Hi all,
Newbury’s two-day Coral Gold Cup meeting gets underway this afternoon. ITV3 are covering the final five races on the Newbury card this afternoon. And Inside today’s preview I look at the best of the action from Newbury. Friday’s betting advice can be found at the end of the main piece.
Newbury
ITV are showing two of the three handicaps on the card and the handicaps offer the best betting opportunities. However, here is a quick look at the two feature races.
Coral Long Distance Hurdle (3.05)
The Grade 2 Coral Long Distance Hurdle (3.05) is the feature of a seven race card which gets started at 12:10. It’s a small but select field with all six at Monday’s final confirmation standing their ground.
At the top of the betting are recent Wetherby Grade 2 winner Proschema and the 10-year-old Champ who makes his seasonal return but whose form figures returning from a 90+ day layoff are an excellent 1211121. A classy sort he can make a winning return to action. Proschema looked better than ever when winning at Wetherby last time. Good ground and a relative speed test at the distance suits the 7-year-old.
Paisley Park who won this in 2019 also returns for the first time this season but will surely need softer ground to win. Like Paisley Park Dashel Drasher’s chance would be improved by softer ground. The 9-year-old returned with a win over hurdles at Aintree earlier in the month. He’s the least exposed of these over hurdles and can be a tough horse to pass when gets an uncontested lead which seems likely here.
Thomas Darby last year’s winner (Paisley Park third) is also in the line-up. His attitude can be questioned, but he was on a going day 12 months ago. Beaten 10 lengths by Proschema at Wetherby on his seasonal return. He raced like he needed the run more than the winner and is 6lb better off today.
Verdict: Last year’s winner Thomas Darby isn’t out of this, but this looks a tougher renewal than 12 months ago. Dashel Drasher is unexposed over hurdles, but softer ground would be preferred. The ground is ideal for Proschema and he could get the race run to suit. Champ is the class horse of the race and has an excellent record fresh. He maybe a veteran now but he’s the one to beat.
Berkshire Novices’ Chase (1.55)
Earlier on the card is Grade 2 The Berkshire Novices’ Chase (1.55). Since 2017 there have been 13 novice chases run at Newbury and Nicky Henderson and Paul Nicholls have won six of them. Henderson is 3-3 and Nicholls is 3-9.
Henderson doesn’t have a runner in the race but Nicholls saddles Stage Star who made a winning chase debut at Warwick earlier this month. The 6-year-old won the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle last December (2-2 at the track) and will be a warm favourite. He faces four rivals including Beauport who won the Colin Parker Intermediate Chase at Carlisle on his chase debut and useful handicap hurdler Camprond who unseated his rider at the first on chase debut at Exeter 11-days ago. If there’s any evens about on the day, I would say Stage Star would be a decent bet.
Verdict: Stage Star should have too much speed for Beauport.
Coral Racing Club Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (For The Fulke Walwyn Trophy) (12:45)
I’m looking forward to seeing Balco Coastal in action on chase debut. The 6-year-old a winner of his first two starts over hurdles last season before not disgraced in better company. He looks the type to do well over the larger obstacles. It won’t be easy for Balco Coastal who faces six useful looking rivals.
Useful hurdler and Betfair Hurdle winner Soaring Glory also makes his chase debut. Aucunrisque won on chase debut at Uttoxeter last month and is likely to do better with more experience. Straw Fan Jack has won both his starts over the larger obstacles. He jumped well when winning at Cheltenham last time and is another capable of better.
Datsalrightgino hails from the inform Jeremy Snowden yard. The 6-year-old was ¾ length runner-up to the useful Boothill on chase debut at Newton Abott and went one better at Chepstow 23-days ago. He’s been raised 9lb for that win but is open to further improvement.
Aucunrisque a four time winner over hurdles last season including a Grade 2 at Kempton in February. Took well to chasing when winning on chase debut at Uttoxeter last month. Should be capable of doing better over fences and has to be respected here.
There was plenty to like about Frere D’Armes’ chase debut success at Kempton 18-days ago. The 5-year-old already looks a better chaser than hurdler. There was plenty to like about his jumping at Kempton and although he’s 2lb out of the handicap he’s a chasing at the right end of the handicap who should be able to win more races.
Verdict: A fascinating novices limited handicap chase. If Balco Coastal takes to fences he will be hard to beat even against more experienced rivals. The best of those with chasing experience could Aucunrisque but Frere D’Armes also looked useful when winning at Kempton last time as did Datsalrightgino who hails from an inform yard.
Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase (2:30)
Sadly, just six have stood their ground for the 2m 4f Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Chase (2:30). Paint The Dream was a 15 length winner here in March (soft). He comes into the race after prep run in the Charlie Hall Chase and is very much respected back at a track that suits.
The Widdow Maker found the drop back to the minimum trip to short on seasonal return at Cheltenham last month. He’ll be better suited to today’s distance and is a contender.
Beakstown was a 3 lengths 4th of 8 in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree on his seasonal return. He’s not the been the hardiest of battlers in the past. However, you can’t knock his win at Ayr in April from 8lb lower.
Caribean Boy isn’t the most consistent of handicap chasers, but he was on a going day when winning at Kempton in January. A previous C&D winner (won the Berkshire Novices’ Chase on this card in 2020) he won’t be inconvenienced by underfoot conditions and should go well on a going day.
Numitor has developed into a likeable and consistent handicap chaser, winning four of his nine starts over fences. He starts the season off a career high mark but won first time up last season and likely to give his running.
Verdict: Paint The Dream goes well around here and should be there or thereabouts. The consistent Numitor is likely to give his running and he won first time up last season. Caribean Boy is talented enough to win a race like this on a going day.
Coral Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Hurdle (3:40)
Paul Nicholls saddles 3 of the 14 runners. The best of his trio looks to be Shearer who hadn’t been asked for his effort when unseating his rider four out at Cheltenham 13-days ago. He was strong in the betting that day (2/1) and is respected. Padleyourowncanoe was also still going well when falling four out in that Cheltenham race. He’s become very handicapped and shouldn’t be far away.
There are plenty of others in with chance though. You can make cases for Flemcara a neck 2nd of 14 in last year’s race was and is now 5lb lower. The 10-year-old looked in need of the run when 4th of 7 over C&D 22-days ago. Didtheyleaveuoutto finished 3rd in that race but ultimately was a disappointing 15/8 favourite. Needs a sound surface and hopes are pinned on the change in headgear having the desired effect.
Ask A Honey Bee looked more comfortable back over hurdles last month than he did over fences previously. A good stamina test suits the 8-year-old, and he won’t be far away if building on last time out effort.
Pileon was only beaten a nose at Cheltenham in April off 3lb higher. Now with Christian Williams he didn’t enjoy fences at Exeter on his stable debut three weeks ago. However, needs respecting back over the smaller obstacles.
Abuffalosoldier is the least exposed runner in the field. The 5-year-old won a bumper last December and then won on hurdles debut at Wincanton (2m 4f) a month later. He wasn’t disgraced when a 13 ½ length 3rd of 8 on handicap debut/seasonal return at Fontwell last month. Shaped last time like he would be suited by more of stamina test and the Warren Greatrex yard won this in 2015.
Verdict: I’m happy to take on likely favourite Shearer here. There are plenty in with a chance Padleyourowncanoe and Pileon are both on good marks. Abuffalosoldier is unexposed in handicap hurdle company and could relish the step up to 3m. Flemcara goes well over C&D and although he might not be as good as he once was but he’s on a winnable mark and could get into the money.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
12:45 – Aucunrisque – 1pt win – 6/1 @ Bet365 & Coral and Datsalrightgino – 1pt win – 9/2 @ Bet365 & Coral
2:30 – Numitor – 1pt win – 4/1 @ Bet365
3:40 – Abuffalosoldier – 1pt win – 7/1 @ Coral
Cheers
John