14:25 Newbury

Wednesday 15 January 2025

All13:2513:5514:2515:0015:3516:08

DJB Cleaning Handicap Chase

Off time: 14:25 | Winning time: 6m 4.84s

Pepe Le Moko^p1²⁷

Age: 7| Weight: 12-0| J: C Gethings| T: Mrs J Williams| OR: 122

8/1

Winless following 5 attempts over hurdles but quickly put that right sent chasing, taking 2 of his first 3 starts (at up to 20.5f). However, has yet to fire this season so bit to prove now. Headgear applied.

Form: 215-6P6

Sound And Fury^p³⁶

Age: 8| Weight: 12-0| J: Callum Pritchard⁽⁷⁾| T: B Pauling| OR: 122

4/1

Lightly-raced winning pointer/hurdler. Off 12 months before coming in a staying-on third at Carlisle (24.5f, good to soft) on his debut over fences in November. Might have been fortunate to go one better at Uttoxeter last month (left in front at the last) but deserves credit for his consistency.

Form: 22/P1-31

Eximia³²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-12| J: Ned Fox⁽³⁾| T: Miss V Williams| OR: 120

28/1

Useful hurdler/chaser in France, successful 4 times in each sphere at up to around 2½m. Changed hands for €80,000 14 months ago but no show both starts for this yard 10 months apart.

Form: 1615P-P

Garincha^p⁴⁰

Age: 9| Weight: 11-12| J: Freddie Mitchell⁽⁵⁾| T: N P Mulholland| OR: 120

10/1

Three-time winner (at up to 20.9f) in 2022/23 who shaped as if retaining all of his ability back from 19 months off when good third at Bangor. Disappointed at Exeter since but might have found that run coming too soon.

Form: F141/36

Jasmin De Grugy^t⁵⁰

Age: 6| Weight: 11-11| J: R P McLernon| T: A J Honeyball| OR: 119

7/4

Big improver in handicaps. Completed a hurdle hat-trick in May and extended his winning run to 4 switched to fences at Southwell (20.5f) on return in November. Even a further 11 lb rise may not stop him with further progress on the cards.

Form: 02-1111

New Order^t³⁴

Age: 7| Weight: 11-7| J: David Bass| T: C E Longsdon| OR: 115

11/2

Point winner who bettered hurdles form at the second attempt when off the mark in 9-runner handicap chase at Warwick (24f, soft, 5/1) 34 days ago, heavily eased down. May well do better again so needs considering.

Form: 42-5861

Support Act⁸²

Age: 7| Weight: 11-5| J: K Brogan| T: T Lawes| OR: 113WS

9/1

Fairly useful bumper winner who proved a vastly different proposition to hurdling debut when dispatching a last-time-out winner with the minimum of fuss in a Doncaster novice in February. Well held on handicap bow at Cheltenham on return and now goes chasing (runner-up sole start in Irish point).

Form: 221/51-0

Phantom Getaway^p,t⁴²

Age: 8| Weight: 11-2| J: Thomas Bellamy| T: K Bailey & M Nicholls| OR: 110

17/2

Winning Irish pointer/hurdler. No show in 3 starts over fences last season. Fared much better (had a breathing operation and tongue tied) when second at Ffos Las on return but went backwards in a big way at Ludlow since.

Form: 5/8PP-2P

Non-Runners

Moulins Clermont²⁸

Weight: 11-6| Age: 7

T: G & J Moore J: Caoilin Quinn

House Of Stories³²⁷

Weight: 11-4| Age: 9

T: Miss R Curtis J: S Bowen

Forecasts

Jasmin De Grugy (7/4), Sound And Fury (4/1), New Order (11/2), Pepe Le Moko (8/1), Moulins Clermont (8/1), Phantom Getaway (17/2), Support Act (9/1), Garincha (10/1), House Of Stories (12/1), Eximia (28/1)

MOULINS CLERMONT left his chase bow/belated return well behind when second over C&D 4 weeks ago and should have more to offer in this sphere. He shades the vote over the thriving Jasmin de Grugy, who improved again when making it 4 wins in a row on chase debut at Southwell. New Order is another to consider after his easy win at Warwick.