Racecards
15:50 Newbury
Sharon Thompson 60th Birthday Handicap Chase (Class 3)
- 5 Runners
- Distance: 2m 1f
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £9,000 added
- Form 242253
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 123
- Trainer H Main
- Jockey R Thornton
led, clear 2nd until after hitting 4th, headed 6th, jumped slowly and weakened 4 out, pulled up before 3 out
- Form 1-U1P43
- Age 11
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 119
- Trainer Andrew Turnell
- Jockey Nick Scholfield
held up, blundered 2nd, headway 6th, hit 8th and 4 out, chased winner after 3 out, no impression after next
- Form P42P12
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer O Sherwood
- Jockey S P Jones
chased leaders, ridden and disputing 2nd before 4 out, weakened 2 out
- Form 832246
- Age 5
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 118
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey D F O'Regan
held up, closed when jumped slowly 5th, chased winner 4 out until after next, hit 2 out and weakened
- Form 4P-5642
- Age 10
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 107
- Trainer N & W Twiston-Davies
- Jockey Timmy Murphy
chased leader, closed when jumped right 5th, led next, jumped right 9th, clear when blundered 2 out, easily
In depth
Verdict
Nothing leaps off the page so the vote is tentatively given to CIRCUS OF DREAMS with the drop in trip likely to suit; It's Crucial and Mam Ratagan may give him most to fear. Oliver Sherwood's Kayf Tara gelding won readily at Leicester in testing ground earlier in the month. He was then unlucky to catch a tartar in the form of Samurai Way at Towcester but he ran well in defeat and looks sure to be prominent now back over his optimum trip. Mam Ratagan is consistent and has some solid placed form at this sort of level, however his win record is poor and he was a big disappointment at Bangor last time when backed at 4/7. Kew Jumper's best form has come on slightly quicker ground but his two runs since coming back from a break haven't been bad and it would be no surprise to see him run well off this mark of 119. Invisible Man represents a trainer in good form but the handicapper has been slow to give him a break and he is opposed despite Denis O'Regan coming in for the ride. Its Crucial ran well here last time out behind Chaninbar and holds Kew Jumper on that run. His yard continue to fire in the winners and a bold bid looks assured. Not a strong race by any means, and the nod is given Circus Of Dreams.
Formwatch
Mam Ratagan 4-7fav (11-0) Led until 4 out, led next until before 2 out, soon beaten, 3rd of 5, 26l behind Herons Well (11-0) at Bangor 2m 1f beg chase (4) sft.
Kew Jumper (IRE) 7-1 (11-9) Held up in touch, pecked 6th, not fluent and pushed along 8th, no impression on winner from 4 out, pressed for 2nd until approaching last, weakened flat, 3rd of 6, 20l behind Chaninbar (11-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.
Circus of Dreams 5-1 (11-3) Made most from 1st, driven and headed approaching 2 out, soon ridden and one pace, no impression on winner flat, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Samurai Way (11-0) at Towcester 2m 3f nov chs 0-115 (4) gd.
Invisible Man (FR) 11-4fav (11-5) Stumbled 1st, always behind, struggling 4 out, tailed off, 6th of 8, 34l behind Pret A Thou (11-1) at Lingfield 2m hcp chs 0-125 (3) hvy in Feb.
Its Crucial (IRE) 4-1 (10-10) Led, not fluent 1st, headed 9th, soon ridden, no chance with winner from before 2 out, 2nd of 6, 10l behind Chaninbar (11-9) at Newbury 2m 1f hcp chs 0-130 (3) gs.