William Hill Handicap Hurdle
Saturday 8th February, 3:35pm
Secret Squirrel @ 7/2
Joyeuse @ 5/1
Navajo Indy @ 11/2
Fiercely Proud @ 17/2
Favour And Fortune @ 9/1
Washington @ 10/1
Mirabad @ 14/1
*prices correct at time of writing.
THE RACE
It occurred to me that there might have been mischief afoot when Schweppes was announced this week of all weeks as ‘Official Mixer of Ascot and Royal Ascot’ (no, nor did I), thereby prompting a timely reminder of how the tonic water brand was once, as original sponsor, synonymous with the premier hurdle of this time of the year.
With its £155,000 pot, the Newbury feature (3-35) is Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, and poses another intriguing puzzle.
THE MARKET
The flaxen-maned Secret Squirrel has been marvellous for Hughie Morrison and family, and it seems harsh to even suggest that there is a blemish on the six-year-old’s eleven-race career because although he did fall behind Fiercely Proud at Ascot at Christmas it was at the last when a close third.
A five-pound penalty for success in Windsor’s Fitzdares Sovereign Handicap Hurdle – when Navajo Indy and Beat The Bat were respectively fourth and seventh, not beaten far – is a pound better than subsequent reassessment.
That day, Navajo Indy, now fitted with cheekpieces, looked not to enjoy the track but previously impressed over this course and distance. Joyeuse (Nico de Boinville), along with last year’s winner Iberico Lord (Freddie Gordon, claiming three), both seek a seventh victory for Nicky Henderson.
Lightly-raced Joyeuse seemed unlucky on handicap debut when forced to wait to mount a challenge and finishing runner-up. More has gone wrong than right of late for Iberico Lord, but a bounce-back is not impossible.
Favour And Fortune excelled during a fine first season’s hurdling, and will have come on for his sole run this time. Fiercely Proud is up in the handicap, but he’s pretty solid.
Washington, representing Harry Derham and Paul O’Brien who’re beginning to motor, is also climbing the weights. And Mirabad’s runaway win in December wasn’t missed by the handicapper either. The same applies to Lump Sum, after his success in the Welsh Champion Hurdle three runs ago.
THE WINNER
If Navajo Indy is still in the same form, he’s fancied to reverse form with Secret Squirrel – what do you like?
CORN’S QUARTET
Staying at Newbury…from the runner-up to the plum-last behind Joyeuse when she made a winning debut at Taunton in January 2024, most have won since, including second-placed Tutti Quanti (1-15). People have been chattering about Paul Nicholls being quiet – that’s usually when he’s at his most dangerous.
That said, it’s ages since either of the Ditcheat pair in the Denman Chase (2-25) have won, so despite Djelo having a penalty, being defeated last time and trying a new distance he may be the one.
It would also be no surprise if upwardly mobile Herakles Westwood continued his ascent at 4-10, in a race being staged over the same distance at which he won here (when twelve pounds lower) a couple of months ago.
Harry Skelton is at Warwick chasing points for the £500,000 David Power Cup; he’s got a stack of chances not least the increasingly well-handicapped Le Milos (3-15).
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