15:35 Newbury

Saturday 1 December 2018

All12:1012:4513:2013:5014:2515:0015:35

Ladbrokes In Memory Of Tara Von Ihering Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 4m 6.03s

Forest Bihan^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: D A Jacob| T: B Ellison| OR: 150| D

15/2

First outing since wind surgery and seasonal reappearance when fair third of six in a Grade 2 chase at Cheltenham. Has slipped to a fair mark and has decent prospects if if stays dry.

Form: P3416-3

Top Gamble^p,t²³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 149| CD

9/2

Dual C&D winner who is suited by plenty of give underfoot. First run since finishing eighth of 27 in the Topham Chase at Aintree in April and is feasibly weighted.

Form: P24438-

Bigmartre³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: Harry Bannister| T: H Whittington| OR: 147| CD

9/2

Prominent racer who probably needed his reappearance run when sixth of seven at Cheltenham last month. Down 1lb and was a C&D winner at this meeting last year.

Form: 11271-6

Lady Buttons²⁸

Age: 8| Weight: 11-3| J: A Nicol| T: P A Kirby| OR: 140| D

5/2

Really likeable mare who is 2-3 over fences and made a pleasing return to action when landing a Listed hurdle at Wetherby. Unexposed over the bigger obstacles, in good heart and handles all types of ground. Major chance.

Form: 14414-1

Baby King^p1,t²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T Scudamore| T: T R George| OR: 135| D

25/1

First run since April when well held at Aintree earlier this month. Should strip fitter and cut in the ground is not a problem.

Form: 825P1-6

Dicosimo²³

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Andrew Tinkler| T: W Greatrex| OR: 135| D

40/1

Only one win in 14 races over fences and was pulled up at this venue on his seasonal return. Needs to take a major step forward.

Form: 45P14-P

Doitforthevillage^t¹⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 135| D

7/1

Scored off this mark at Cheltenham over a year ago, but was nowhere near that form when sixth of seven at that venue last time. Plenty to prove for the time being.

Form: 14264-6

Space Oddity^h¹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-9| J: Kieron Edgar⁽³⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 132| BF| D

10/1

Leading when an odds-on favourite and falling at the fifth at Lingfield last time. This is a much tougher race and his recent form suggests he needs to find extra from somewhere for last year's winning stable.

Form: 2U54-4F

Rock On Rocky^p,t¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-6| J: Stan Sheppard⁽³⁾| T: M Sheppard| OR: 129| CD

10/1

Five wins from 22 runs over fences, but has started at long odds and been well beaten on his last three outings, one of them over hurdles. Dropping down the weights, but others make more appeal.

Form: 11P-834

Shear Rock^t1³⁰⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 10-4| J: J E Moore| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 127WS

20/1

Debut for this stable (formerly with Charlie Longsdon) when a 10L second of six at Hereford way back in January. Has presumably had his problems, has his first run since wind surgery and looks the stable second string.

Form: 11232/2-

Forecasts

Lady Buttons (5/2), Top Gamble (9/2), Bigmartre (9/2), Doitforthevillage (7/1), Forest Bihan (15/2), Rock On Rocky (10/1), Space Oddity (10/1), Shear Rock (20/1), Baby King (25/1), Dicosimo (40/1)

Top Gamble looks the stronger of two stable representatives and boasts a good C&D record. He is respected along with top-weight Forest Bihan, Bigmartre and Baby King, but ready preference is for LADY BUTTONS, an admirable mare who is unexposed over fences and looks sure to take plenty of beating off her current mark.