Racecards
14:35 Newbury
Betfair Graduation Chase (Class 2)
- 4 Runners
- Distance: 3m
- Going: Good to Soft, Soft in places
- Surface: Turf
- £20,000 added
- Winner: £12,996
- 2nd: £3,816
- 3rd: £1,908
- 4th: £954

- Form 232P/22-
- Age 8
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 146
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey Ruby Walsh
held up in 4th, mistakes 8th (water) and 12th, shaken up after 3 out, ridden after next, no impression, well held last

- Form 1UF-4U7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer D G Bridgwater
- Jockey T Scudamore
mostly tracked winner throughout, jumped slowly 2nd, ridden 2 out, stayed on same pace, no impression

- Form 2/115-25
- Age 7
- Weight 11-8
- Official Rating 156
- Trainer P R Webber
- Jockey D F O'Regan
made all, nudged out flat, readily

- Form 5149-51
- Age 7
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 131
- Trainer Mrs S J Humphrey
- Jockey Aidan Coleman
took keen hold, tracked leaders, went 2nd 7th until approaching 9th where mistake, not fluent 13th, mistake and ridden 3 out, well held last
In depth
Verdict
Pasco has a good record on this track but is probably better over shorter and should prove no match for TIME FOR RUPERT. The latter had a wake-up call behind Kauto Star and Long Run in the Betfair Chase at Haydock but had run well on his reappearance in the Charlie Hall at Wetherby and, though probably just short of top class, remains a nice prospect. The Giant Bolster is often let down by his jumping but has ability and will probably pop up somewhere at a big price this season while Carpincho stayed on strongly to win a beginners' chase at Market Rasen last time, though has a bit to find at the weights here
Formwatch
Pasco (SWI) 5-2 (11-7) Led, clear 8th, still about 10 lengths ahead but pushed along before 3 out, reduced lead and ridden approaching next, headed just before last, weakened flat, finished tired, 2nd of 4, 11l behind Punchestowns (11-7) at Kempton 2m 4f grd chs (5yo+) (2) gs in Feb.
The Giant Bolster 16-1 (10-4) Reluctant to join others before start, held up in rear, headway when hampered 16th, blundered next, no impression from 3 out, 7th of 18, 15l behind Carruthers (10-4) at Newbury 3m 2f Grade 3 hcp chs (4yo+) (1) gd in Nov.
Time For Rupert (IRE) 6-1 (11-7) With winner to 3rd, tracked leaders, 4th and outpaced 5 out, soon no impression, weakened from 3 out, 5th of 6, 25l behind Kauto Star (11-7) at Haydock 3m Grade 1 chs (1) gs in Nov.
Carpincho (FR) 5-2 (11-2) Headway to tracked leaders first, effort when left in lead 3 out, ridden and stayed on run-in, won at Market Rasen 2m 6f beg chs (4) gs in Nov beating Moonlight Drive (11-2) by 4l, 10 ran.