15:55 Newton Abbot

Wednesday 9 May 2018

All14:1014:4515:2015:5516:2516:5517:25

Racing Partnership TRP Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:55 | Winning time: 5m 10.10s

Alcala^t¹¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

3/1

Loves it here, having won four times at the track, three of them over C&D, last year on good/fast ground. Has to defy a career-high mark today as a result of all that success but he should be spot on after a recent run and looks a leading player.

Form: 111U4-5

Sizing Platinum^t¹⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-11| J: R Johnson| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 149| C

10/3

Scored here on heavy ground (2m2½f) in October. Beaten just 1L over a similar trip to this on good at Ayr last month. Up 5lb for that, which will require some more improvement here, but not easy to rule him out.

Form: 7/13-062

Henryville^h,t¹⁹³

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: N P Madden| T: H Fry| OR: 146| CD

6/1

At his best on good ground and won this race last year from a 1lb higher mark. Has been well below that level of form on his last couple of starts. Not seen since October but has decent record when fresh so enters calculations.

Form: 305U0P-

Ballybolley^t⁵⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-7| J: D A Jacob| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 145| D

4/1

Yet to win here but has run well at the track. Stays this far and acts on the forecast ground. Is on the sort of mark from which he can be very competitive but does have a bit to prove after some below par recent efforts.

Form: 9135-60

Roman Flight^v⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 11-2| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: David Dennis| OR: 140| D

25/1

Acts on good ground and this trip is just about ideal. Now 2lb lower than his last success in November 2016. Has run only twice since, the latest at Nottingham on the Flat last week was a decent pipe-opener. Not ruled out.

Form: 491410/

Play The Ace^p,t¹²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: James Bowen⁽³⁾| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 139| BF| D

16/1

Stays 2m6½f on good ground and enjoyed a good 2017, winning six chases to rise 28lb in the process. Pulled up when last seen in January and yet to win when fresh, but has run well after a break. Bit to prove now, either way.

Form: 31111-P

Casino Markets²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 10-10| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 134| D

8/1

Won three times in 2016 on decent ground and over similar trips on two occasions. Bettered those efforts a couple of times afterwards in defeat but recent runs have seen a dip in form and he will need to be spot on to make an impact.

Form: 433/07-0

Cut The Corner³⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 10-9| J: Lee Edwards| T: A Ralph| OR: 133| D

9/1

Point-to-point winner who has won from 2m-2m5½f over fences and is at his best on good/good to soft ground. Ran well over shorter on his reappearance from a break last time and should again be in the mix.

Form: 545233-

Forecasts

Alcala (3/1), Sizing Platinum (10/3), Ballybolley (4/1), Henryville (6/1), Casino Markets (8/1), Cut The Corner (9/1), Play The Ace (16/1), Roman Flight (25/1)

This promises to be a competitive event and ALCALA is taken to defy topweight and record a fifth win at a track that he clearly loves. Henryville could do better now freshened up and now 1lb lower than last year's win, he has been given another opportunity by the handicapper. Cut The Corner should be thereabouts, with Sizing Platinum and Roman Flight not ruled out.