14:25 Newbury

Friday 1 December 2023

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

Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (GBB Race)

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 4m 59.95s

Sail Away^t²²³

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 145WS

7/1

Gained a deserved first chasing success in a 3-runner Warwick handicap (3m, good) in May 2022 and proved better than ever when running his rivals ragged from the front at Ayr (24.1f, good) when last seen 7 months ago. Plenty to like on return (has had another wind op).

Form: 62/3121-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Iron Bridge²⁵⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-11| J: Jonjo O'Neill Jr.| T: J & A O'Neill| OR: 142| D

11/2

Bumper/dual hurdle winner who took record to 4-4 in a warm Carlisle novice handicap on chase debut/return last season. Left with nothing to beat at Haydock before good runner-up efforts at Warwick/Uttoxeter (20f, good to soft) last 2 starts. Off 8 months and remains one to keep on the right side.

Form: 1/15122-

The Big Bite^p¹⁹⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-8| J: J J Burke| T: Henry Oliver| OR: 139| CD

33/1

Useful sort on his day and back to that level in first-time headgear when narrow winner of Greatwood Gold Cup over C&D in March. Headgear didn't have same effect at Aintree next time, however. Off 6 months.

Form: 24/P81-P

Karl Philippe²³⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-7| J: Jack Hogan⁽³⁾| T: F O'Brien| OR: 138| D

9/1

Fine start to last season, scoring at Wetherby prior to finding just one too good back there on Boxing Day. Failed to make an impact since but goes well fresh so not taken lightly now back in calmer waters on return.

Form: 2/12778-

Frero Banbou²⁰

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Charlie Deutsch| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 133

5/1

Positive start to last season when runner-up in Grade 3 Ascot handicap (16.8f) but was unable to build on that in 4 outings thereafter. However, shaped well for a long way when third at Aintree on return 3 weeks ago and potentially on a nice mark if building on that.

Form: 24340-3

Goose Man¹⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 10-13| J: G Sheehan| T: Jamie Snowden| OR: 130| D

11/1

Useful chaser for Tom Taaffe and was able to defy a lay-off of fully 32 months to win selling handicap hurdle on the bridle at Huntingdon 17 days ago. This much tougher but must be respected back over fences off same mark.

Form: 21U61/1

Kandoo Kid^t²²

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Harry Cobden| T: P F Nicholls| OR: 129| BF

6/5

Bumper/hurdles winner in 2021. Just the 4 outings since but produced best effort when close second over C&D 3 weeks ago, just failing. Remains unexposed.

Form: 11/37-22

Non-Runners

Red Rookie²⁷

Weight: 11-7| Age: 8

T: Miss E C Lavelle J: Thomas Bellamy

Whodini²⁷

Weight: 10-3| Age: 6

T: O Greenall & J Guerriero J: Toby Wynne

Forecasts

Kandoo Kid (6/5), Frero Banbou (5/1), Iron Bridge (11/2), Sail Away (7/1), Karl Philippe (9/1), Goose Man (11/1), Red Rookie (14/1), Whodini (14/1), The Big Bite (33/1)

The progressive IRON BRIDGE arguably should have added another win to his tally at Uttoxeter on his final start last season and remains a chaser who needs to be kept on the right side of. Sail Away was a dominant winner at Ayr when last seen in April so is another to consider, while Frero Banbou shaped well for a long way in the Grand Sefton at Aintree on his return and is potentially on a good mark if building on that.