Racecards
15:25 Newbury
Focus Novices' Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 187y
- Going: Good
- Surface: Turf
- £18,150 added
- Winner: £9,585
- 2nd: £4,410
- 3rd: £2,205
- 4th: £1,104
- Form 2-71552
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer O Greenall & J Guerriero
- Jockey Henry Brooke
chased leader, slow 1st, 1 length down 4 out, still travelling well 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, pushed along and led outright approaching last, stayed on well run-in
- Form 02-2215
- Age 7
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer N P Mulholland
- Jockey H Cobden
took keen hold, led, 1 length ahead 4 out, maintained advantage 3 out, disputed lead 2 out, soon ridden, headed approaching last, weakened close home
- Form 133-11P
- Age 8
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 133
- Trainer F O'Brien
- Jockey P J Brennan
held up in last, headway to take closer order 4 out, pushed along and outpaced before 2 out, soon switched right, rallied approaching last where edged left, kept on run-in, not reach winner
In depth
Verdict
Nothin To Ask was pulled up over a longer trip when on a hat-trick here last time and looks too close in the weights to HERBIERS. The latter looked sure to win when hitting the front two out at Kempton but was thwarted by the rallying Jay Jay Reilly. Though a pound higher now, this looks a bit easier with Brief Times having had a wind operation since well beaten at Wetherby.
Formwatch
Herbiers (FR) 5-1 (11-10) Held up in 5th, closer tracking leaders 3rd, not much room and squeezed through between horses to lead 2 out, ridden and kept on run-in, headed close home, 2nd of 5, nk behind Jay Jay Reilly (11-6) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (3) gd in Feb.
Brief Times (IRE) 9-4fav (11-8) Towards rear, headway into midfield 8th, bad mistake and dropped to rear briefly 10th, ridden 3 out, held when slow next, 5th of 10, 17 1/4l behind The Paddy Pie (10-2) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Nothin To Ask (IRE) 8-1 (11-5) Raced on inside, held up in last pair, hit 7th, headway tracking leaders 12th, went 2nd 5 out until next, weakened and pulled up before 2 out, at Newbury 2m 6f hcp (3) sft in Dec.