15:05 Newton Abbot

Wednesday 5 May 2021

All13:0013:3014:0014:3015:0515:3516:0716:40

newtonabbotracing.com Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:05 | Winning time: 6m 45.14s

Soldier Of Love^p,t¹⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Bryony Frost| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 142| CD

16/5

Vastly improved after a wind op in first half of season, completing four-timer over this C&D. Pulled up on last 2 starts, shaping as though amiss in the Scottish National, but this is easier.

Form: 1112PP-

Rocky's Treasure^b1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: C Gethings| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 140

16/1

Scored at Doncaster in December but struggled back there on next 2 outings and ultimately beaten a long way at Cheltenham 3 weeks ago. Blinkers now the headgear of choice.

Form: U91P58-

Hill Sixteen^t³⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: N & W Twiston-Davies| OR: 135WS

13/2

Hit the ground running in the autumn for Nigel Twiston-Davies, winning a handicap chase/hurdle. Wheels have rather come off since and he's undergone wind surgery.

Form: 2/11PPP-

Soupy Soups^p⁵⁰

Age: 10| Weight: 11-4| J: R T Dunne| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 132

7/1

Enhanced good record at Perth when resuming winning ways there in August. Come up well short in face of stiff tasks in recent starts but this is at least slightly easier.

Form: 561P0P-

Highest Sun^t³⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 130| D

5/2

Useful chaser who has become well handicapped but is expensive to follow. Plugged on for third at Ascot last time but hard to know his optimum trip.

Form: 7/544P3-

Christmas In April^p⁴²

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 129| D

12/1

Three time winner last term and made a decent start to the season when second at Fontwell back in November. Pulled up in the Welsh/Devon National since and didn't offer much at Haydock latest.

Form: 1P/2PP4-

Beau Du Brizais^p1²¹

Age: 9| Weight: 11-1| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 129| D

9/1

Useful chaser who might have needed the run after 3 months off when third of 5 in handicap at Taunton in March. Failed to build on that at Cheltenham and cheekpieces now reached for.

Form: F22536-

Doitforthevillage^t³²

Age: 12| Weight: 10-7| J: T J O'Brien| T: P Henderson| OR: 121

7/1

Cracking servant to connections who resumed winning ways over fences at Sandown in January. Also runner-up over that same C&D in February but wasn't on a "going" day at Haydock latest.

Form: 514246-

Non-Runners

Sir Ivan⁶⁰

Weight: 12-0| Age: 11

T: H Fry J: Lorcan Murtagh

Fagan²⁵

Weight: 11-12| Age: 11

T: A M Hales J: Harry Bannister

Forecasts

Highest Sun (5/2), Sir Ivan (3/1), Soldier Of Love (16/5), Fagan (6/1), Hill Sixteen (13/2), Doitforthevillage (7/1), Soupy Soups (7/1), Beau Du Brizais (9/1), Christmas In April (12/1), Rocky's Treasure (16/1)

Following a commanding win at Newbury, FAGAN did enough at Aintree last time to think he's still in good form. Eased 2 lb, he could be the way to go, with Sir Ivan feared most, though Soldier of Love could easily get back on track eased slightly in class.