Racecards
14:20 Newbury
Betfred Mobile Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 6 Runners
- Distance: 2m 92y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £10,000 added
- Winner: £6,498
- 2nd: £1,908
- 3rd: £954
- 4th: £477
- Form 822-072
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer J & A O'Neill
- Jockey B J Geraghty
held up in rear, slow 5th, in touch 7th, not fluent 9th, 2nd 3 out, driven and no impression on winner flat, lost 2nd and one pace
- Form 212/13F
- Age 8
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 134
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey Adrian Heskin
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
- Form 1-22607
- Age 7
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T Scudamore
tracked leaders, 2nd 5th, not much room and pecked 8th, led before next, jumped left 2 out and last, clear flat, stayed on
- Form 41-3231
- Age 7
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer Miss S Smith
- Jockey M G Nolan
chased leaders, badly hampered and unseated rider 7th
- Form 7531-76
- Age 6
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 115
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
took keen hold, not that fluent, led 2nd until 4th, close up when fell 7th
- Form 2/3F30-5
- Age 8
- Weight 10-3
- Official Rating 109
- Trainer R Rowe
- Jockey A Glassonbury
led until 2nd, led 4th, mistake next, jumped right 8th, headed before next, 4th and no extra 2 out
In depth
Verdict
Red Devil Star showed more resolution than CHAMPAGNE AT TARA at Ascot last month and secured a neck verdict. The runner-up is only a better off so there shouldn’t be much between the pair again but Jonjo O’Neill’s charge is fancied to come out on top today on this slower surface. Max Ward was beaten when falling at Kempton on Boxing Day and Theatre Flame also needs more. Britanio Bello has yet to show anything over fences and Zigger Zagger returns from a break - both are racing from out of the handicap.
Formwatch
Champagne At Tara 5-1 (11-7) Held up in touch, went handy 4th 8th, 3rd before 2 out, 2nd 2 out, ridden and upsides last, every chance run-in, no extra in closing stages, 2nd of 7, nk behind Red Devil Star (10-8) at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec.
Max Ward (IRE) 5-1 (11-4) Tracked leaders, outpaced 4 out, rallied on inside before 3 out, pushed along and held in 5th when fell 3 out, at Kempton 2m 4f hcp (3) gd in Dec.
Theatre Flame (IRE) 20-1 (11-9) Chased leader until pushed along before 2 out, chased leaders, weakened between last two, 7th of 10, 11l behind Darebin (11-4) at Lingfield 2m hcp (3) sft in Nov.
Red Devil Star (IRE) 6-1 (10-8) Tracked leader until 2nd, chased leading pair, hit 5th, 2nd again approaching 4 out, led approaching 2 out, joined last, strongly pressed and edged left run-in, battled on gamely and found extra close home, won at Ascot 2m 1f hcp (3) gs in Dec beating Champagne At Tara (11-7) by nk, 7 ran.
Britanio Bello (FR) 14-1 (11-6) Held up, towards rear, headway 6 out, chased leaders 3 out, weakened next, 6th of 8, 31 3/4l behind Truckers Glory (11-2) at Bangor 2m 4f hcp (4) sft in Jan.
Zigger Zagger (IRE) 16-1 (11-4) Chased leaders, went 2nd 3rd, mistake 8th, chance when went left 3 out, blundered and lost 2nd next, chased leading pair but not recover, weakened between last two, 5th of 7, 19 1/4l behind Keppel Isle (10-0) at Kempton 2m 2f hcp (4) gd in May.