17:30 Newton Abbot

Friday 20 September 2024

All14:1014:4015:1515:5016:2516:5517:30

Ashley Maunder Never Better... Handicap Chase

Off time: 17:35 | Winning time: 6m 36.52s

Minella Buster¹⁵⁹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: Miss E C Lavelle| OR: 112

14/1

Won 1 of his 7 starts over fences but not seen since running poorly at Plumpton in April. Fairly treated on best form, though.

Form: 32P/628-

Image of Stars that are filled with the colour gold

Musical Slave^b⁵⁷

Age: 11| Weight: 12-2| J: James Turner⁽⁷⁾| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 112| D

9/1

Useful sort at his best but not scored since February 2023 and may prefer more cut in the ground these days.

Form: 53-5545

Hold Your Fort⁶¹

Age: 8| Weight: 12-2| J: James Best| T: Mrs D A Hamer| OR: 112| CD

9/2

Really turned a corner since upped in trip over fences, completing C&D hat-trick this summer, latest from 12 lb out of the weights in July. Remains open to improvement and is one for shortlist.

Form: 1-54111

A Definite Getaway^p¹⁹

Age: 6| Weight: 12-0| J: S Bowen| T: P & M Bowen| OR: 110

13/2

Made winning debut over fences at Worcester in July and backed that up with creditable second of 7 in handicap chase at same course (20f, good, 7/2) 19 days ago, albeit no match for winner. Tries longer trip now and merits consideration.

Form: P-72312

Jigginstown King^t²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: Ben Jones| T: O Signy| OR: 110| D

9/2

Won 3 times last year and back on track when taking 6-runner handicap chase at Fontwell (26f, good to firm, 6/1) 21 days ago by 2¼ lengths from Pilot Show, holding on gamely. 4 lb rise fair and should give another good account.

Form: 33-32F1

Great D'Ange^p,t²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 11-13| J: Mr Martin McIntyre⁽⁷⁾| T: F Brennan| OR: 109| BF| CD

11/1

Back to winning ways at Newton Abbot last month and posted good 2¾ lengths second of 8 to Honey I'm Good in handicap chase at Stratford (27.5f, good) 5 days later. 2 lb rise fair but others preferred for win purposes.

Form: P22412

Pilot Show²¹

Age: 7| Weight: 11-13| J: James Bowen| T: W Greatrex| OR: 109

11/2

Resumed winning ways at Warwick in May and back to that sort of form when good 2¼ lengths second of 6 to Jigginstown King in handicap chase (5/1) at Fontwell (26f, good to firm) 21 days ago. This looks tougher, though.

Form: 2-31462

Langley Hundred^p,t⁷⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-6| J: M G Nolan| T: P Hobbs & J White| OR: 102

7/1

Not the easiest to win with and arrives on back of disappointing run at Worcester 74 days ago. Others more appealing.

Form: 545-227

Braganza Bay^p²⁹⁸

Age: 7| Weight: 11-4| J: Sam Twiston-Davies| T: H D Daly| OR: 100| D

33/1

Dual hurdles winner at Hereford in 2022/23 and successful start switched to fences at same course (25.2f) in October. Disappointed on sole subsequent run at Ludlow, however, and bit to prove back from 9-month absence here.

Form: 01U/61P-

Honey I'm Good^t,v²⁴

Age: 8| Weight: 10-11| J: Adam Wedge| T: Evan Williams| OR: 93| CD

8/1

C&D winner who was perked up first-time visor when taking 8-runner handicap chase at Stratford (27.5f, good) 24 days ago by 2¾ lengths from Great D'ange. This looks more competitive but she must enter calculations.

Form: 6P-4461

Non-Runners

Marettimo⁴⁸⁵

Weight: 11-9| Age: 10

T: W G M Turner J: Harry Kimber

Forecasts

Hold Your Fort (9/2), Jigginstown King (9/2), Pilot Show (11/2), A Definite Getaway (13/2), Langley Hundred (7/1), Honey I'm Good (8/1), Musical Slave (9/1), Marettimo (10/1), Great D'Ange (11/1), Minella Buster (14/1), Braganza Bay (33/1)

HOLD YOUR FORT is improving in leaps and bounds and clearly goe well here. He is taken to extend his winning run. A Definite Getaway and Honey I'm Good head the list of dangers.