14:05 Newbury

Saturday 4 March 2017

All13:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Betway Supporting Greatwood Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 54.1s

Rocky Creek³⁵

Age: 11| Weight: 11-12| J: Jack Sherwood⁽³⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 148

14/1

Very useful on his day and finished fifth in the 2014 Grand National but becoming increasingly hard to predict these days. Cross Country race at Cheltenham looked unsuitable last time so he can be forgiven for that at least.

Form: 40P3-64

Just A Par^b²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 146

14/1

Former Bet365 Gold Cup winner who went agonisingly close to defending that crown at Sandown in April. Looked in need of reappearance at Newbury but no real excuses last time and he's still above his highest winning mark.

Form: 02-4P10

No Duffer^t⁴⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Adrian Heskin| T: T R George| OR: 144

16/1

In excellent shape over fences last spring, following up a good run at Warwick when winning at both Haydock and Perth. Won at Doncaster two starts back but struggled off a revised mark last time and ground likely to come up too soft for him here.

Form: P211-61

Harry Topper^p⁴⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 144

10/3

Two-time course winner who is down to a lenient mark having not won since 2014. Plenty of promise last time though when stayed on well to finish fourth of 12 at Exeter and obvious claims if building on that.

Form: 331PP5/

Seventh Sky^p,t¹⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: C J Mann| OR: 143

20/1

Out of form recently and tailed off last time at Doncaster. Failed to finish on both starts prior to that so undoubtedly hard to fancy in current form.

Form: 7P40-24

O'Faolains Boy^p,t¹⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 143

7/1

Returned from nearly a year off the track last time when pulled up but entitled to need that run and he's well-handicapped on the form that saw him win here at the end of 2015. Market should reveal expectations.

Form: P87-PPP

Loose Chips^b²⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 11-3| J: G B Watters⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 139

6/1

Consistent sort who should give his running once again over a trip he's proven over. Versatile ground wise and while he has a solid place chance, there's probably a couple better handicapped than him.

Form: U21-P21

Al Co^p²⁰

Age: 12| Weight: 11-1| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 137

20/1

Won at Aintree last year but that may have been his swansong and he'd want better ground than what he's likely to encounter here.

Form: 51U0P0-

Goulanes^b,t⁶⁸

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: James Best| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 135

8/1

Returned from nearly three years off the track last time and finished tailed off but it's interesting that connections persist with him and still feasibly handicapped on old form. Comes with plenty of risks attached though.

Form: 20P1/PF

Turban^h⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-8| J: P J Brennan| T: P Henderson| OR: 130

33/1

Not placed for nearly two years and finished tailed off or pulled up on four starts this season so hard to fancy in current mood.

Form: 45P713-

Katenko²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-8| J: R T Dunne| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 130

17/2

Not won for over four years and while trainer does well here (had a winner here Friday) he's impossible to recommend in current form and would need a deluge to become of any sort of interest.

Form: P0F-P86

Shotavodka^p²⁰

Age: 11| Weight: 10-6| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 128

13/2

Won this last year and returns just 1lb higher today. Ran a good third two starts back at Uttoxeter but disappointing again last time and he would probably prefer better ground to what he will encounter here.

Form: 4134-50

Forecasts

Harry Topper (10/3), Loose Chips (6/1), Shotavodka (13/2), O'Faolains Boy (7/1), Goulanes (8/1), Katenko (17/2), Just A Par (14/1), Rocky Creek (14/1), No Duffer (16/1), Seventh Sky (20/1), Al Co (20/1), Turban (33/1)

HARRY TOPPER is thrown in on pieces of his old form and he proved he wasn't done with yet when staying on strongly for fourth last time; he will be hard to beat if building upon that. O'Faolains Boy is one with a similar profile and has some useful course form while the consistency of Loose Chips gives him a good each-way chance.