13:25 Newbury

Wednesday 29 December 2021

All12:1512:5013:2514:0014:3515:0515:35

MansionBet Faller Insurance Handicap Chase

Off time: 13:25 | Winning time: 4m 18.1s

Fix At All^p1⁵²

Age: 5| Weight: 11-12| J: R Patrick| T: M Scudamore| OR: 124

12/1

Half-brother to useful hurdler Fixe Le Kap who boasted fairly useful form over hurdles/fences himself in France. Below best at Auteuil on final start in November and market best guide for new yard.

Form: 16-16B3

Early Du Lemo²⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: J E Moore| T: G & J Moore| OR: 119| D

3/1

Fairly useful sort who ran creditably on the back of 10 months off when 6.5 lengths third of 9 at Sandown (15.5f) 26 days ago. Mark has eased a little and good showing not ruled out.

Form: 1/2F45-3

Doukarov^h¹⁴

Age: 6| Weight: 11-7| J: Lorcan Murtagh⁽³⁾| T: S Curran| OR: 119| CD

11/2

Well backed when gaining third chase success over C&D a couple of weeks back. That didn't look the strongest of contests though and more on his plate from revised mark.

Form: F4-7431

The Russian Doyen^t²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: H Cobden| T: J Scott| OR: 119| CD

8/1

Useful handicap chaser at his peak (C&D winner) but failed to fire last season and below his best in a couple of spins over hurdles/fences this winter. Handicapper is relinquishing his grip at least.

Form: F5U5-58

Beaufort West¹²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: N F Houlihan⁽⁵⁾| T: A Irvine| OR: 118| D

12/1

Dual hurdles winner for Colin Tizzard and positive chase debut for new yard when second at Sandown (15.5f, soft) in February. Not so good over fences/hurdles since, though.

Form: 82P4-F0

Makka Pakka⁴⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 11-1| J: Charlie Hammond| T: Dr R D P Newland| OR: 113

22/1

Fair ex-Irish hurdler who ran well to finish placed in pair of Stratford handicap chases (21f) in October. Seemingly not 100% at Worcester (16.5f) in November and bounce back not ruled out.

Form: 6-2P23P

Heart Of A Lion³⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 10-11| J: Tom Cannon| T: A King| OR: 109| BF| D

7/1

Bumper winner. Failed to score over hurdles but improved to score on chase debut at Ludlow (2m) in November. Jumping let him down at Huntingdon next time but it remains early days with him.

Form: 5F3-513

Gallic Geordie⁹^{(ex 7)}

Age: 8| Weight: 10-1| J: Adam Wedge| T: S Drinkwater| OR: 92| D

9/4

Progressive from a low base, readily landing back-to-back Lingfield handicap chases (2m) in recent months. Up markedly in grade now but of definite interest under a penalty in hat-trick bid.

Form: PP-5811

Non-Runners

Fairway Freddy²⁶

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: N J Gifford J: James Davies

Forecasts

Gallic Geordie (9/4), Early Du Lemo (3/1), Doukarov (11/2), Heart Of A Lion (7/1), The Russian Doyen (8/1), Beaufort West (12/1), Fix At All (12/1), Fairway Freddy (16/1), Makka Pakka (22/1)

GALLIC GEORDIE takes a step up in class but it's been hard not to be impressed with the manner of his back-to-back Lingfield victories in recent months and he's fancied to make a bold bid to complete the hat-trick under a penalty. Early du Lemo and Heart of A Lion are others to consider, along with Makka Pakka.