Betfair Hurdle February 13 2016

[MrMcGoldrick]

Should be John Constable using that smiley face ov.
Have a sneaking fancy for Starchitect in this, won't be watching though coz I'll be on me hols

[Istabraq]

Taken from RP website:

JP MCMANUS'S two leading fancies for the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury were subject to contrasting vibes on Tuesday, with Barry Geraghty suggesting caution over Blazer but Paul Nicholls enthusing over the chances of Modus.

The duo, along with War Sound, are 6-1 co-favourite for Britain's richest handicap hurdle on Saturday, though Blazer is not yet guaranteed a run.

'A far more competitive race'

Geraghty, who rode the Willie Mullins-trained Blazer to win at Leopardstown last Saturday, said in his At The Races blog: "He enjoyed conditions and Blazer won well. It just may not have been that good a race. The form may not be very strong.

"The Betfair Hurdle will obviously be a far more competitive race. If he gets into the race and if he takes his chance, he will be carrying a 5lb penalty in a far more competitive race, so that will obviously be more difficult."

'Well handicapped'

Nicholls, meanwhile, said of Modus: "He was a good bumper horse and we bought him in the summer and sold him to JP.

"He's a much more mature horse and is getting better all the time. We like him a lot and it's good race for a novice in that you might be well handicapped whereas in a year you might not be.

"He's got a lot of ability, but one thing I think is he'll be a lot better on better ground. He can cope with the soft ground. He just lacks a bit of experience, but one thing he does do is jump well."

The champion trainer added: "I think there's a lot of improvement to come from him because he's learning to settle. I'm very happy with him and he's a high-class horse. He's a horse who's going to get two and a half miles in time, but he's not slow. "

Market mover

The main market mover on Tuesday was Richard Johnson's likely mount Sternrubin, who was cut into 10-1 (from 12).

Coral's David Stevens said: "Philip Hobbs is enjoying a great season, and his Sternrubin has been backed to continue his good run this weekend with more big handicap hurdle success."

[Cashew King]

Sternrubin & Starchitect are the tips of Gary Nutting in his ante-post column - hence the blue with those two.

RECOMMENDED BET (SCALE 1-5 POINTS):
Betfair Hurdle, Newbury 13 February
1pts each way STARCHITECT (20-1 general)

1pts each way STERNRUBIN (12-1 general)

[Old Vic]

Should help him concentrate on his jumping....

Should be John Constable using that smiley face ov.
Have a sneaking fancy for Starchitect in this, won't be watching though coz I'll be on me hols

Willie has Petite Parissienne in there to distract him.

Its very rare though...Nickname the last one of note I remember.

[mayo]

John Constable not entered

Geraghty on Blazer.

[Old Vic]

Blazer is a shocking price now. Racing Post have him 11lbs clear on ratings but a very quick turnaround.

[Istabraq]

Does anyone give Nick Williams' Agrapart a chance ?
Mixed it with some decent sorts in his short career, got within 6l of Ma du Fou and that one gave him a boost winning the listed hurdle at Huntingdon today.
Also got to within 10l of Yorkhill in the Tolworth, set to carry 10st 5lb with Lizzie Kelly's 5lb claim coming off, 20s available looks to be a big price to me....

[Morning Glory]

Im backing the Mullins third string !

[mayo]

Does anyone give Nick Williams' Agrapart a chance ?
Mixed it with some decent sorts in his short career, got within 6l of Ma du Fou and that one gave him a boost winning the listed hurdle at Huntingdon today.
Also got to within 10l of Yorkhill in the Tolworth, set to carry 10st 5lb with Lizzie Kelly's 5lb claim coming off, 20s available looks to be a big price to me....

3rd by RPR so definitely one in the mix.

Cheltenian was the Timeform pick and has run well in this twice before. Hobbs are running better than I can recall so another one on my shortlist.

MG - is that Kalkir ? Got a bit of a hike for the last run but should handle the ground. Seems shorter for the County but looks like a pricewise style pick to me.

[Istabraq]

Agree with Hobbs horses there mayo and Cheltenian beat everything bar Violet Dancer (still think that was a freak result) last year though he is now 12lb higher.
This race though tends to go to an unexposed progressive 5 or 6 year old and despite having few miles on the clock at 10 Cheltenian isn't hiding anything from the 'capper and whilst he will run his race you'd have to think a couple of these will prove to be ahead of their rating.

[mayo]

this one ?

AFFAIRE D'HONNEUR
5 ch g Shirocco - Affair De Moeurs
Runner-up in four starts. Beaten only a length by Zulu Oscar on his debut for stable in a valuable handicap hurdle at Kempton off a mark of 124. Currently rated 132 over hurdles.
"He is obviously in the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury on Saturday and we are hoping we get a run in that. He is still a maiden over hurdles and I don't think there's a maiden won that race for a very long time. As he's a maiden this time of year we want to keep him a novice unless he was to go and win one of these big pots. The Betfair, the County Hurdle and possibly the Swinton Hurdle are under consideration. He is improving all the time and feels like a good horse and if he is not able to win one of these then we can hold onto his novice tag until next season. If he was to win one of these pots then he would obviously pick up a lot of prize money. We think two miles is his trip at the moment and we have no reason to step him up in trip at the moment."

[Istabraq]

Likeable profile mayo but you would have liked something to have crawled out of that Kempton race and franked the form, I saw After Eight Sivola run poorly yesterday and always looked beat, can't see anything else that's run well since.
That said he's certainly one to keep an eye on if connections think he has the ability to win a big prize.
I'll probably pass on him tomorrow but with more experience if he crept into a County or Swinton with a low weight he'd definitely be of interest

[dazzler]

I'm drawn to mad jack mytton for this one, I think there is a big pot in this one travels well through is races and I get the feeling he has been primed for this race, just hope jonjo,s form turns a corner, the form of his last race is not lookin too bad either so at 22-1 ew bet for me and Affaire D Honneur my other selection.

[Old Vic]

Hi dazzler. Jonjo could do with a big win.

I believe there is a lot of rain forecast tomorrow morning. There are only a handful of heavy ground winners in the entire field. I make it the top two, Ivan and Waxies Dargle. I am a bit niggled that Ruby didnt think it worth his while to come over to ride either of Willies two qualifers but think they are all worth another look if forecast is right.

[Liam301287]

Quite like the look of Sternrubin here. 9/1 Paddypower put a bit on this afternoon. Being impressed with his last few runs. Hopefully will run a good race on Saturday.