran well when second in Fakenham handicap (2m, good) last month; didn't run badly on the Flat three weeks ago but will have something to prove if the ground is slower than good here.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

2

20th Oct 2025

Good

2m 3f 166y

Class 5

14:40 Plumpton

Nevendon

11st 12lb

J: Gavin Sheehan

T: Alexandra Dunn

Kept on for third at Worcester (2m, good) in August and should be fine over today's longer trip, but was well beaten (albeit in a higher-grade race) at Chepstow last week and has become unreliable.

7/1

8

11th Oct 2025

Good

2m 0f 11y

Class 4

16:35 Chepstow

Nevendon

10st 13lb

J: Kevin Brogan

T: Alexandra Dunn

Record of 1-9 over fences so more exposed than some in here but responded positively to cheekpieces in his last two; this does look tougher, though.

5/1

1

20th Aug 2025

Good

2m 0f 110y

Class 5

16:50 Worcester

Nevendon

12st 0lb

J: Adam Wedge

T: Alexandra Dunn

Versatile 8yo who is not very consistent but ran fairly well in first-time cheekpieces at Newton Abbot (2m, good) last month and is now only 2lb higher than when winning over fences at Southwell (2m, good) in the autumn.

10/1

Form: 3P8-U1 D

Last run: 21 days

W: 12st 0lb

8 yo Gelding

OR: 116

Form & Verdict
Came good for Ben Pauling at sixth attempt, cruising clear to win easily by over 4l at Southwell (2m, good; also suited by soft/heavy) three weeks ago; subsequent 9lb rise could have been worse and he's evidently back in prime form.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

14th

9

24th Aug 2024

Good

2m 4f 50y

14:30 Killarney

The Grey Falco

11st 9lb

J: Liam McKenna

T: Michael Flannery

towards rear throughout

20/1

14th

11

18th Jul 2024

Good To Firm

2m 1f 0y

19:10 Killarney

The Grey Falco

11st 0lb

J: J J Slevin

T: Michael Flannery

prominent on inner, not fluent and lost position 3 out, weakened from 2 out

33/1

6th

2

26th May 2024

Soft

1m 7f 168y

Class 4

16:45 Uttoxeter

The Grey Falco

12st 0lb

J: Sam Twiston-Davies

T: Patrick Neville

Back in Britain after three unsuccessful runs for an Irish yard in early part of this year; makes stable debut from a workable mark and is versatile regarding ground but he's tricky to weigh up at the moment.

10/1

OUR TIP

Form: 9-6253 D

Last run: 10 days

W: 11st 8lb

7 yo Gelding

OR: 110

Form & Verdict
Not as good as he was but handicapped accordingly now; posted sound effort when third over C&D (good) ten days ago and is an obvious contender if in similar form again; best on good ground.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

3

8th Mar 2025

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 5

16:20 Hereford

Just The Man

11st 9lb

J: Ben Poste

T: John O’Shea

Quite useful dual-purpose horse in his prime but out of form on the Flat and over hurdles last year; needs to have been revitalised by 169-day break.

12/1

10th

3

20th Sep 2024

Good

2m 0f 167y

Class 5

16:25 Newton Abbot

Just The Man

11st 11lb

J: Ben Poste

T: John O’Shea

midfield

25/1

8th

3

(6)

5th Sep 2024

Good To Soft

1m 3f 140y

Class 5

14:10 Haydock

Just The Man

10st 13lb

J: Miss Iesha Wilding

T: John O’Shea

Three-time Flat winner who has tumbled down the weights; some fair hurdle form in 2023 but he's struggled on his three outings this year (one on the Flat) and a major turnaround is needed in a first-time tongue-tie.

25/1

Form: 311-23 D

Last run: 31 days

W: 11st 1lb

6 yo Gelding

OR: 103

Form & Verdict
Much improved since fitted with cheekpieces in March, and won twice at Taunton (2m, good to soft/soft) in April; beaten under 1l when third off today's mark at Fontwell (2m1f, good) last month and further progress remains possible.
Place /
No / Draw
Date / Going /
Distance / Class
Time + Course Horse + Weight
Jockey / Trainer
Verdict Starting price

5th

9

16th Apr 2026

Good

2m 0f 53y

Class 4

19:00 Hereford

Phoenix Risen

11st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Fine on all ground; in a good run of form since the blinkers went on four starts back and this might not be quite so demanding as the Exeter race he contested last time; in the mix.

7/1

5th

9

6th Mar 2026

Good To Soft

2m 0f 161y

Class 4

15:10 Exeter

Phoenix Risen

11st 2lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Only blinkered this season and the aids are working well, registering a fourth hurdle win under a positive ride at Wincanton (2m, heavy); 5lb rise sees him on a career-high mark but he has to be considered; good to soft is fine.

5/1

1st

5

3rd Feb 2026

Heavy

2m 0f 104y

Class 4

15:15 Taunton

Phoenix Risen

10st 11lb

J: Chad Bament

T: Jeremy Scott

Two good runs in blinkers this season, latterly when clear second of 13 at Wincanton (1m7f, soft; unraced on heavy) in December; nudged back up to his career-high mark since but still commands respect.

5/2

+o+e Accumulators

Payout
Exacta £16.50
Straight Forecast £13.69
Trifecta £105.30

Selections

SPOTLIGHT:

The Grey Falco

TOPSPEED:

Phoenix Risen

The Sun:

Call Me Rocky

RP RATINGS:

Just The Man

Daily Mirror:

Clearance

The Times:

Phoenix Risen

The Guardian:

Phoenix Risen

The Star:

Phoenix Risen

Daily Record:

Call Me Rocky

POSTDATA:

The Grey Falco

WEST COUNTRY:

The Grey Falco

Telegraph:

The Grey Falco

Daily Mail:

The Grey Falco

D Express:

The Grey Falco