14:05 Newbury

Saturday 23 March 2019

All14:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:0017:3017:35

Insure With Be Wiser Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:05 | Winning time: 6m 35.4s

Joe Farrell²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 140| C

12/1

Followed 2m7f win here last year with Scottish National win at Ayr (4m). Just the one run so far this term when tailed off but likely strip fitter now although suspect all roads again lead to Ayr.

Form: 24311-6

Strong Pursuit^t1³⁶

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 136| C

7/2

Won first chase here back in 2017 and after absence of over a year he ran really well at Sandown where a sweeping move looked decisive only for him to tire into third. Sure to come on plenty and tongue-tie may help him, big chance.

Form: 11P2/1-3

Ziga Boy^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-7| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: A King| OR: 135| D

22/1

Off 763 days after bold jumping make all in 2017 Sky Bet Handicap Chase at Doncaster and unsurprisingly struggled when pulled up here on return. Could come on for that but how much ability remains is anyone's guess.

Form: 65U31/P

Marcilhac²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Hugh Nugent⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 134

25/1

Ludlow winner in 2017 understandably struggled on first run in 437 days when pulled up here latest. Hopefully show more now but hard to be confident.

Form: 1/P252-P

Classic Ben^p⁴⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: C Gethings| T: S Edmunds| OR: 134

4/1

Lightly raced chaser gained first success over fences latest with game success at Sandown over 3m. This longest trip to date but always looked like a real stamina test may be ideal. Upped 4lb but highly respected.

Form: 6-42531

Luckofthedraw³⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 11-5| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 133

16/1

Carlisle novice winner in first start over fences and ran well there also since. Other two efforts over fences however less compelling including when pulled up latest at Haydock where his jumping wasn't fluent. Unexposed but risky.

Form: 12-182P

Grand Vision³⁵

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 132

16/1

Three-time chase winner just managed the two ordinary runs so far this season. More needed and combination of his advancing years and yard's poor form enough to look elsewhere.

Form: 216F-75

Rock My Style^p²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: G Sheehan| T: W Greatrex| OR: 130

20/1

Dual hurdles winner ran just twice to date over fences with an unseated rider followed by a second at Uttoxeter in a small field. Jumped very slowly the last day and big field here will test his so far sketchy technique.

Form: 2P/11-U2

Kansas City Chief^p⁷

Age: 10| Weight: 10-11| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 125

11/2

Pulled up at Kempton latest where he hung violently left on the bend at Kempton. Hopefully then going left handed here will suit better but form this season not enough to be confident.

Form: 20-5P5P

Chic Name²⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.⁽⁵⁾| T: R Hobson| OR: 125| C

9/2

Far from prolific but looks to be on a fair mark now after fair sixth to Classic Ben at Sandown and seventh since at Exeter. 1lb lower than last win now so can't be ruled out although more needed.

Form: P1-0567

Salmanazar¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 10-7| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 121

13/2

Just the one win over fences so far but ran soundly in all three starts this season with a second at Exeter followed by two fourths at Sandown. Handicapper aids again so not ruled out although chase win came four years ago.

Form: 423-244

Forecasts

Strong Pursuit (7/2), Classic Ben (4/1), Chic Name (9/2), Kansas City Chief (11/2), Salmanazar (13/2), Joe Farrell (12/1), Grand Vision (16/1), Luckofthedraw (16/1), Rock My Style (20/1), Ziga Boy (22/1), Marcilhac (25/1)

Philip Hobbs lightly raced STRONG PURSUIT was a huge eye-catcher on return at Sandown where he burst clear only to blow up and finish third. He ought to strip fitter here and a tongue-tie may also help when the going gets tough late on so he gets the vote off the same mark. Improving Classic Ben rates the biggest threat with this longer trip expected to bring about further improvement. Joe Farrell should go much better now in what could be his prep for a repeat bid in the Scottish National.