Racecards
14:40 Newcastle
At The Races Rehearsal Chase (Listed Handicap) (Class 1)
- 12 Runners
- Distance: 2m 7f 91y
- Going: Soft
- Surface: Turf
- £60,000 added
- Winner: £34,170
- 2nd: £12,822
- 3rd: £6,420
- 4th: £3,198
Virak (FR)
28- Form 11331-7
- Age 6
- Weight 11-12
- Official Rating 153
- Trainer P F Nicholls
- Jockey H Cobden
mid-division, tracked leaders 5 out, went 2nd 3 out, soon ridden, every chance last, kept on flat, held towards finish
- Form 12124-1
- Age 6
- Weight 11-4
- Official Rating 145
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Danny Cook
with leader, led 12th to 5 out, led again before next, kept on well under pressure from 2 out, ridden flat, held on well
- Form P221B-2
- Age 9
- Weight 11-3
- Official Rating 144
- Trainer C L Tizzard
- Jockey Brendan Powell
tracked leaders, mistake 3rd, not fluent 11th, blundered and lost place 13th, weakened 3 out, behind when pulled up before last
- Form 1F1U0-9
- Age 9
- Weight 11-2
- Official Rating 143
- Trainer I A Duncan
- Jockey G B Watters
tracked leaders, ridden after 4 out, kept on same pace, no impression from next
- Form U6/45-9P
- Age 9
- Weight 11-1
- Official Rating 142
- Trainer Mrs S J Smith
- Jockey Sean Quinlan
mid-division, headway and in touch on outside 12th, outpaced 4 out, weakened last
- Form 211U12-
- Age 7
- Weight 10-13
- Official Rating 140
- Trainer K C Bailey
- Jockey David Bass
mid-division, chased leaders 14th, outpaced before 4 out, rallied 2 out, soon ridden, no impression in 3rd before last
- Form 2623-31
- Age 6
- Weight 10-12
- Official Rating 139
- Trainer Miss Lucinda V Russell
- Jockey D R Fox
held up in rear, headway on outside before 4 out, soon chased leaders, ridden and one pace 2 out, no impression
- Form 57934-2
- Age 9
- Weight 10-10
- Official Rating 137
- Trainer D Pipe
- Jockey Kieron Edgar
held up behind, outpaced before 4 out, kept on under pressure from next, never on terms
- Form 1-21114
- Age 5
- Weight 10-9
- Official Rating 136
- Trainer N A Twiston-Davies
- Jockey D A Jacob
tracked leaders, hit 10th, lost place 12th, tailed off 5 out, pulled up before next
- Form U42P6-5
- Age 9
- Weight 10-8
- Official Rating 135
- Trainer S R B Crawford
- Jockey P Buchanan
mid-division, mistake and lost place 3rd, behind from next, lost touch 13th, pulled up before 4 out
- Form 22F47-1
- Age 8
- Weight 10-5
- Official Rating 132
- Trainer Miss V Williams
- Jockey L Treadwell
made most to 12th, with winner, led again 5 out to before next, ridden 3 out, soon lost place, weakened last
- Form 801P1-6
- Age 8
- Weight 10-1
- Official Rating 128
- Trainer C Grant
- Jockey Diarmuid O'Regan
held up behind when fell 2nd
Verdict
Colin Tizzard won three of the last four renewals with Hey Big Spender and will have Masters Hill primed for this after a pleasing comeback at Carlisle. Wakanda won a Grade 2 at Haydock in January but was a long way behind VIRAK when runner-up to Paul Nicholls' charge at Doncaster the previous month and the latter, who will be much better for his reappearance at Ascot, is taken to concede weight all round with young Harry Cobden claiming his 7lb. Nigel Twiston-Davies has won this a couple of times in recent years and will be hoping Ballykan can get back to winning ways after failing to complete a four-timer in what looked a very strong novices' event at Cheltenham. Kim Bailey will have The Last Samurai ready despite a long absence and the seven-year-old has a cracking strike-rate while recent winners Final Assault and Saroque can't be discounted in an open contest.
Formwatch
Virak (FR) 9-1 (11-7) Blundered 1st, mid-division, headway chasing leaders 7th, ridden and weakened before 2 out, 7th of 15, 12 1/2l behind Pendra (10-7) at Ascot 3m hcp (1) gd in Oct.
Wakanda (IRE) 11-4fav (11-6) Made all, clear 4 out, joined 2 out, ridden before last two, stayed on to assert run-in, won at Wetherby 2m 3f hcp lst (1) sft in Oct beating Fago (11-12) by 4 1/2l, 8 ran.
Masters Hill (IRE) 13-2 (11-10) Tracked leaders, took closer order 8th, led 6 out, strongly challenged 2 out, headed before last, rallied closing stages, kept on well, 2nd of 5, nk behind Salubrious (11-3) at Carlisle 3m (2) hvy in Nov.
Milborough (IRE) 66-1 (11-5) Held up mid-division, weakened before 3 out, 9th of 15, 18l behind One For Harry (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Cloudy Too (IRE) 11-1 (11-12) Towards rear, ridden 12th, pulled up 2 out, at Bangor 3m hcp (2) sft in Nov.
The Last Samuri (IRE) 11-5fav (10-9) Held up in touch and towards rear, headway 5 out, went 2nd 2 out, ridden to challenge last, soon led, kept on and headed run-in, held near finish, 2nd of 7, nk behind Puffin Billy (11-8) at Ayr 3m 1f hcp (2) gd in Apr.
Final Assault (IRE) 15-8fav (11-10) Held up in rear, headway before 4 out, led 3 out, clear before last, kept on well, won at Ayr 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Plus Jamais (10-11) by 4 1/2l, 6 ran.
Shotavodka (IRE) 16-1 (11-2) Tracked leaders in 4th, ridden before 2 out, led last, kept on and headed towards finish, 2nd of 15, 1/2l behind One For Harry (10-13) at Carlisle 2m 4f hcp (2) gs in Nov.
Ballykan 11-4fav (11-8) Tracked leader, left in lead 3 out, headed 2 out, no extra towards finish, 4th of 7, 6 1/2l behind Shantou Flyer (11-8) at Cheltenham 3m (2) gd in Oct.
Man With Van (IRE) 4-1 (12-1) Alw twrds rr, 9th 1/2way, 6th 4out & 2out, rdn up 5th bef last, ko, 5th of 9, 10 1/4l behind Marito (12-1) at Kirkistown 3m sft in Nov.
Saroque (IRE) 10-1 (11-6) Prominent, led after 3rd, clear 4 out until after 2 out, mistake last, found enough, won at Exeter 3m hcp (3) sft in Nov beating Delgany Demon (11-7) by 1 1/4l, 13 ran.
William Money (IRE) 14-1 (11-4) Held up in rear, outpaced 4 out, soon ridden, never able to challenge, 6th of 7, 28 1/4l behind Gold Futures (11-12) at Kelso 3m 2f hcp (3) gd in Oct.