16:00 Newbury

Friday 22 March 2019

All13:4514:2014:5015:2516:0016:3017:0517:35

Mortgage Branch Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (For The Brown Chamberlin Trophy)

Off time: 16:00 | Winning time: 5m 58.9s

Larry^t⁵⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 136

12/1

Won at Sandown two runs back but has made jumping errors on each of his four starts over fences to date, and needs to avoid mistakes to fulfil his potential.

Form: 11-4F14

Wandrin Star^t⁶⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-11| J: M Hamill⁽³⁾| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 136

10/1

Has risen through the ranks this season and no disgrace when third at Kempton on penultimate start. Flopped at Wincanton last time, however, and needs to show that was just a blip.

Form: 216135

Wilde Blue Yonder³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 133| C

9/1

Fragile and accident-prone over the years, but has plenty of ability. Ran well when second of 8 to The Paddy Pie at Haydock last time, and not dismissed having gone up 1lb for that.

Form: 34F-F62

Red Rising^p²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 132

13/2

Claims on form of his third of 7 to Bags Groove in a novice chase at Huntingdon in December, but he's dipped well below that level twice since. Can bounce back, but does need to.

Form: 1P-4325

Hurricane Dylan²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-4| J: Aidan Coleman| T: K Frost| OR: 129| BF| D

6/1

Placed in Irish point-to-points and a dual novice hurdle winner. Has improved further since sent chasing, winning at Leicester, although looked beaten on merit when favourite at Taunton last time off 8lb higher.

Form: 102313

Bob Mahler^p¹³

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R Johnson| T: W Greatrex| OR: 128

9/1

Stepped up on chase debut when finishing runner-up in a novices' handicap over an extended 2m7f at Chepstow (soft) in December, but questions to answer after running poorly in similar conditions at Sandown earlier this month.

Form: 12-8238

Air Navigator²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: C Gethings| T: T R George| OR: 126

6/1

Smart bumper performer who improved for the switch to chasing to land a Ffos Las handicap first time up. Fine second at Wincanton in January, and would have been placed but for falling here last time. Looks capable of a big run if avoiding errors.

Form: 53-172F

Turtle Wars⁸⁶

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 122

6/1

Looked a good prospect over hurdles last year. Yet to get to grips with chasing, being beaten 40L when favourite on debut at Sandown, and then pulled up at Kempton in December. Step up in trip a positive, but has a bit to prove.

Form: 3915-5P

Kings Walk²¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 120

7/2

Not always convincing over fences, but bounced back to form when second of 10 to Orchardstown Cross in novice handicap over 2m6¼f here last time. Looks fairly weighted despite a 3lb rise.

Form: 14-3P32

Queens Present⁷⁰⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: D W P Arbuthnot| OR: 112

25/1

Second to Dingo Dollar over hurdles in April 2017 now reads well but that preceded a long absence, and she makes her chase debut with something to prove in terms of her well-being.

Form: 033432/

Forecasts

Kings Walk (7/2), Air Navigator (6/1), Turtle Wars (6/1), Hurricane Dylan (6/1), Red Rising (13/2), Bob Mahler (9/1), Wilde Blue Yonder (9/1), Wandrin Star (10/1), Larry (12/1), Queens Present (25/1)

This looks best left to AIR NAVIGATOR, who was in the money when falling here last time, and whose previous second at Wincanton has been franked by the pair he split. Kings Walk looked a big threat to Orchardstown Cross here last time, and a repeat would give him every chance, while Turtle Wars has yet to click over fences, but is the type to do better at some point.