14:20 Newbury
Wednesday 18 January 2017
All13:1513:5014:2014:5515:2515:55
Betfred Mobile Novices' Limited Handicap Chase
- 5YO plus  |  Class 3  |  2m 92y  |  Soft (Good to Soft in places)  |  6 Runners  |  Turf  |   Weighed In
- Off time: 14:20Â Â |Â Â Winning time: 4m 10.2s
Cloth number
Odds
Horse A-Z
Show odds
Finished last season rated 134 over hurdles with just a sole success in a Catterick maiden to his name, but was second in a Grade 3 2m4f handicap at the Aintree Festival and also competed at Punchestown. Only seventh on chase debut at Uttoxeter in November, but much better next time when runner up (dropped to this trip) to Red Devil Star at Ascot. Obvious contender on better terms.
A couple of hurdles successes to his name, including for Charlie Brooks at Aintree in June 2014. Returned from a two and a half year absence to score on chase and stable debut in a small field event at Huntingdon in November, and no chance when meeting Altior next time. Tiring when falling over further last time, and dropping back in trip looks the way forward.
Sent chasing in August, and twice a runner up at a modest level in small field early season novice races. Bitterly disappointing on handicap chase debut at Fontwell in late September, and not much better the last twice returned to hurdles. Questions to answer on fourth chase start.
117 rated winning handicap hurdler, who was placed, but albeit slightly outclassed on his first three starts over fences, before gamely out-battling Champagne At Tara at Ascot before Christmas. Meets that rival on 4lbs worse terms here, but no doubting his winning attitude.
Recorded a sole success from five starts over hurdles (at Ludlow in February 2016), and entitled to need the race on return and chase debut when a tailed off seventh at Lingfield in December 2016. That said, improvement was only minimal next time at Bangor, and on balance needs to show much more.
Bumper winner, as well as being placed over both hurdles and fences for Noel Meade in Ireland, but little promise to be gleamed from two starts for this yard last spring, and returns as an outsider in a decent race.
Forecasts
Max Ward (7/4), Champagne At Tara (2/1), Red Devil Star (9/2), Britanio Bello (7/1), Theatre Flame (10/1), Zigger Zagger (40/1)
Max Ward needs to be respected dropping back to this trip, but this looks to rest between old Ascot rivals Red Devil Star and CHAMPAGNE AT TARA. The former showed a more willing attitude than the latter that afternoon, but the weights bring both horses closer together here. The ground on the chase course isn't quite as testing as it is on the hurdles course, and Barry Geraghty can be relied upon to coax the maximum effort from the Jonjo O'Neill trained horse and take advantage of the little extra touch of class that Champagne At Tara appeared to hold over Red Devil Star on hurdles ratings.
1. Champagne At Tara
2. Red Devil Star
3. Max Ward
Prize Money
1st: £6,498.002nd: £1,908.003rd: £954.004th: £477.00
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