Key questions as Kalashnikov bids to land another valuable Newbury prize

1.50 NewburyGet Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Chase | 2m4f, 4yo+ | ITV4/RTV

Can Kalashnikov cope with big weight?

The high-class Kalashnikov, winner of seven of his 13 races, is likely to prove popular when he lines up in this £50,000 handicap chase.

Aso won this race off a mark of 150 last year, so a 5lb higher rating might not prove a barrier to success for Amy Murphy's stable star, who landed the Grade 1 Manifesto Novices' Chase at Aintree in April after unseating Jack Quinlan in the Racing Post Arkle.

Kalashnikov was an impressive winner of the 2018 Betfair Hurdle on his only previous visit to Newbury, after which he was beaten just a neck by Summerville Boy in the Grade 1 Supreme Novices' Hurdle.

Murphy said: "He's in good form and I'm looking forward to running him. He's got a big weight, and we'll find out where we are with him handicapwise."

Will it be soft enough for Gala Ball?

With the amount of rain over the last few weeks it has been rare for trainers to wish for softer ground.

However, conditions at Newbury are not forecast to be nearly as gruelling as one might imagine, and that is the main concern of Philip Hobbs, who fields a strong candidate in course specialist Gala Ball.

The stable won this race with Chance Du Roy in 2011 and Gala Ball, who has scored twice and finished runner-up four times at the Berkshire track, brings a good profile into it.

Hobbs said: "We've had this race in mind for him for a while, partly because for a horse of his rating there aren't many options, but he also likes Newbury.

"I hope he's got an each-way chance and the softer the ground the better for him, but it probably won't be as soft as he'd like."

Can Azzerti follow up course and distance win?

Azzerti took well to fences last season, winning at Ascot and Ludlow, and there could be lots more to come judged on his reappearance victory over course and distance this month.

Although he only won by a head that day from Chef D'Equipe, there appeared to be a bit in the tank at the finish and the major plus point is the handicapper has put him up only 4lb.

His trainer Alan King, who landed this race with Bless The Wings seven years ago, said: "I was very encouraged by his recent win over the course and distance and he seems to have grown up since last season.

"He was better behaved in the preliminaries and jumped super too. I thought the second was coming to head him up the run-in, but it was good to see him dig in and shrug off the challenge."

What the others say

Nicky Henderson, trainer of O O Seven and Wenyerreadyfreddie
It's O O Seven's first run since he won a very good race at Punchestown in May. The handicapper has put him up a fair old whack [8lb] for that. We thought we'd give Wenyerreadyfreddie a run too. I hope he can progress again this season.

David Pipe, trainer of Eamon An Cnoic
We were very happy with him going into Cheltenham, but he obviously didn't get very far in the BetVictor Gold Cup. This looks competitive, but the ground, track and trip should be okay for him. We go there with plenty of hope.

Evan Williams, trainer of Go Long
He ran well last time, he’s come on for the run and I'll keep chipping away in these sort of races because I think there is a good handicap in him.

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