Newbury is in action on Sunday with the feature race being the extended 2m Benjamin Leigh Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase, a Class 2 handicap that provides over £10k to connections of the winner. Our expert has produced a runner-by-runner preview of the contest, which comes alongside a Paddy Power new customer offer that provides £45 in free bets when you bet £10.
BENJAMIN LEIGH MEMORIAL NOVICES’ HANDICAP CHASE (3:05pm Newbury, Sunday 20th February, 2m1/2f)
1. SHAKEM UP’ARRY (Ben Pauling, Kielan Woods) 3/1
Classy novice hurdler earlier in his career; chased home Shishkin at this venue, finishing runner-up in the Grade 1 Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle. Justified prohibitive odds to get off the mark at the second attempt in this sphere when going in at Haydock in December, and whilst not at that level at Haydock last time, that run came at Grade 2 level. Appears on a workable mark returned to handicaps and soft ground won’t inconvenience.
2. MASKADA (Stuart Edmunds, Ciaran Gethings) 6/1
Smart mare who was a winner in Listed company at Leicester last month, her first chase victory at the fourth attempt. Failed to supplement that at Huntingdon last time, but dropping back to this trip and, more importantly, returning to a left-handed track (jumped out to her left last time) look big pluses. Course winner who won’t mind what the ground does and a mark of 135 could underestimate her.
3. AMARILLO SKY (Colin Tizzard, Brendan Powell) 5/2
£280,000 purchase at the 2020 Festival sales and whilst he was a dual hurdles winner last season, chasing was ultimately always going to be his game (point-to-point winner). Justified favouritism to score at Wincanton in November; form franked, and he bumped into the classy Brave Seasca at Ascot next time out. Arguably travelling like the winner here last time before taking a crunching fall two out and a 3lb rise could prove lenient, but he must prove that tumble hasn’t left its mark mentally.
4. DREAMS OF HOME (Donald McCain, Theo Gillard) 6/1
3-3 over hurdles last season and stepped forward markedly on an underwhelming chase debut at Carlisle to score at Ayr in November. Beaten favourite in four-runner fields at Haydock and Newcastle the next twice, however, and although wind surgery could bring about improvement it will need to to trouble the best of these.
5. NOT AVAILABLE (Stan Sheppard, Matt Sheppard) 9/1
Former Henry De Bromhead inmate who has proven a shrewd recruit at £26,000 for current connections. 14/1 winner of a competitive handicap chase over course and distance in November and supplemented that with victory at Ludlow next time out. Well below his best when attempting to bring up the hat-trick at Warwick last time, however, and although this could be deemed a weaker assignment the run leaves him with questions to answer.
6. GOA LIL (Nigel Twiston-Davies, Sam Twiston-Davies) 15/2
The most experienced runner in this line-up making his 26th career start and 11th chase start. Benefitted from the late fall of Amarillo Sky to score over course and distance on penultimate outing; Son Of Camas behind, and probably best forgiven subsequent Cheltenham run which came in a hot contest. This isn’t a huge class drop, however, and it may well be the handicapper has his measure for now.
7. SON OF CAMAS (Nicky Henderson, Nico de Boinville) 11/1
Bumper and hurdles winner at this track in November 2019 but he is 0-10 since, bringing his chase record to 0-6 when runner-up to Goa Lil here last month. That was admittedly a step up on the previous Ludlow effort, and he is 3lb lower here, but others come into this looking far less exposed and in better form, so he’s tough to recommend.
RACE VERDICT
Amarillo Sky will understandably be popular with punters having taken a late fall when looking set to score here last month, but he is up 3lb for that and this looks like a race with more depth. With that in mind, MASKADA can be chanced to get herself back in the winner’s enclosure. A course winner over hurdles last season, Maskada bumped into the likes of Faivoir (now 145-rated) and The Glancing Queen (now 141-rated) over fences earlier this season, and on the most recent of those efforts, she had the 142-rated Vienna Court comfortably held in third. A recent third can be easily forgiven (jumped out to her left) and going back this way round on her return to handicaps off what looks a workable mark of 135, there appears plenty in her favour.
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