Racecards
16:25 Newbury
Montpelier Re Hunters' Chase (Class 6)
- 13 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £2,500 added
- Form P71-11U
- Age 10
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer S Flook
- Jockey Mr D Mansell
always in rear, tailed off when pulled up approaching 3 out
- Form 1/U114-1
- Age 9
- Weight 12-5
- Trainer W J Warner
- Jockey Mr S Morris
chased leaders, went 2nd after 5th, mistake 11th, blundered 4 out, weakened and blundered 2 out
- Form P4-61R5
- Age 9
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 104
- Trainer P H Hogarth
- Jockey Mr W Kinsey
chased leaders, challenged 11th, weakened after 13th, tailed off and pulled up approaching 2 out
- Form U-12152
- Age 12
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer C St V Fox
- Jockey Miss C Tizzard
held up mid-division, headway from 4 out, went 2nd after 2 out, no impression
- Form P215P-2
- Age 8
- Weight 12-5
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer A Hobbs
- Jockey Mr A Wintle
behind, staying on at one pace and no chance when slightly hampered 2 out
- Form 4F-1055
- Age 10
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 87
- Trainer B G Powell
- Jockey Mr J Maxse
behind most of way, struggling after 13th
Scots Grey
149- Form 9PP03-F
- Age 12
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 130
- Trainer N J Henderson
- Jockey Mr R Burton
tracked leader, made most from 4th, drew well clear approaching 2 out, easily
- Form 6/147-24
- Age 12
- Weight 12-2
- Official Rating 111
- Trainer S Joynes
- Jockey Mr N H Oliver
chased leaders, ridden 12th, lost place next, tailed off when pulled up before last
- Form 8/112-32
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
led until 4th, chased winner until ridden 4 out and weakened soon after
Hi Blue
13- Form 9P-PP7U
- Age 8
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer J W Stevenson
- Jockey Mr Niall Terry
always behind, lost touch from 9th, tailed off when pulled up approaching 2 out
- Form 121/P-PF
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Trainer A S McPherson
- Jockey Mr O Williams
mid-division, mistake 14th, pushed along before 4 out, chasing leaders and about 4 lengths down, going okay when fell 3 out
- Form 25-4152
- Age 12
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 110
- Trainer A D Old
- Jockey Mr J Barnes
in touch, mistake 4th, hit 4 out, went 2nd 3 out to after next, weakened last
- Form 21-4236
- Age 10
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 84
- Trainer Miss C L Wills
- Jockey Miss C L Wills
mid-division, mistake 10th, weakened before 14th
In depth
Verdict
A wide open Hunter Chase here with very little between many of the leading llights but the principals look to be Beauchamp Oracle, Coolefind and Scots Grey and the narrow vote is given to Coolefind. The selection won well last time out over a trip that was shorter than ideal when beating Spring Grove and with the race looking sure to be run to suit he is taken to score. Beauchamp Oracle rates the main danger as he has been in good form in points of late but he is often let down by his jumping over regulation fences and he is taken on with this in mind. Scotts Grey will make a bold bid to make all the running but as he looks liklely to be taken on for the lead he is worth opposing. Red Brook Lad is game and consistent and is sure to run his race but he looks as if age is catching up with him now. Royal Hector has yet to win over a trip this far and we will stick with Coolefind as our choice to lead them home.
Formwatch
Beauchamp Oracle 66-1 (12-0) Held up, blundered and unseated rider at the 3rd in race won by Drombeag (12-0) at Cheltenham 3m 2f hts chs (2) gs, 24 ran.
Coolefind (IRE) 9-2 (12-3) Tracked leaders, went 2nd 13th, led 3 out, in command next, pushed out flat, won at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft beating Spring Grove (11-5) by 11l, 5 ran.
Kausse de Thaix (FR) 20-1 (11-13) Mid-division, headway to chase leaders after 4th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 5th of 9, 25l behind Holy Joe (11-12) at Leicester 2m 7f hts chs (3) hvy.
Red Brook Lad 7-2 (12-0) Held up, steady headway from 11th, chased leaders 13th, ran on well under pressure from last, nearest finish, 2nd of 15, nk behind Viscount Bankes (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f hts chs (5) gd in Feb.
Royal Hector (GER) 5-1 (12-0) Prominent, led approaching 2 out, headed soon after last, kept on, 2nd of 8, 1/2l behind Mouseski (11-9) at Wincanton 2m 5f hts chs (6) sft.
Gielgud 14-1 (11-7) Raced wide, held up, ridden and weakened from 10th, 5th of 9, well behind Le Passing (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (4) gs in Feb.
Scots Grey 15-2 (11-12) Led until 3 out, soon ridden, disputing 4th when fell at the 6th in race won by Ardaghey (11-9) at Cheltenham 3m amt hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs in Oct, 12 ran.
Tom's Prize 5-2 (12-0) Led, headed 13th, weakened 2 out, 4th of 7, 23l behind Tribal Run (12-4) at Warwick 3m hts chs (5) hvy in Feb.
Cantarinho 8-1 (11-9) Slowly away, soon close up, led 6th, mistake 8th, headed 3 out, soon beaten, 2nd of 9, 20l behind Le Passing (12-0) at Fakenham 2m 5f hts chs (4) gs in Feb.
Hi Blue 20-1 (12-0) In touch until unseated rider in race won by Force Ten (12-0) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd, 15 ran.
Maitre Levy (GER) 28-1 (11-9) Tracked leader when fell in race won by Waking Ned (11-9) at Sedgefield 2m 5f nov hts chs (6) sft in Feb, 15 ran.
Spring Grove (IRE) 15-8fav (11-5) Prominent, challenged 13th, headed 3 out, soon one pace and no chance with easy winner, 2nd of 5, 11l behind Coolefind (12-3) at Newbury 2m 6f hts chs (6) sft.
Watership Down (IRE) 5-1 (12-0) Held up; headway 14th; never on terms, 6th of 20, 10l behind Two Hoots (11-7) at Larkhill 3m ptp gd.