15:15 Newbury

Saturday 29 February 2020

All12:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

William Hill Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3)

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Bryan Carver⁽⁵⁾| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 150| CD

Far from prolific these days but very high class in his younger days and won this valuable prize 12 months ago. 3lb higher today and likely softer ground not ideal but can't be ruled out.

Form: 0173-64

Bags Groove^t³³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: H Fry| OR: 149| DWS

Won four times as a novice including two Grade 2s and fourth in Aintree Grade 1 when last seen. That was 10 months ago so fitness a doubt but market can guide and big danger if 100 per cent especially post wind-surgery.

Form: 111514-

Bennys King⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-8| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 149| C| D

Remains on the upgrade it seems and neck defeat by Domaine De L'Isle on heavy over 2m5f at Ascot suggests another decent prize can be plundered before the season ends. Will handle this ground better than many.

Form: 11-6152

Gala Ball^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: R Johnson| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 147| CD

Just over 9L behind Clondaw Castle at Warwick last time having win at Wincanton the time before. Not sure a 7lb weight pull will be enough.

Form: 2/21-014

Domaine De L'Isle^t¹⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: G Sheehan| T: S Curran| OR: 146| D

Completed his hat-trick when narrowly beating Bennys King at Ascot but struggled there in National trial latest and one wonders whether handicapper and exertions caught up with him at last.

Form: 361115

Valdez²¹

Age: 13| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 145| C

Won at Hereford in November but well behind re-opposing rivals here twice since and no obvious reason he can turn the tables now.

Form: 32-8145

Mont Des Avaloirs²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142

Lightly raced novice second in three of his four chase starts including over 3m here latest when keener than ideal. This trip plays more to his strengths and looks a big threat today with that in mind.

Form: 07P-422

Not Another Muddle³²³

Age: 9| Weight: 10-13| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 140| BF| D

First time out here after 323 days on the sidelines but has won after layoffs before and remained progressive last season over similar trips. Unraced on heavy but won on soft so far from ruled out here.

Form: 11/3152-

Drumcliff^t¹³⁹

Age: 9| Weight: 10-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: H Fry| OR: 139| DWS

Won three times over fences in his previous spell with this trainer. Showed little in three runs in Ireland, and has now returned to this trainer with plenty to prove.

Form: P/1F-4P9

Tiquer⁶⁴

Age: 12| Weight: 10-3| J: James Best| T: A E Jones| OR: 130| CD

Gained fifth win over fences at Chepstow latest (2m3½f, heavy). Not sure he's quite well handicapped now 6lb higher in stronger race but conditions ideal.

Form: 714/4-P1

Enrichissant^p⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-0| J: Brendan Powell| T: D G Bridgwater| OR: 126| D

Lightly raced novice absolutely hosed up by 18L in comparably weak Huntingdon handicap nine days ago. Handicapper raised him 12lb which is in effect 13lb here but is the dark-horse of the piece for sure.

Form: 310-721

Non-Runners

Secret Investor²¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 8

T: P F Nicholls J: Lorcan Williams

Clondaw Castle²¹

Weight: 11-8| Age: 8

T: T R George J: J J Burke

Forecasts

Mont Des Avaloirs (11/2), Clondaw Castle (7/1), San Benedeto (7/1), Secret Investor (7/1), Bennys King (8/1), Drumcliff (10/1), Domaine De L'Isle (10/1), Enrichissant (10/1), Gala Ball (12/1), Bags Groove (12/1), Not Another Muddle (12/1), Valdez (16/1), Tiquer (16/1)

A chance is taken here despite the layoff on classy novice BAGS GROOVE who was a graded-level performer as a novice and he could just have too much class here if arriving at somewhere near his best first time out. There are a host of these who may not appreciate underfoot conditions but Bennys King definitely will and he ran very well on desperate ground at Ascot latest. Also on the shortlist are the Nicholls trio with Mont Des Avaloirs the preferred due to the ground.