Betfair Hurdle Guide 2022

Harry Haskell | @HarryHaskell4

Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
1
Jonjo O'Neill Jr

Soaring Glory

J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr
T: Jonjo O'Neill
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-12
OR: 147
Days: 48

Last years winner will line up again here off top weight. Soaring Glory has run to a decent level this year, latterly running a three lengths third to Epatante, (a former Champion Hurdle winner) in the G1 Christmas Hurdle at Kempton.

He gave her 7lb there and although the winning distance wasn’t massive, he did look to be well held.

He did have Tritonic back in fourth, and was nicely clear of him.

Back in a graded handicap here, at a course he’s runs well at – he must have a massive chance.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
13/11/23KEM21Gd11-45
19/05/23AIN20Gd12-03
22/04/23AYR16Gd11-57
31/12/22NBY20.5Sft12-05
27/11/22CRL16Sft11-4PU
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
2
A P Heskin

Tritonic

J: A P Heskin
T: Alan King
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-11
OR: 146
Days: 48

A fairly useful novice last year and has won on one occasion this season. He’s good form to his name, winning a valuable Grade 3 handicap at Ascot.

After this, he failed to fire in the Christmas Hurdle and will need to bounce back to form to have a chance of winning this. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
23/11/23WCN15.5Sft11-101
14/10/23NMK18Sft9-713
09/09/23HAY14Gd9-74
04/08/23GOO20.5Sft9-1014
20/06/23ASC20Gd9-123
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
3
Stan Sheppard

Glory And Fortune

J: Stan Sheppard
T: Tom Lacey
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-8
OR: 143
Days: 48

A Tom Lacey trained gelding by Fame And Glory – he split Epatante and Soaring Glory last time out when running a screamer to finish second in the G1 Christmas Hurdle.

That was a massive run in context to his prior form. As a result of that run, he’s been raised in the weights, (3lb). The rise isn’t significant however, and he might just still be improving.

At big odds, if he can back up that run at Kempton, he could be bang there. Definite each way claims if his last performance wasn’t a flash in the pan.

Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
4
James Bowen

First Street

J: James Bowen
T: Nicky Henderson
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-6
OR: 141
Days: 28

A Golden Horn gelding for Nicky Henderson. First Street has looked good this season, winning 3/4. Last time out he won a cClass 3 handicap in good style, where he had Royaume Uni, and Lord Baddesley well beaten.

It’s difficult to know how good he is, but he himself was well beaten in a Grade 2 novice hurdle at Chepstow, and seemed to appreciate the step down in class back to calmer waters (Kempton latest).

Difficult to assess, he’s come up short against good novices but slammed exposed handicappers last time out. Possible each way claims, unlikely to win.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
22/10/23KEM16Gd11-63
22/04/23AYR16Gd11-128
17/03/23CHL17Sft11-1111
18/02/23WCN15Gd11-83
01/01/23CHL20.5Sft11-43
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
5
Sam Twiston-Davies

I Like To Move It

J: Sam Twiston-Davies
T: Nigel Twiston-Davies
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 11-3
OR: 138
Days: 57

Was fifth of fifth last time out in a good Grade 2 at Ascot when well beaten by Jonbon. He found himself in the lead as no other horse and jockey wanted to go on and make the pace.

This ended up being an extremely tactical affair and I Like To Move it would have been inconvenienced by that and leading at very slow fractions.

I would be more than happy to draw a line through that and prior to this blowout, he ran out a ready winner of a Cheltenham Grade 2 when making all at a good even pace. He boasts an official rating of 138 which definitely puts him in the mix, off a competitive weight.

Novices have a good record in this and as a result – he’s impossible to dismiss.

Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
6
Harry Cobden

Knappers Hill

J: Harry Cobden
T: Paul Nicholls
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 11-0
OR: 135
Days: 57

Novices have a good record in this and he’s well found in the betting. He’s been in good form this season winning two of three starts.

He won his first two starts this season at odds of 2/13 and 1/10 so was clearly beating inferior rivals, although only winning by a cumulative 4 or so lengths – he ought to have been farther clear at the prices.

Most recently, Knappers Hill ran in the same G2 as I Like To Move it, finishing 3/5. There is a suspicion that he doesn’t finish off his races the best he can.

With the Nicholls yard in desperate form, there are a few question marks surrounding Knappers Hill, if you’re prepared to take a fairly short price about him on the balance of all the key indicators.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
14/10/23CHP19.5Sft11-52
29/04/23SAN21.5Sft11-101
26/02/23FON19Gd11-103
18/02/23WCN15Gd11-102
01/01/23CHL20.5Sft11-64
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
7
Sean Bowen

Boothill

J: Sean Bowen
T: Harry Fry
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 11-0
OR: 135
Days: 71

A 7yo by Presenting who’s only had the 4 starts under rules (2 point-to-point races). He was beaten the last twice at Exeter and Ascot, when 5-2f for both.

There is a suspicion this horse might be a bit a difficult to keep sound. His last start was over fences and he thoroughly disappointed. He is back to hurdles today off a mark of 135, so he’s definitely weighted to go well.

He does have a lot to find and he’s been frustrating. Hard to be confident in.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
25/11/23ASC17Gd12-01
04/11/23ASC17Sft11-51
25/02/23KEM20.5Gd11-73
28/01/23DON16.5Gd11-72
27/12/22KEM16Sft11-41
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
8
Nico de Boinville

Broomfield Burg

J: Nico de Boinville
T: Nicky Henderson
N/A
Age: 6
Weight: 10-13
OR: 134
Days: 48

Current favourite for this, and looks to have good form. Broomfield Burg definitely have the right profile for a race of this nature.

He beat Black Poppy at long odds-on last time out in a race he should be winning, prior to that he was a good second in a competitive handicap hurdle at Cheltenham behind Lively Citizen with Royaume Uni back in third.

Broomfield Burg didn't look too straight forward on that occasion however, hanging left under pressure.

You can expect he would have improved from his most recent win and with a profile that suits this race, he cannot be dismissed. 

Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
9
Lorcan Williams

Jetoile

J: Lorcan Williams
T: Ryan Potter
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 10-12
OR: 133
Days: 35

His second last time out to Supreme Novice favourite Constitution Hill reads well, albeit he was well beat. Prior to that he was the winner of a maiden and novice hurdle by a cumulative 15L.

He's definitely unexposed although the substance of his form could be questioned.

He may well be improving and could be in with a shout. He is in with a shout at the weights, but I think he might just come up short in this company. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
29/10/23AIN20GS11-01
28/04/23CHP19.5GS12-01
19/03/23CHP19.5Sft11-61
04/02/23WET19.5GS11-24
29/12/22KEL17Hy11-92
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
10
Joshua Moore

Fifty Ball

J: Joshua Moore
T: Gary Moore
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 10-10
OR: 131
Days: 57

Last years second in this race to Soaring Glory reads well. You could argue he's not quite kicked on from his form last year.

He's not hit the frame in any of his three starts this season, but the bare form and strength of the field reads well. However, his three starts this season have all been over fences.

Reverting back to hurdles here off a handy mark in a race he ran so well in last year, he's hard to confidently dismiss. 

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
07/10/23FON19Gd10-24
18/05/23FON26Gd11-112
10/05/23FON19Gd11-115
24/04/23KEM21GS11-3PU
02/04/23ASC21.5GS10-105
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
11
Brendan Powell

Jpr One

J: Brendan Powell
T: Colin Tizzard
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 10-9
OR: 130
Days: 33

Another exciting novice from a trainer in good form. Jpr One could potentially be thrown in here of a mark of 130, he's had the three runs to date.

On his first start, he won a novice hurdle at Exeter that is working out well. He then backed up his evident promise, finishing a neck second in a Cheltenham G2, when throwing away 1st place.

He looked rather green up the run in there and could easily have won.

He then ran in another novice hurdle at Taunton and won easily by 6L against inferior rivals, the handicapper has given him a huge chance here of this lowly mark - on what could well be a G1 performer.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
17/11/23CHL16GS11-4UR
21/10/23NAB16.5Hy10-91
14/04/23AIN16.5Sft11-45
20/03/23TAU16.5GS11-121
15/03/22CHL16.5GS11-75
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
12
Adam Wedge

Howdyalikemenow

J:
 
Adam Wedge
T:
 
Evan Williams
Age: 6
Weight: 10-6
OR: 127
Days: 28

Another horse from a yard in cracking form. This son of Westerner has some half decent form to his name. His best piece of form was not so long ago - when winning a handicap hurdle at Ffos Las by 4l.

Two horses from that race have ran again since and one won, and the other placed.

He could be well handicapped and has a lot of experience. Lots to find on the figures but could improve and might be in with a chance of placing at large odds.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
12/03/22SAN16Sft10-66
12/02/22NBY16.5GS10-610
15/01/22WAR21Sft11-06
05/01/22FFO16Hy11-121
12/11/21CHL16.5Gd11-1213
Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
13
Jamie Moore

Royaume Uni

J: Jamie Moore
T: Gary Moore
N/A
Age: 5
Weight: 10-2
OR: 123
Days: 28

Royaume Uni has a lot of collateral form with today's rivals. He is exposed albeit at quite a good level.

He might well outrun his odds but you'd expect the horses he's placed behind, (First Street, Broomfield Burg). He is nicely weighted and from a yard in good form, I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss him.

Newbury - February 12 2022
Newbury 15:35
14
Nick Scholfield

Lord Baddesley

J: Nick Scholfield
T: Chris Gordon
N/A
Age: 7
Weight: 10-0
OR: 120
Days: 28

One of the outsiders of the field, Lord Baddesley simply must improve to get involved here in an ultra competitive affair.

His form this season has been uninspiring, and he's failed to complete twice. His other two starts this season were decent efforts, but in races that will be nowhere near as competitive as this.

DateCourseDistanceTypeWeightPosition
06/11/23PLU20.5GS11-37
23/10/23PLU20GS12-03
10/04/23PLU20Sft11-23
04/03/23NBY20Gd10-26
13/02/23PLU20Gd12-01