Paul Nicholls has enjoyed much success in the Greatwood Gold Cup, with four victories in the previous six instalments. His yard also appears to be hitting form at the right time in the season, bouyed by the eye-catching performance of Zubayr last week in the Adonis Hurdle.
As a novice ART MAURESQUE would have lived-up to such praise, but has found it tough going in competitive handicaps this season. His only victory in four starts did come at Cheltenham, when rated off the same mark, and that was over this 2m 4f trip on similar ground – encouraging stats.
We can be less than convinced that a track like Cheltenham would have brought the best out of him, judging on the basis of two of his four novice chase successes coming at Kempton – a flatter, galloping-type track – so one would expect Newbury to suit.
On reflection, his 7l defeat to Annacotty in the Paddy Power Gold Cup was a decent performance, and, other than his last run, he has generally raced with credit whilst learning the ropes at graded level.
Nicholls has freshened him up as he bids for another victory, and with the handicapper easing him 3lbs I can’t let him go unbacked, having shaped like a horse with plenty of potential on previous starts. He must still be improving at the age of six and, with the yard coming in to form, he looks sure to make a bold bid.
The two French raiders that have been brought here by Emmanuel Clayeux are certainly intriguing, and I was tempted by Pythagore who has some cracking form overseas. In the end, I was deterred by that form mainly coming on a softer surface, and with this being his first start in the UK it is probably sensible to maintain a watching brief on this occasion.
Similarly, Irish Grand National winner Shutthefrontdoor would have made the shortlist. But this is definitely a prep race for him and has to be passed over despite the attractive looking 16/1.
Another of genuine interest is the Evan Williams trained LASER HAWK, who has made three starts over fences but is yet to break his duck. The form of his seasonal debut at Newbury has worked out very well with several winners coming out of that race. That chase start saw him finish third, beaten 18l by Arzal, who has subsequently run respectably behind Ar Mad and Vaniteux – both high class improving novice chasers.
In all honesty, Laser Hawk has disappointed since with two lacklustre efforts, but they were both on heavy ground over 2m so can be forgiven. He has had plenty of success in PTPs over longer distances, and was a close third over this trip on his first ever hurdles start so remains with potential to improve now tackling the extra half mile.
Paul Moloney’s mount seems to relish the track at Newbury. He even disposed of Beast of Burden by 3l on his final start of last season here over hurdles.
Laser Hawk races off bottom-weight, a mark of 127 – 6lbs lower than his opening chase mark – and carries 10-1. He might just be the type to do better trying a new chase distance, on ground he has not encountered, at a course he loves, making him worth a cheeky flutter at double-digit odds.
1pt win Art Mauresque @11/2, 1pt win Laser Hawk @10/1, 15:25 Newbury
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