Newbury preview: Class-dropping Monetaire holds major claims

David Metcalf | November 27, 2015

Monetaire has some strong form to his name and can take advantage of a drop in class to land the 2m 3f handicap chase on a cracking card at Newbury (14.40).

The David Pipe trained gelding was last successful in class 2 contest at this meeting 12 months ago when readily beating Solar Impulse by 2 1/4 lengths off a mark of 126.

Monetaire got put up 12lbs for that victory, but ran a blinder of his revised mark of 138 when second of 23 to Darna in the ultra-competitive class 1 Brown Advisory & Merriebelle Stable Plate at the Cheltenham Festival.

The nine-year-old only went down by 1 1/4 lengths and was an unlucky loser as he was slowly away in a shambles of a start and made a costly error four from home.

Monetaire then unseated in the class 1 Topham at Aintree before rounding off the campaign with a fair eighth of 22 in a valuable handicap hurdle at the Punchestown Festival.

Although slightly below par on return to action in the class 1 Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham, the son of Anabaa was far from disgraced in finishing eighth of 20 to Annacotty when the yard was under a bit of a cloud.

Monetaire has since been dropped 1lb to 140, and that gives him a huge chance on the pick of his form now pitched back into class 2 company.

It is the first time Monetaire has run in the grade since when last victorious, and with the Pipe team now in far better shape this looks a great opportuntity for him to get back to winning ways.

Drumshambo decent value

In the 2m 2f handicap chase (12.55), Drumshambo can cash in on a huge drop in the weights to score and overdue success.

The Venetia Williams trained gelding is on a long losing run, having not scored since landing a class 1 handicap at Ascot two years ago off a mark of 138.

Drumshambo went on to finish a solid third off a revised rating of 147 and also ran well at Ascot 12 months ago when third off 138.

The nine-year-old’s form then tailed off, but that has resulted in the handicapper cutting Drumshambo plenty of slack and he is now able to race in this class 3 contest off a rating of just 124.

That is a massive 14lbs lower than when last successful and gives Drumshambo outstanding claims at the weights.

Although the son of Dynamformer has not raced for 239 days, the yard is in terrific form and have a strike rate of over 20 per cent with horses returning from an absence of 150 days or more so fitness is unlikely to be an issue.

Selections

12.25: Copain De Classe
12.55: Drumshambo (NB)
13.30: Forthefunofit
14.05: Maximiser
14.40: Monetaire (NAP)
15.15: Champers On Ice
15.45: Wait For Me

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