17:00 Newbury

Saturday 23 March 2024

All13:4014:1014:4015:1515:5016:2517:00

Visit Irish Store Sales With ITM Veterans' Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:45 | Winning time: 6m 1.6s

Fortescue^v1²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: H D Daly| OR: 135WS

3/1

Increasingly temperamental nowadays and while he put in a good shift when second under Harry Cobden here (3¼m, soft) 3 weeks ago, the subsequent wind op/first-time visor will need to have a positive effect if he's to go one better.

Form: 50-4272

Ashtown Lad^p²¹

Age: 10| Weight: 12-0| J: Harry Skelton| T: D Skelton| OR: 135| D

14/1

Built on encouraging hurdles return when winning Becher Chase at Aintree off a 3 lb higher mark last season. However, he has failed to complete last 4 starts (pulled up on each occasion) and needs to bounce back in a major way.

Form: 23P-PPP

Crosspark⁸⁸

Age: 14| Weight: 11-6| J: Charlie Hammond| T: N Kent| OR: 127

14/1

Been a cracking servant over the years and ended a long losing when landing a veterans' event at Huntingdon on return in November. Just touched off at Market Rasen (27.6f, good to soft) since and will be a threat if able to perform to a similar level back from a break here.

Form: PP33-12

First Lord De Cuet^b¹²

Age: 10| Weight: 11-3| J: Jack Tudor| T: D Pipe| OR: 124| BF

9/2

Remains winless following 11 starts over fences but produced one of his best efforts in this sphere when second to Anglers Crag at Market Rasen (23.8f, good to soft) in Januay. Not discounted with blinkers refitted here, for all that his 2 subsequent efforts have not been so good.

Form: 3-UP244

Run To Milan^t⁴¹

Age: 12| Weight: 11-2| J: Fergus Gillard| T: V R A Dartnall| OR: 123| BF

17/2

All 3 career victories gained at Exeter and he performed with credit when second from 5 lb out of the weights in a competitive veterans' contest at that course last time. Should make his presence felt.

Form: 72-4422

Fidux⁵¹

Age: 11| Weight: 11-1| J: Oscar Palmer⁽¹⁰⁾| T: A King| OR: 122| D

6/1

Not the force of old but was a decent second back from a break in similar event at Doncaster before Christmas. Similar form back in open company when fourth at Wincanton in February and couldn't rule out.

Form: 245324

Supervisor¹⁵

Age: 10| Weight: 10-2| J: Ned Fox⁽⁵⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 108| BF

9/4

Low-mileage 10-y-o put it all together when opening his account in a handicap chase at Ludlow (23.8f, heavy) back from a 10-month absence in February. Just failed under a penalty at Exeter recently and while he needs more up in class off his new mark, another bold show could be on the way.

Form: 32/F-212

Non-Runners

Francky Du Berlais⁴³

Weight: 11-13| Age: 11

T: P & M Bowen J: S Bowen

Certainly Red²¹

Weight: 11-13| Age: 10

T: Mrs L Richards J: M Goldstein

Demachine⁷³

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: Kerry Lee J: Non Runner

Wayfinder⁴¹

Weight: 11-4| Age: 10

T: Miss R Curtis J: Ben Jones

Forecasts

Supervisor (9/4), Fortescue (3/1), First Lord De Cuet (9/2), Fidux (6/1), Run To Milan (17/2), Certainly Red (10/1), Wayfinder (12/1), Crosspark (14/1), Ashtown Lad (14/1), Demachine (14/1), Francky Du Berlais (16/1)

It's best to overlook CERTAINLY RED's effort in the Grimthorpe at Doncaster where he was one of eight that failed to complete in that 10-runner contest. He shaped as though ready to strike when hitting the crossbar at Sandown on his penultimate start and the drying ground here will be a big help. The lightly-raced Supervisor has resumed in good order this season and he is feared most ahead of Crosspark, Fidux and Run To Milan.