Young and progressive staying chaser looks set to relish Trophy test

De Rasher Counter
3.00 Newbury
Buy at 8 on index

Progressive chaser last season who stayed on well to beat Walt over 2m6½f at this course in December and improved further on his next two starts.

De Rasher Counter was a close second behind useful stayer Now McGinty over 2m7½f at Chepstow in January and looked even better when bolting up at Uttoxeter the following month on heavy ground.

Emma Lavelle’s runner finished only sixth on his reappearance at that track but that was over hurdles and would have been no more than a pipe-opener. He is unlikely to have been fully wound up and is entitled to improve plenty with the run under his belt.

This will have been the aim for some time and Ben Jones takes the ride. He is superb value for his 5lb claim and that could prove crucial in such a competitive and tightly knit handicap chase.

3.00 Newbury

Sporting (50-30-20-10-5) 11-14 Ok Corral, 8-11 Mister Malarky, Cabaret Queen, 7-9 Elegant Escape, On The Blind Side, 6-8 De Rasher Counter, Borice, West Approach, 5-7 Dingo Dollar, 4-6 Two Taffs, 3-5 Yala Enki, Robinsfirth, The Conditional, 2-4 Yorkhill, Daklondike, Joe Farrell, Commodore, 1-3 Beware The Bear, Brave Eagle, Some Chaos, Regal Encore, Shantou Village, Walt, 0.5-2 Le Musee.

Match bet 0.75-2.25 Elegant Escape/Dingo Dollar.

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