15:00 Newbury

Friday 5 March 2021

All13:1513:5014:2515:0015:3516:1016:40

Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:00 | Winning time: 4m 1.22s

Est Illic³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-12| J: W T Kennedy| T: S-J Davies| OR: 129| D

18/1

Much improved for new yard this term, winning handicap chases at Bangor and Doncaster. Faced very stiff task behind Shiskin in Doncaster Grade 2 last time and not ruled out in these calmer waters.

Form: 465-113

Foxboro²⁷

Age: 6| Weight: 11-8| J: D A Jacob| T: R Walford| OR: 125

18/1

German Flat winner who won 2 hurdles too in France in 2019. Promising return/chasing bow for new yard when second in Plumpton novice but pulled up in Sandown handicap only run since. Bit to prove now.

Form: 11-2P

Defi Sacre^p,t²⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: R Hobson| OR: 125| CD

10/3

C&D winner who got back on track when third of 9 in 2m handicap chase at Musselburgh 27 days ago. Cheekpieces back on and needs considering off 1 lb lower mark.

Form: 1-2U333

Editeur Du Gite⁴⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-8| J: Joshua Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 125

7/2

Ex-French winning hurdler who has shown fairly useful form when twice runner-up over fences this term. Pulled up after bad error 4 out in 2m3f handicap at Chepstow latest though so others preferred.

Form: P6-252P

Le Ligerien²²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-8| J: Ben Jones⁽³⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 125| CD

11/2

Useful hurdler who has struggled this term and again found little when fourth in C&D handicap on chasing debut. Much better effort when second in Kempton bumper last time but others still appeal more.

Form: 0-3P442

William H Bonney³²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-6| J: Adrian Heskin| T: A King| OR: 123| D

8/1

Five-time hurdles winner who hasn't been at his very best so far this season (inlcuding twice over fences) until runner-up in Lingfield jumpers bumper latest. Needs to back it up now in this sphere.

Form: 3-57372

Saintemilion^t³⁷³

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Bryony Frost| T: J D Frost| OR: 118

66/1

Disappointing on the whole for Paul Nicholls after his Exeter chase success (2m3f) in March 2019. Makes debut for new connections after 12 months off and easy to look elsewhere.

Form: 3U6244-

Shut The Box^p²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 115| D

9/4

Fairly useful winning hurdler who has made a good start chasing with three placed efforts, including over C&D. Another solid effort when third in Kempton jumpers bumper last time so rates big player.

Form: 0-23323

Non-Runners

Movie Legend³²

Weight: 11-9| Age: 11

T: L Wadham J: Non Runner

Forecasts

Shut The Box (9/4), Defi Sacre (10/3), Editeur Du Gite (7/2), Le Ligerien (11/2), William H Bonney (8/1), Movie Legend (10/1), Foxboro (18/1), Est Illic (18/1), Saintemilion (66/1)

SHUT THE BOX has yet to get his head in front over fences but has shaped with promise on each of his 3 starts and looks the way to go on the back of an excellent third in a jumpers bumper at Kempton. Dual winner Est Illic is fancied to chase him home now he reverts to handicap company, with C&D winner Defi Sacre also worth a second look in refitted cheekpieces.