Oldgrangewood out for hat-trick in chasing feature for the Skeltons

2.25 Newbury
Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Chase | 2m4f | 4yo+ | ITV3/RTV

That Oldgrangewood has won two of the last three runnings of this race neatly captures its position. Not often are those flying through the ranks likely to be seen, as with a race like the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It generally offers a chance for smart handicappers without huge amounts of give in their mark to land a good prize.

Oldgrangewood is back again, having travelled through the Old Roan like he is as good as ever. The one caveat with him is he gives most of what he can on the bridle, so performances like Aintree may not mask as much improvement as initially meets the eye. He is rated 12lb higher than when winning 12 months ago.

Cepage, Gala Ball and San Benedeto fall into a similar bracket, although it is noted that the last time San Benedeto ran off a mark as low as 147 he won the Greatwood Gold Cup over course and distance.

Three improvers to consider are Sully D'Oc AA, Clondaw Castle and Defi Sacre. Prices suggest Sully D'Oc AA, who convincingly won a good novice handicap chase at Ascot four weeks ago, has been hit hard enough with a 10lb rise. That may not be true, although he would benefit from at least a similarly searching gallop.

Clondaw Castle finished just ahead of Oldgrangewood in the Old Roan and shaped better than the winner Nuts Well, although that interpretation is built on a few jumping errors and those are hard to put to one side with Newbury's fences in prospect.

The track will be no problem for Defi Sacre, who won twice over 2m here in December, including a defeat of Amoola Gold. If anything, the trip allied with the fitting of cheekpieces is the concern. Evidence from his reappearance, when he might have needed the run at Aintree behind The Big Bite, is that he is still going the right way and he would be rare in that among this field.
Analysis by Keith Melrose

What they say

Tom George, trainer of Clondaw Castle
He looked like he was going to win the Old Roan Chase on his comeback at Aintree until just run out of it and he'll like the track, the trip and the ground. He's quite high in the handicap these days and I'd imagine he's on the cusp of running in Graded races.

Dan Skelton, trainer of Oldgrangewood
We wanted a good pace in the Old Roan Chase but didn't get it, so we had to kick on and that made us the target for the others. I'm encouraged by his consistency and hopefully he can make it a hat-trick in this.

Philip Hobbs, trainer of Gala Ball and Musical Slave
Gala Ball is rated very high in the handicap for an older horse. We've had this meeting in mind for him for a while as he always seems to run well at Newbury. Musical Slave progressed with each run over fences last season, including when second at Uttoxeter last time. That was his first start over three miles and he stayed on well, so he should be doing all his best work late on over this trip. He's a likely improver and we hope there's more to come.

Tom Bellamy, rider of Fidux
He won last time, having deserved to get his head in front, although this looks a more competitive race. On the plus side, carrying less weight in a better race like this might suit him as he's only small.

Richard Hobson, trainer of Defi Sacre
He's up in trip but has the pedigree for two and a half miles, so we're expecting a big run. He likes Newbury, is in good form at home and goes there with a massive chance off bottom weight.
Reporting by David Milnes

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