13:40 Newbury

Wednesday 19 December 2018

All12:3013:0513:4014:1514:4515:1515:45

Prodec Networks Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap)

Off time: 13:40 | Winning time: 6m 7.12s

Theligny^t1³⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 135| CWS

12/1

Winner of four races over hurdles who finished a distant third of five to a very talented novice on fencing debut at Wincanton. That was his first start since March and he reappears after wind surgery, so could have much more to give.

Form: 1P/72P-3

Tobefair^p²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: T Scudamore| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 134| C| D

16/1

At the peak of his powers when mopping up in handicap hurdles a couple of seasons ago. Not disgraced in a novice chase at Exeter last time, but has yet to convince in this sphere.

Form: 0/493-84

Just Your Type³⁸

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 134

6/1

Point-to-point winner and successful in one of his three races over hurdles. Should improve for his fourth on chasing debut at Ffos Las last month.

Form: 1/241-4

Chosen Path³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 134

9/2

Winner of two of his five starts over hurdles, but was last of three finishers on his chasing debut behind Mister Malarky at Plumpton. Down 2lb, but needs to show a little more aptitude for this game. Stable won this last year.

Form: 1U318-3

King Calvin^t⁵³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Nick Scholfield| T: Jack Barber| OR: 133

12/1

Winner of two point-to-points and two hurdles. Slipped up on seasonal reappearance in a handicap hurdle at Cheltenham and interesting that connections waste little time in sending him chasing.

Form: 1/412-1S

Sunset Showdown²⁶⁹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: R P McLernon| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 130| BF

14/1

Point-to-point winner who has been lightly raced and is making his chasing debut on his first start since finishing fourth of seven in a maiden hurdle at Ascot in March. One to note in the betting.

Form: 1/524-

Mister Malarky³⁰

Age: 5| Weight: 11-1| J: R M Power| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

5/1

Chasing debut and first run since April when winning a 2m3½f novices' handicap at Plumpton with Chosen Path in third. Shaped as though this longer trip would suit and can confirm the placings.

Form: 17320-1

Vodka All The Way¹¹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| D

12/1

Winner of a novice hurdle who unseated his rider in the early stages of his chasing debut at Chepstow. Runs off the same mark and interesting to see how he fares this time.

Form: 8221-6U

Johanos⁶³⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Danny Cook| T: N J Hawke| OR: 125

16/1

Wide-margin winner of his last two hurdle races in the spring of 2017. Tries his hand at chasing after a spell on the sidelines, is unexposed and certainly warrants respect.

Form: 235311/

Vieux Lille²⁵³

Age: 8| Weight: 10-10| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 123| DWS

6/1

Winner of a bumper and three hurdles when trained by Philip Hobbs, but lost his way last season. Stable debut and first start since wind surgery, but previous efforts over fences were ordinary.

Form: 4P/645P-

Absolute Power²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 10-7| J: J McGrath| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 120

17/2

Stable companion of Sunset Showdown who was out of his depth in a hot contest at this track on his jumping debut, but shaped better when dropped in class at Ffos Las. Bit to prove on balance.

Form: 23/26-63

Forecasts

Chosen Path (9/2), Mister Malarky (5/1), Just Your Type (6/1), Vieux Lille (6/1), Absolute Power (17/2), Theligny (12/1), King Calvin (12/1), Vodka All The Way (12/1), Sunset Showdown (14/1), Johanos (16/1), Tobefair (16/1)

An extremely-trappy novices' handicap chase in which cases can be made for most of the runners. However, those of most interest are Johanos, Sunset Showdown, Mister Malarky and KING CALVIN, with the vote going to the latter. He has shown fair form over hurdles, but is a winning pointer and this was always going to be his game.