News 
/ Timeform / 02 March 2012 / Leave a Comment 
Newbury Racecourse
"Warner reported how they have had to wait for better going for Pasco..."
Owner Terry Warner is hoping Pasco's affinity for the Berkshire track will stand him in good stead in Saturday's two-and-a-half-mile handicap chase due off at 15:10...
Swiss-bred Pasco, rated 140 over fences by Timeform but also having a 'squiggle' (indicates suspect temperament), has won three times at Newbury and also finished runner-up to Big Fella Thanks and Mount Oscar in course-and-distance handicaps since March 2010.
The roan nine-year-old, trained by Betfair columnist Paul Nicholls, has not won since taking a Huntingdon novice chase in February 2009 but has been in the frame on all of his last seven completed starts.
However, Pasco was off the track for 10 months prior to returning this winter (had breathing op in interim) and when it's considered that the better of his two efforts was when last of four to Time For Rupert in three-mile a minor event at Newbury, it's clear that he's going to have to bounce back to his best to be competitive.
Warner reported how they have had to wait for better going for Pasco and that he is a lightly-raced horse, presumably owing to physical problems that have meant he has been hard to train.
Mad Max is another horse that goes well at Newbury, though his trio of wins were in a pair of bumpers and over hurdles when he was trained by Nicky Henderson.
Now in the care of Neil Mulholland, the 10-year-old, who's career has been plagued by wind problems, was well below form when third to Giorgio Quercus at Haydock on his first outing since the stable switch.
While his new trainer believes the the track and the good ground will suit him, he looks up against it.
Timeform top-rated is Fine Parchment, winner of the race 12 months ago, and his trainer Charlie Mann is confident the 138-rated chaser can follow up though admitting that the horse had felt pretty sorry for himself for a while after getting stuck in the mud on Aintree in December.
Of the others, Gary Moore feels Fix The Rib would prefer to go right-handed, Henry Daly is saddling Pickamus as he's not guaranteed to get in at Cheltenham, and Jo Davis believes Passato has got plenty on his plate.
Alan King has expressed how Araldur is the biggest horse is his yard and, therefore, will enjoy the course at Newbury better than he did the undulations at Cheltenham.
Full betting for the is now available for the Barbury International Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase by clicking HERE.
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Timeform ratings were in great form last Saturday! Among 5 top-rated winners at Kempton was Nacarat (BSP [5.58]). Click HERE for today's cards & ratings.
Likeable 14-year-old Hello Bud bids to roll back the year's in the staying veterans' chase at Newbury on Saturday and put himself under consideration for the Grand National at Aintree on April 14......
Grand National hope Backstage is injured and out for the rest of the season......
Timeform look ahead to a weekend featuring a number of Grand National hopefuls running at Newbury and Kelso on Saturday, as well as quality Irish and International action on Sunday......
