14:40 Newbury

Tuesday 29 December 2020

All12:2012:5513:3014:0514:4015:1515:45

MansionBet's Best Odds Guaranteed Mandarin Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:40 | Winning time: 6m 46.5s

Manofthemountain⁶⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 137| BF| D

8/1

Winner of his first 4 completed starts over fences. Shaped as if still in good form when fourth in Cheltenham race won by Frodon last time and definitely one for the shortlist.

Form: 11U1-14

Champagne Court³¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: Matt Griffiths| T: J Scott| OR: 136

13/2

Shaped better than the result suggests when fifth over 22.5f here a month ago but a well-run race over that trip seemed to stretch him so his stamina has to be a major concern over 3¼m.

Form: 158-9P5

Django Django⁴⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 135| C

8/1

Better than ever when opening chase account in 3m course handicap in January but he's disappointed in his 3 starts since (not helped by some indifferent jumping). Return to this venue needs to help.

Form: 3P14-0P

Colorado Doc³²³

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: C Brace⁽³⁾| T: D Brace| OR: 134

18/1

Prolific point winner who went right way under Rules last season, readily landing 2½m Plumpton novice handicap in February. Peak fitness has to be taken on trust but he is unexposed .

Form: 11/2221-

Coup De Pinceau^v1¹³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-10| J: T Scudamore| T: Nick Mitchell| OR: 133

33/1

Useful chaser who returned to form to take advantage of a drop in the weights at Perth. First run since leaving Paul Nicholls when creditable third in the mud at Ludlow 13 days ago. Visor added.

Form: 3P-5153

Redford Road²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-9| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 132

15/2

Useful staying novice hurdler. Promising Perth debut third over fences but has failed to build on that twice since. Still relatively early days though and longer trip may help.

Form: 150-383

Nestor Park^p²⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 130

13/2

Useful bumper winner who won twice over hurdles in 2018/19. Lightly raced since but course reappearance second encouraging and shaped as if still in form at Ascot since. Up significantly in trip.

Form: PP/P4-25

Commodore Barry^p,t⁷⁰

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 130

20/1

Prolific over hurdles and finally off mark over fences in 3-runner novice at Wetherby in March. However, he's been beaten a long way in 2 handicaps this term so others arrive with stronger claims.

Form: 2R41-06

Orchardstown Cross³¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-6| J: Rex Dingle⁽³⁾| T: J Scott| OR: 129| C

25/1

Won 3 on the bounce over fences last season and positive start to this campaign when third of 18 at Exeter (3m). Perhaps found race coming too soon when pulled up here since. Could bounce back.

Form: 1/10P-3P

Kings Monarch³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: R Patrick| T: Kerry Lee| OR: 126| BF

14/1

Had a quiet 2019 but returned better than ever to comfortably land 7-runner handicap at Ffos Las on reappearance. Does need to shrug off a poor run at Haydock since, though.

Form: 443P-1P

Captain Tommy^b,t1²⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-2| J: Adrian Heskin| T: H Whittington| OR: 125

16/1

Has a couple of creditable runner-up efforts at Bangor to his name this term but well below par when only sixth at Chepstow latest. First-time tongue tie now combined with usual blinkers.

Form: 542526

Cuban Pete³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 124

7/1

Arrives on a hat-trick after handicap wins at Stratford and Hereford (25.2f) this term, easily making most on latter occasion. Hit with 9 lb rise but he's not taken lightly in current mood.

Form: 2454-11

Get On The Yager^p,t²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 122| D

12/1

Good third in Midlands National in March 2019 but disappointed last season. Faded into well-held fifth on Wincanton return 26 days ago but eased another 3 lb and could be sharper with that behind him.

Form: 3/PV52-5

Amateur^p,t⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 10-0| J: Jamie Bargary| T: J L Flint| OR: 109WS

10/1

Taken well to fences, no match for useful Sojourn at Carlisle (3¼m, heavy) last time but seeing off the rest comfortably (form worked out). Sneaks in at bottom of weights. Had wind op. Big player.

Form: 42U-2P2

Forecasts

Nestor Park (13/2), Champagne Court (13/2), Cuban Pete (7/1), Redford Road (15/2), Django Django (8/1), Manofthemountain (8/1), Amateur (10/1), Get On The Yager (12/1), Kings Monarch (14/1), Captain Tommy (16/1), Colorado Doc (18/1), Commodore Barry (20/1), Orchardstown Cross (25/1), Coup De Pinceau (33/1)

In a very open handicap it might be worth taking a chance on bottom-weight AMATEUR. The form of the Carlisle race he was second in early last month has been boosted several times since and he looks sure to go well if returning from wind surgery in similar form. Manofthemountain, Cuban Pete and Nestor Park head the many dangers.