Racecards
16:25 Newbury
BetVictor Supporting Greatwood Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 3 Runners
- Distance: 2m 3f 187y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 112-231
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 149
- Trainer P Hobbs & J White
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked winner, not fluent 2nd, hit 4 out and reminder, ridden and loooked held when blundered badly 2 out, not recover
- Form 4141F3
- Age 5
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 141
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey T Scudamore
never fluent, sweating and edgy, held up in 3rd place, awkward 3rd and 5th, hit 11th, blundered badly 3 out, no chance after
- Form 5-13253
- Age 8
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey S Bowen
mostly jumped well, made all, clear 4 out, travelling best and looked likely winner when blundered and left clear 2 out, unchallenged
- Form 12/13F2
- Age 8
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
NonRunner
- Form 2374-12
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Non Runner
NonRunner
In depth
Verdict
Gala Ball was probably a lucky winner at Exeter and looks harshly treated on that effort - he may have done the others a favour by standing his ground here. Paul Nichols saddles both Sirabad and Warriors Tale with this trip possibly suiting the latter more than the former, who has also had a break. Cepage won over 2m here in December and was successful over further in France so is not without a chance but MAX WARD probably deserves to get his head back in front. Tough and consistent, he looked ready for a step back up in trip when runner-up to Theatre Flame over 2m here in January - the third franked the form next time.
Formwatch
Gala Ball (IRE) 10-11fav (10-12) Tracked leading trio, went 3rd 5th, blundered 9th, 2nd approaching 4 out where mistake, ridden before next, about 4 lengths down and looking held when left clear 2 out, won at Exeter 2m 3f (3) sft in Feb beating Bivouac (10-12) by 14l, 6 ran.
Cepage (FR) 5-1 (12-1) Held up in mid-division, outpaced when mistake 6th, headway before 3 out, went 2nd between last 2, well held when not fluent and lost 2nd last, driven in 3rd and one pace run-in, 3rd of 9, 6 1/4l behind Speredek (11-6) at Sandown 2m hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Warriors Tale 7-2 (11-5) Held up, bumped 1st, went 3rd when not fluent 12th, no impression on front pair before 2 out, kept on same pace, 3rd of 7, 6 1/4l behind Abracadabra Sivola (10-12) at Taunton 2m 7f hcp (3) sft in Feb.
Max Ward (IRE) 7-4fav (11-7) Held up in rear, in touch 7th, a little awkward 3 out, shaken up and not quicken, rallied flat, went 2nd but no impression on winner, 2nd of 6, 3 1/4l behind Theatre Flame (10-12) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) sft in Jan.
Sirabad (FR) 3-1fav (11-0) Led and keen, headed 4 out, kept on and no chance with winner from 2 out, 2nd of 12, 10l behind Knockgraffon (11-0) at Newbury 2m hcp (3) gs in Nov.