13:15 Newbury

Saturday 28 December 2019

All12:0512:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Betway Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:15 | Winning time: 4m 9.30s

Vado Forte^h²⁵

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: R T Dunne| T: T Lacey| OR: 127| BF| D

7/1

Not quite lived up to expectations over fences yet having been a useful hurdler with his jumping last time being less than fluent. Kept on the same mark for his third consecutive handicap it may well be that this mark is beyond him.

Form: 30P-543

Ardmayle²⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: James Bowen| T: A Stronge| OR: 126| D

7/1

Scored a stylish win at Sandown to end last season having run well there the time before. Failed to show much promise this year having shown very little zip on his return over hurdles; jumped poorly on his chasing return last time.

Form: 4431-06

Go Long²⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-13| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 126| D

7/1

Took well to fences last season (still relatively lightly-raced over them); doesn't look as though he's been the easiest to train. Shaped better than the bare result in both starts this year (in a better grade last time); potential back to a bare 2m.

Form: 3/313-59

I'dliketheoption^t¹⁷⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 125| D

25/1

Twice a winner last year he's yet to really show much spark this year although he has now arrived back on his last winning mark. Well backed when last seen at Stratford (jumped poorly); market may be best guide after an absence.

Form: 2354-35

Amoola Gold²¹

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 124| D

4/1

Opened his chasing career with a win late last year (only seen three times since then). Made a good impression on his reappearance over 4f further here (made mistakes late on); chance if his poor effort at Aintree last time is forgiven.

Form: 5713-37

Defi Sacre^t¹⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-10| J: James Best| T: R Hobson| OR: 123| CD

9/4

Improving chaser who got off the mark at Musselburgh before shrugging off a 7lb penalty over C&D (beat a subsequent winner). Escapes a penalty for that win (runs off his new mark), still looks to have something in hand at the weights.

Form: 84-4211

Buck's Bin's^h1,t³⁷

Age: 5| Weight: 11-7| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 120

20/1

Irish point-to-point winner who showed promise over hurdles having finished second on his first two attempts in that sphere. Easy to back on his chasing debut after a six-month layoff, looked to need that run, hood on, progress expected.

Form: 132-23P

Chozen^h²¹⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Alan Johns| T: Tim Vaughan| OR: 119| DWS

10/1

2-5 over fences those couple of wins came within his first three races and the most recent efforts in this sphere have failed to impress. May not have stayed 2m4f when last seen (some way below his best); fair bit to prove on his return.

Form: 6/1U14-P

Monsieur D'Arque^t¹¹

Age: 5| Weight: 11-3| J: Bridget Andrews| T: D Skelton| OR: 116| D

20/1

Irish point-to-point winner at the second attempt he made the most of an easy attempt to score over hurdles. Looks a slow burner over fences (not given a hard time in his two chasing starts); may well be more to come off this mark.

Form: 414-064

Mine's A Pint^h,t²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-11| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Kieran Burke| OR: 110

20/1

Took well to fences winning on his debut last February lowering the colours off a long odds-on favourite. Shaped well, without winning in two subsequent starts in the spring; much will depend on fitness and jumping (let him down last twice).

Form: 595132-

Forecasts

Defi Sacre (9/4), Amoola Gold (4/1), Vado Forte (7/1), Ardmayle (7/1), Go Long (7/1), Chozen (10/1), Monsieur D'Arque (20/1), Buck's Bin's (20/1), Mine's A Pint (20/1), I'dliketheoption (25/1)

Despite the rise in the weights DEFI SACRE comes here on a hat-trick still looking on a good mark after scoring well over C&D last time with the second winning on Boxing Day to give the form some credence. Amoola Gold would need to bounce back from his poor run at Aintree last time but has a chance on previous form as would Buck’s Bin's and Go Long both of whom have shown the potential to win over fences. Monsieur D’Arque is another who looks to have more to offer his fourth at Catterick last time pointing to the fact there will be more to come in the future.