Racecards
14:15 Newton Abbot
Newton Abbot Handicap Chase (Class 4)
- 8 Runners
- Distance: 2m 110y
- Going: Good, Good to Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £6,000 added
- Winner: £3,899
- 2nd: £1,145
- 3rd: £572
- 4th: £286
- Form P5338P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 105
- Trainer P Henderson
- Jockey T J O'Brien
held up in rear, struggling 5th, soon tailed off, behind when pulled up before 7th
- Form 124-4UP
- Age 7
- Weight 11-7
- Official Rating 100
- Trainer V R A Dartnall
- Jockey D F O'Regan
tracked leaders, lost place before 4 out
- Form 31B5PP
- Age 11
- Weight 11-5
- Official Rating 98
- Trainer Nick Mitchell
- Jockey A Thornton
tracked clear leader, under pressure before 4 out, weakened next
- Form 341UFP
- Age 8
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 97
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey B Browne
led, soon clear, not fluent 3rd, hit 5th, headed just after 3 out, hard driven and weakened next
- Form 4473B-P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 96
- Trainer R Ford
- Jockey Harry Challoner
tracked clear leader, mistakes and jumped right throughout, lost place before 7th, weakened 3 out
- Form P51343
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 94
- Trainer Evan Williams
- Jockey D E Splaine
mid-division, lost place 6th, not fluent next, soon behind, rallied 4 out, headway to chase leaders next, jumped left 2 out, never on terms
- Form 21-P6P4
- Age 10
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer Mrs M Evans
- Jockey Paul Moloney
held up in touch, patiently ridden, steady headway 4 out, chased leader after next, every chance last, hard ridden to lead towards finish, all out
- Form P2-P423
- Age 12
- Weight 10-4
- Official Rating 83
- Trainer J R Payne
- Jockey L Treadwell
held up in rear, headway 5th, chased leader 7th, not fluent 9th, led just after 3 out, strongly challenged last, headed and no extra closing stages
In depth
Verdict
With the top five in the weights all pulling up last time, this is hardly the most competitive chase to be run at the track. RANDJO may be capable of bouncing back more than most as he'll appreciate the better ground and he gets a tentative vote though Johnny Mullen was placed on the last occasion he raced in this grade. Knapp Bridge Boy hasn't won since 2009 and isn't getting any younger but Fly Town hinted at a revival when third at Fontwell earlier this month and could figure.
Formwatch
Johnny Mullen (IRE) 3-1 (9-11) Prominent, ridden 5th, hit next and lost place, lost touch 8th, behind next, pulled up after, in a race won by Song Sung Blue (11-12) at Sandown 2m hcp chs 0-130 (3) gd in Feb, 6 ran.
Randjo (FR) 13-2 (10-9) Prominent, ridden and lost place after 6th, rallied and went prominent again approaching 8th, ridden and weakened after 5 out, tailed off and pulled up before 3 out, in a race won by Victors Serenade (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-120 (4) sft in Feb, 10 ran.
Coach Lane 40-1 (10-7) In touch, dropped to last pair 5th, struggling in rear 8th, tailed off and pulled up before 2 out, in a race won by Amaury De Lusignan (11-9) at Folkestone 2m hcp ch 0-110 (4) gs in Jan, 8 ran.
Bay Central (IRE) 8-1 (11-12) In rear, weakened before 8th, soon tailed off, pulled up before 10th, in a race won by Qualitee (11-3) at Ludlow 2m 4f nov hcp chs 0-100 (5) gd in Dec, 9 ran.
Silver Steel (FR) 25-1 (11-2) Held up towards rear, mistake 2nd, headway 5 out, soon weakened, pulled up 3 out, in a race won by Oscar Hill (11-6) at Musselburgh 2m 4f hcp ch 0-110 (4) gd in Jan, 8 ran.
Fly Town (IRE) 7-2 (11-12) Not fluent, held up last, reminders after 6th, went left 4 out, went 4th before next, stayed on to 3rd approaching last, closed on 2nd close home, 3rd of 5, 3 1/2l behind Cypress Grove (11-3) at Fontwell 2m 2f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft.
Maizy Missile (IRE) 13-2 (11-12) Led until 2nd, prominent until weakened approaching 4 out, 4th of 5, 31l behind Normally (11-12) at Ffos Las 2m 5f hcp chs 0-95 (5) sft in Jan.
Knapp Bridge Boy 5-1 (10-9) Cheased leading trio, mistake 7th, went modest 3rd after 9th until 3 out, rallied to regain 3rd nearing finish, 3rd of 8, 15l behind Mon Chevalier (11-5) at Wincanton 2m hcp chs 0-105 (4) gs.