15:35 Newbury

Saturday 31 December 2022

All12:1012:4013:1513:5014:2515:0015:35

Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 15:36 | Winning time: 5m 57.4s

Nothin To Ask^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: P J Brennan| T: F O'Brien| OR: 134

8/1

Fair novice hurdler last season who has taken his form up a notch this term over the larger obstacles, making it 2-2 in uncomplicated style at Doncaster (19.1f, good) 5 weeks ago. Will go on improving so he's a must for the shortlist.

Form: 2133-11

Halo Des Obeaux²⁸

Age: 5| Weight: 11-4| J: H Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 133| BF

6/1

Things didn't go to plan for this French recruit last season but he got his career back on track when ploughing through the mud to win a 2½m Sandown handicap on his reappearance. Possibly did a bit too much too soon back there a month later and now goes back chasing.

Form: 3FF7-14

Unanswered Prayers⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-4| J: Tom Cannon| T: C Gordon| OR: 133

5/1

Showed a good attitude to overcome a double penalty at Plumpton in March. Had point experience and put that to good use on first start over fences when winning at Cheltenham (20.2f, good) last month. Sure to progress in this sphere.

Form: 4412-51

Malinello^t³⁵

Age: 7| Weight: 11-3| J: Luca Morgan⁽³⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 132

10/3

Quickly made into a fairly useful winner over hurdles in 2020/21 and made a successful start in this sphere after nearly 2 years off/following a second wind operation at Newcastle (23.4f, good) 5 weeks ago. Better to come.

Form: 24212/1

Tea For Free⁴⁹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-2| J: Lily Pinchin⁽³⁾| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 131

7/1

Successful sole start in points and unbeaten in three runs since sent chasing, having a bit up his sleeve at Uttoxeter (26.1f, good to soft) 7 weeks ago. Another 6 lb higher today but he's almost certainly not finished progressing.

Form: 332-111

Surrey Quest^t⁴¹

Age: 5| Weight: 10-13| J: James Bowen| T: N J Henderson| OR: 128

11/4

Looked a good prospect over hurdles (won first 2 starts) and shaped encouragingly sent chasing after 8 months off when third at Uttoxeter (22.5f, soft) just under 6 weeks ago. May well be better to come in this sphere.

Form: 211P7-3

Eyeofthescorpion^p⁴¹

Age: 8| Weight: 10-6| J: C Brace| T: F O'Brien| OR: 121

12/1

Ran well after a year off the track when second of 5 in handicap hurdle (4/1) at Uttoxeter (23.3f, soft) 41 days ago. Still one to treat with caution now he goes chasing and others make more immediate appeal (Got loose pre-race so was withdrawn at Kelso on Thursday).

Form: 12423-2

Non-Runners

Bold Endeavour²⁴

Weight: 11-10| Age: 6

T: N J Henderson J: N de Boinville

Doctor Ken³²

Weight: 11-1| Age: 6

T: O Murphy J: Aidan Coleman

Rakhine State³²

Weight: 10-5| Age: 9

T: D J Jeffreys J: Sam Twiston-Davies

Forecasts

Surrey Quest (11/4), Malinello (10/3), Bold Endeavour (4/1), Unanswered Prayers (5/1), Halo Des Obeaux (6/1), Doctor Ken (13/2), Tea For Free (7/1), Nothin To Ask (8/1), Eyeofthescorpion (12/1), Rakhine State (33/1)

Cases can be made for most but TEA FOR FREE made it 3 from 3 over the larger obstacles at Uttoxeter 7 weeks ago and with his idle tendencies likely to keep him a step ahead of the handicapper, Charlie Longsdon's charge is fancied to complete the 4-timer. Bold Endeavour left his chasing debut form behind when scoring on first start for Nicky Henderson at Leicester so he heads up the dangers, ahead of Nothin To Ask and Doctor Ken.