Ellis Mather Group Presents Newark Festival 2019 Novices' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 4m 6.60s

Jaboticaba¹⁶

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: Wayne Hutchinson| T: A King| OR: 120| BF| D

6/4

Yet to win in GB (French hurdles winner); probably should have won on his chasing debut at Warwick (2m, good). Jumped well, travelled strongly until making a mess of the last (not able to recover); a clear round here will see him gain compensation.

Form: 5D054-2

Percy Street^b,t¹³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 116| D

5/2

The first-time tongue-tie added to his usual headgear allowed him to win a weak hurdles contest at Wincanton last time over 4f further; just held on at the death. Now goes chasing for the first time; wouldn't be one to bank on to follow up.

Form: 42444-1

Mr Monochrome¹⁷²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: B S Hughes| T: D McCain Jnr| OR: 116| D

16/1

Struggling to match anything like his hurdles form over fences; now 0-3 in this sphere. Would have needed his first run back on his debut for this yard but produced a laboured effort last time; leap of faith to support him.

Form: 1234/7P-

Dandolo Du Gite^t⁶³

Age: 6| Weight: 11-6| J: Harry Reed⁽³⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 114

11/4

Bumper/hurdles winner who has already had two breathing operations; this will be his second run back after the second one. Ran far too free over hurdles last time (not for the first time); needs to settle better now sent chasing.

Form: 1/21356-

Bard Of Brittany¹⁹⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 10-7| J: J J Burke| T: M R Channon| OR: 101

7/1

Showed some better form once switched to a handicap over hurdles last year over a longer trip than he will face here. 4lb lower than he was for his sole handicap hurdles run; yard's horses usually well schooled; not out of this on chasing debut.

Form: 0B/3496-

Forecasts

Jaboticaba (6/4), Percy Street (5/2), Dandolo Du Gite (11/4), Bard Of Brittany (7/1), Mr Monochrome (16/1)

But for a crashing blunder at the last on his chasing debut at Warwick JABOTICABA would be coming into this having recorded his first GB win. However he should be able to make amends in this given how well he jumped/travelled on that occasion. Percy Street returned to winning ways last time but he’s not always been the most consistent and Bard Of Brittany makes more appeal as the one to grab the runner-up slot his yard doing well with their select group of chasers.