14:35 Newbury

Wednesday 29 December 2021

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

Follow MansionBetRace On Twitter Mandarin Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:35 | Winning time: 6m 53.85s

Nestor Park^p⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: Luca Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

7/1

Dual hurdle winner who remains winless over fences but went close on 3 separate occasions (second in this) last term. Possibly needed the run on return and looks well handicapped if building on that.

Form: 2522P-4

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Cobolobo^p,t²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 132| D

20/1

Improved again when making all at Exeter (3m) last season and backed that up with a good second at Ascot. However, he's struggled since and may have needed the run at Aintree 25 days ago.

Form: 2125P-8

Truckin Away^t³⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 11-9| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 132

66/1

Surpassed hurdles form in light 2020/21 campaign, coping well with the mud when winning at Doncaster. Ground was a possible excuse for a below-par reappearance so he may bounce back here.

Form: 3/4210-P

Run To Milan²⁵

Age: 9| Weight: 11-9| J: Alan Johns| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 132

28/1

Ended last season on a high, gaining breakthrough success over fences at Exeter (24.2f). Good third on return over the same C&D but failed to fire after a 5 lb rise next time. More required.

Form: 43/61-34

Landofsmiles^p²⁵

Age: 8| Weight: 11-6| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 129

33/1

Thrived over fences this year, gaining fourth success in game fashion at Perth (23.8f) in June. Unable to capitalise on lower hurdles mark at Aintree earlier this month so others make more appeal.

Form: 1-21432

Innisfree Lad^p²⁴

Age: 9| Weight: 11-5| J: David Noonan| T: David Dennis| OR: 128| D

33/1

Revitalised last season, winning 5 times (2 hurdle, 3 chase). Stepped up on previous efforts this term sporting first-time cheekpieces when third at Kelso (32.4f) recently so no forlorn hope here.

Form: 310-763

L'Air Du Vent^t²⁶

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: Brendan Powell| T: C L Tizzard| OR: 128

66/1

Form: 31PF5-P

Gericault Roque²⁵

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: T Scudamore| T: D Pipe| OR: 127| BF

11/4

Progressive, dual hurdles winner who shaped encouragingly when third on chase debut at Wetherby. Stepped up on that effort when runner-up at Chepstow (23.6f) next time so he's high on the shortlist.

Form: 2131-32

Saint Palais²⁵

Age: 4| Weight: 11-3| J: Harry Bannister| T: R Bandey| OR: 135

7/4

Made promising start over fences for current yard when bagging 23f handicap at Worcester and followed up to make it 2-2 in chases on these shores at Wetherby. Open to progress so he's much respected.

Form: 2322-11

Tinkers Hill Tommy^t²⁸

Age: 10| Weight: 10-13| J: R Patrick| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 122| C

50/1

Improved for new yard last term, successful at Hereford and at this course prior to finishing second over 23.8f at Ludlow. Failed to complete both starts this term so probably best to look elsewhere.

Form: 2112-PF

Crypto⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-8| J: N de Boinville| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 117

5/1

£200,000 purchase after dotting up in bumper for Micky Hammond in 2019. Disappointed over hurdles but off the mark at second attempt over fences at Carlisle in March and reappearance was satisfactory.

Form: 4/4431-3

Wayfinder¹⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 10-6| J: Adam Wedge| T: Miss R Curtis| OR: 115| D

12/1

Low-mileage 7-y-o who landed 26f handicap chase at Chepstow 14 months ago. Has potential to do better still, and was brought down in luckless fashion mid-race on return at Bangor 19 days ago.

Form: 361/21-B

Non-Runners

Full Back³²

Weight: 11-12| Age: 6

T: G & J Moore J: J E Moore

On Call²⁶

Weight: 10-8| Age: 8

T: G Harris J: Conor Ring

Forecasts

Saint Palais (7/4), Gericault Roque (11/4), Crypto (5/1), Nestor Park (7/1), Wayfinder (12/1), On Call (12/1), Full Back (12/1), Cobolobo (20/1), Run To Milan (28/1), Innisfree Lad (33/1), Landofsmiles (33/1), Tinkers Hill Tommy (50/1), Truckin Away (66/1), L'Air Du Vent (66/1)

An open-looking renewal in which SAINT PALAIS is put forward as the answer. Richard Bandey's charge made it 2-2 in chases on these shore at Wetherby earlier this month and, with improvement on the cards, he can bring up the hat-trick. Gericault Roque confirmed the promise of his chasing debut when runner-up last time so he's expected to be in the mix, along with Wayfinder and Crypto.