15:35 Wincanton

Sunday 21 April 2024

All13:2213:5714:3215:0215:3516:0716:37

Newt Handicap Chase

Off time: 15:35 | Winning time: 6m 18.90s

Inflexible^p1²²

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: T R George| OR: 110| BF

5/2

Showed much-improved form in this sphere when runner-up at Hereford (25.2f) in January and has proved consistent since, third of 6 at Haydock (25.6f) 22 days ago. Major player with cheekpieces on first time.

Form: 532333

Earth King⁶⁷

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: H Cobden| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 110| BF

3/1

Fairly useful winner at 18f over hurdles. Hasn't quite yet matched that level in this sphere, though best effort came at this course (20.17f) on Boxing Day. Strong in the betting when pulled up last time, but he could be worth another chance back at this venue.

Form: 2-P535P

Bbold^p²⁶

Age: 10| Weight: 11-12| J: Beau Morgan⁽⁵⁾| T: Daisy Hitchins| OR: 108

16/1

Fairly useful chaser at best and, after 9 months off, wasn't discredited on first outing since leaving Syd Hosie when fourth of 6 at Taunton (23f, soft) 26 days ago. Cheekpieces reapplied and he's not discounted having eased further in the weights.

Form: 5P-3264

Almazhar Garde^p,t⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-11| J: Paul O'Brien| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 107

11/1

Losing run stretches back to 2021 but from his much-reduced mark he has fared better when runner-up on his last 2 starts, albeit no match for the winner at Sedgefield (26.9f) on his latest outing. Can make his presence felt.

Form: 06P622

Raddon Top¹⁴

Age: 11| Weight: 11-11| J: Bryan Carver| T: C J Down| OR: 107

10/1

Successful on second start over fences at Exeter (24.3f) last January. However, has been largely campaigned over hurdles this season and hasn't gone on from his encouraging reappearance, mid-field at Exeter 2 weeks ago. Return to chasing needs to spark a return to form.

Form: 24P745

Langley Hundred^p1,t¹⁰⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 103

8/1

Dual staying handicap hurdle winner last winter who made a promising chase debut when runner-up at Ludlow (25.6f) in November. Disappointing both subsequent outings, but lost a shoe when fourth of 8 at Hereford last time. Cheekpieces now applied.

Form: 35-5254

Astroman^p⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 10-12| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: S Hosie| OR: 94

5/1

Won twice over hurdles last May and ran to a similar level on his second start over fences when runner-up at this C&D (soft) in October. Not in the same form 10 days later, but after 6 months off he ran well over hurdles at Plumpton a week ago. Need to build on that back chasing.

Form: 444243

My Rockstar⁴⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-2| J: Ben Godfrey⁽³⁾| T: Mrs H E Rees| OR: 74| C

12/1

Left previous efforts behind when off the mark at this course (20. 2f) last spring and good third at Warwick upped to 3m next time. Possibly better than the figures suggest this season, shaping as if in need of the outing at Exeter last month. This run should reveal more.

Form: 713-6PP

Non-Runners

Shot Boii³¹

Weight: 11-12| Age: 7

T: D Pipe J: Jack Tudor

Off To A Flyer²⁶

Weight: 11-9| Age: 7

T: J Tizzard J: Brendan Powell

Twenty Twenty³⁹

Weight: 11-2| Age: 9

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

Forecasts

Inflexible (5/2), Earth King (3/1), Astroman (5/1), Shot Boii (5/1), Langley Hundred (8/1), Off To A Flyer (8/1), Raddon Top (10/1), Almazhar Garde (11/1), My Rockstar (12/1), Bbold (16/1), Twenty Twenty (20/1)

INFLEXIBLE has been shaping up well this season, making the frame on his last 5 starts, and with cheekpieces applied he could be ready to open his account this time around. Earth King's best effort over fences came at this C&D on Boxing Day and he could be the biggest threat, ahead of Shot Boii.