14:25 Newbury

Saturday 28 December 2019

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

Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 40.90s

Strong Pursuit²⁸⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 135| BF| C

10/1

Course winner on his chasing debut (2m6f) in November 2017 and only seen twice since then running poorly over C&D when last seen (pulled up). Given the breaks he's had over the past few year's plenty has to be taken on trust for return.

Form: 1P21/3P-

Copperhead²³

Age: 5| Weight: 11-11| J: H Cobden| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 134

3/1

Progressed well over hurdles last season and has continued that upward curve over fences capitalising on an eye-catching debut with a Wincanton win last time. Won convincingly despite some early troubles; unexposed, up 9lb but more to offer.

Form: 3811-51

Polydora⁴⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-10| J: N de Boinville| T: T Lacey| OR: 133

6/1

Developed quite nicely over fences last year winning a novices' handicap just over a year ago off 2lb lower at Newcastle. Not successful since and rather let down by his jumping when reappearing at Ayr; will need to be far more fluent here.

Form: 31349-2

Cobolobo^t²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 129| D

5/1

Put a poor reappearance effort (pulled up with a reported wind problem) behind him when winning in ready fashion at Haydock last time (tongue-tie back on). Will need to improve again to win this but hard to not see him playing a part.

Form: P/23U-P1

Goodnight Charlie^b¹⁸

Age: 9| Weight: 11-2| J: Bridget Andrews| T: C Fryer| OR: 125| D

33/1

Dual handicap chase winner over staying trips in the spring off lower marks but hasn't as yet found that same spark since returning to action. Produced a laboured effort over hurdles last time; better over fences especially from the front.

Form: 21P1-35

Indy Five²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: David Dennis| OR: 122| C

9/1

Useful handicap chaser in the past; has won off higher marks than today, had a dreadfully hard race when second at Ayr in the past. That may have left a scar but he may have still needed his run last time; not totally written off at a big price.

Form: 12F/0-PP

Antony²²

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 122

33/1

Cut some slack by the handicapper if he could rediscover his old form he would be thrown in off this mark. However, he ran poorly last time returning from 14 months off with his jumping falling apart very quickly; hard to warm to on that performance.

Form: P41/23-P

Forgot To Ask^t³⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 10-13| J: J J Burke| T: T R George| OR: 122

14/1

Chasing form has proved rather chequered so far although he did look to be coming back to something approaching his earlier Ffos Las win last time. Fared best of those held up (finished with running left); one to take into consideration.

Form: 3-137U6

Boughtbeforelunch^p²²

Age: 6| Weight: 10-12| J: T J O'Brien| T: P R Webber| OR: 121

8/1

Consistent chaser although he does tend to find one or two that are too good each time (second/third on his last six starts). Handicap mark keeps nudging up without winning and now looks to figure on a tough enough mark.

Form: 322-232

Moving In Style³⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 10-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: R Walford| OR: 118| D

9/2

Dual chase/hurdle winner when with Neil Mulholland; starting to look as though he can add to that tally for this yard. Showed the benefit of his reappearance run last time at Haydock, mistakes blighting his chance late on, runs off same mark.

Form: 1413-52

Forecasts

Copperhead (3/1), Moving In Style (9/2), Cobolobo (5/1), Polydora (6/1), Boughtbeforelunch (8/1), Indy Five (9/1), Strong Pursuit (10/1), Forgot To Ask (14/1), Antony (33/1), Goodnight Charlie (33/1)

Not the race it used to be in the past but still a reasonable handicap chase and one that should take a good performance to win. COPPERHEAD looks one of the most progressive in the field overcoming early mishaps at Wincanton last time to run out a ready winner looking as though he could improve even further despite the rise in the weights and grade. Cobolobo, much happier in a tongue-tie ploughed through testing conditions to win at Haydock and despite a 7lb rise he looks one of the main dangers. Forgot To Ask will need to improve but caught the eye at Taunton last time whilst Moving In Style can be given a chance along with Indy Five who despite his form figures could outrun his price.