15:35 Newbury

Wednesday 20 January 2021

All12:5513:2514:0014:3015:0515:3516:05

MansionBet's Best Odds Guaranteed Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 23.65s

Fagan⁴⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Bannister| T: A M Hales| OR: 132

5/1

Posted best effort for current yard when third of 9 back in this sphere at Ludlow (25.6f) last time, faring best of those held up. Remains on a workable mark and must enter calculations.

Form: 2P/70-63

As You Like²²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 130

33/1

Tends to peak during the summer, as he did last year when adding to his tally at Southwell in July. Little impact on last 4 starts and can only be watched at present.

Form: 1260P4

Breaking Waves^p,t1⁴⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: J M Quinlan| T: H Whittington| OR: 129

18/1

Unreliable chaser for Noel Williams. Off 10 months and had wind op before unseating rider on return at Newbury and soon done with in an easier race at Wetherby since. Tongue strap applied.

Form: PP14-U4

Skipthecuddles^p³⁹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-10| J: Kielan Woods| T: D Killahena & G McPherson| OR: 128

16/1

Useful performer in his pomp, but plenty to prove on the back of a tame reappearance effort at Doncaster where he was returning from a 20-month layoff.

Form: 51UP6/P

Le Boizelo^p³⁴

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: H Cobden| T: R Walford| OR: 126

6/1

Dual 3m chase winner last term who got back on track when third of 7 in 3m handicap at Sandown on penultimate start. However, disappointing in first-time cheekpieces (retained here) at Exeter since.

Form: 431-830

Onefortheroadtom^p⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: K Brogan⁽⁵⁾| T: H Fry| OR: 125

3/1

Finally got the job done over fences when scoring over 3m at Fakenham on final run of last season. Not disgraced on return at Ascot in November and, likely to strip fitter here, he's one to consider.

Form: 24581-7

El Kaldoun¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: N de Boinville| T: N J Henderson| OR: 125| BF| D

13/2

Successful on both completed starts over fences, latterly at Taunton (23f) in December. Went close in a jumpers' bumper at Lingfield recently and this 7-y-o should have a part to play.

Form: 60-1F12

Nadaitak^p,t1²²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: B Pauling| OR: 125

12/1

Developed into a useful staying hurdler in 2018/19, but missed whole of last season and has hardly looked like a natural in 2 runs over fences. Cheekpieces refitted and first-time tongue strap added.

Form: 109/03P

Ouro Branco^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: Kieren Buckley⁽⁷⁾| T: N J Hawke| OR: 124

4/1

Winner of 2 of her 3 starts switched to fences last season, and looked better than ever when making a successful reappearance at Wincanton (20.2f) on Boxing Day. Big player despite 10 lb rise.

Form: 57/141-1

Dusky Lark^p⁹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-5| J: James Best| T: R Walford| OR: 123

22/1

Hasn't got his head in front for best part of 4 years and latest effort at Hereford was uninspiring.

Form: 6227/25

Non-Runners

Valadom³⁵

Weight: 11-10| Age: 12

T: R Hobson J: Paul O'Brien

Forgot To Ask⁴⁸

Weight: 11-1| Age: 9

T: T R George J: C Gethings

Don Lami³⁷

Weight: 11-0| Age: 8

T: A J Honeyball J: Rex Dingle

Dark Flame⁴⁰

Weight: 10-13| Age: 12

T: R Rowe J: James Davies

Forecasts

Onefortheroadtom (3/1), Ouro Branco (4/1), Fagan (5/1), Le Boizelo (6/1), El Kaldoun (13/2), Valadom (8/1), Forgot To Ask (8/1), Nadaitak (12/1), Don Lami (12/1), Skipthecuddles (16/1), Breaking Waves (18/1), Dark Flame (20/1), Dusky Lark (22/1), As You Like (33/1)

ONEFORTHEROADTOM should be sharper following his reappearance spin at Ascot and he could be the answer to this open-looking handicap. There was much to like about the way Ouro Branco did the job at Wincanton on Boxing Day and he is feared greatly in his bid to make it 4-5 in this sphere. Fagan remains on a workable mark and, along with Forgot To Ask, he is also shortlisted.