Racecards
12:45 Newbury
Ladbrokes Chase (Novices' Limited Handicap) (Class 3)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 92y
- Going: Soft (Good to Soft in places)
- Surface: Turf
- £20,719 added
- Winner: £12,449
- 2nd: £3,678
- 3rd: £1,839
- 4th: £919
- Form 3217-22
- Age 6
- Weight 11-13
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
tracked leaders, went 2nd and slightly hampered 5 out where every chance, lost 2nd before next, plugged on in 3rd
- Form 43422-P
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer T R George
- Jockey J J Burke
reminders and struggling after 5th, always behind
- Form 17211-5
- Age 6
- Weight 11-6
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer H Whittington
- Jockey G Sheehan
led, mistake 8th, went right and hit next, headed 4 out, chased leaders, mistake and weakened next,
- Form 17-111
- Age 4
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey Charlie Deutsch
tracked leaders going well, led 4 out, hit 2 out, soon clear, easily
- Form 17178-2
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer W Greatrex
- Jockey R Johnson
tracked leader, went left 8th, lost 2nd next, pushed along and lost place before 4 out, no chance after
- Form 1211/P-6
- Age 5
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 127
- Trainer A J Honeyball
- Jockey R P McLernon
raced keenly, held up in last pair, headway approaching 4 out, went 2nd 3 out, kept on same pace, no chance with winner
- Form 3719-42
- Age 6
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 125
- Trainer D Skelton
- Jockey Harry Skelton
held up, blundered badly and rider lost irons 1st, pulled up before next
- Form 2021-24
- Age 6
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 124
- Trainer G & J Moore
- Jockey J E Moore
raced wide, chased leaders, blundered 8th, ridden after next, never on terms with leaders after
Previous results
In depth
Verdict
Khage will be all the better for his run and chasing debut at Carlisle last month but did finish a place behind WEST TO THE BRIDGE (NAP), who may well have won at Wetherby next time had he not tried to take the second-last by the roots. He was still travelling strongly at the time and could gain compensation here with a clear round. Southfield Stone and Encore Champs both came up against smart novices last time while Fanion D'estruval won twice over fences in France. The Flying Sofa should be winning soon over the larger obstacles but the others have question marks hanging over them in a race like this.
Formwatch
Southfield Stone 9-5 (11-2) Led, headed 9th, tracked winner, ridden 2 out, hung left and kept on one pace run in, 2nd of 4, 4l behind Brewin'upastorm (11-8) at Taunton 2m 2f (4) gd in Nov.
Champagne City 20-1 (11-3) Chased leaders, reminders and lost place after 4th, behind from 4 out, pulled up next, at Haydock 2m hcp (1) gd in May.
Khage (IRE) 11-4fav (11-8) Led, soon clear, headed 4 out, rallied and every chance next, jumped left and blundered last, weakened flat, 5th of 7, 8 1/2l behind The King Of May (10-12) at Carlisle 2m hcp (3) gs in Oct.
Fanion D'estruval (FR) (10-12) won at Auteuil 2m 1f hvy in Jul beating Fox Trot (11-2) by 7l, 11 ran.
Encore Champs (IRE) 11-2 (11-2) Close up, pushed along when left 3rd 3 out, ridden next, headway approaching last, stayed on to go 2nd final strides, 2nd of 5, 10l behind Nube Negra (11-7) at Fakenham 2m (3) gd in Oct.
Sully D'Oc Aa (FR) 25-1 (10-13) Held up and behind, headway 12th, weakening when slightly hampered 2 out, 6th of 10, 17l behind Doctor Dex (10-8) at Ascot 2m 3f hcp (3) gs in Nov.
West To The Bridge (IRE) 9-2 (11-12) Held up towards rear, headway before 4 out, blundered 2 out when challenging, kept on and went 2nd towards finish, no chance with winner, 2nd of 9, 10l behind Kapgarry (11-4) at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp (3) sft in Nov.
The Flying Sofa (FR) 11-2 (11-1) Chased leaders, mistake 5 out, weakened after next, 4th of 8, 8 1/4l behind Champagne Court (11-8) at Sandown 2m 4f hcp (3) sft in Nov.