Hi all,
There’s £155,000 in guaranteed prize money for the Betfair Hurdle (3.15) at Newbury. The Newbury undercard also contains the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase (2.05) and the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase (2.40). The latter two races tend not to attract big fields, and nothing has changed this year with both the Denman Chase and the Game Spirit now having five runners.
Along with four races from Newbury ITV was due to show three races from Warwick sadly that card has been cancelled due to waterlogging. Thankfully It was called off early and I didn’t needlessly look through the card.
Newbury
There are four Newbury races live on ITV. It had been good ground at Newbury earlier in the week but the recent rain means it’s now heavy, soft in places at the time of writing.
1:30 – The Betfair Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m
Twelve have been declared for a race that will test stamina if the ground has eased even further. The two I like most are Emitom and Kyntara.
Emitom isn’t the horse he once was, but the 10-year-old has been suited by the switch to Alan King. A winner of a C&D on stable debut in the spring he ran even better in defeat when a 2-length 2nd of 11 to Young Butler back here on seasonal return. Back to form latest when a close-up runner-up to Saint Davy at Ludlow. The winner went in again at Sandown last Saturday. Has won on heavy ground in the past so underfoot conditions should be fine.
Kyntara improved for the return to his original trainer, winning his first two starts at Lingfield and Aintree (heavy). Looked set to land the hat trick at Warwick 28 days ago but a mistake at the last cost him the win. He’s been nudged up 4lb but goes on testing ground, stays well, and remains on a competitive mark.
2:05 – Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 7 ½ f
On Official Ratings it looks between Shishkin and Protektorat. Shishkin handles soft ground but I’m not sure he wants it heavy. That said it’s his race to lose. I’m not a fan of Protektorat but he’s clearly got claims on a going day. Sam Brown bounced back to winning ways in the the Veterans Chase Final at Warwick last month. He’s not the most reliable of chasers these days and was pulled up in last year’s race albeit he had a good excuse for his poor run as it was very quick ground. In the unlikely event of a boil over he could be the one to provide it. He might be worth a very small interest bet and if Shishkin doesn’t run, he will be second favourite.
2:40 – Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) – 2m ½ f
In Thursday’s race preview I had been very sweet on the returning Amarillo Sky. He has won on soft ground, but his improved form two seasons back came on a sounder surface. To win this on testing ground on a return from 378-day layoff would be some performance.
Edwardstone is classy Grade 1 winning chaser and the the likeliest winner. He’s the right favourite and will like the ground.
Editeur Du Gite couldn’t dominate when running poorly in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase two weeks ago. If the first time cheekpieces have the desired effect and he can get to the front he could win.
Boothill fell in a Grade 2 race won by Editeur Du Gite at Kempton over Christmas. He was in contention and likely would have been a strong contender with a clear round. Before that incident, he had won both of this season’s starts, suggesting he could emerge as a Champion Chase contender if he wins here. Heavy ground might see him a non-runner.
Funambule Sivola has won this race for the last two years, but he’s not been close to his best so far this season and would prefer better ground.
3:15 – Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m ½ f
After the last two renewals of this valuable handicap hurdle saw 16 runners (2023) and 14 (2022), it’s a pleasant surprise to see that a maximum field of 24 runners were declared for this year’s renewal.
Willie Mullins trained Ocastle Des Mottes has been well supported ante post this week. Now a best priced 5/1. On his French form the 5-year-old he doesn’t look well handicapped, but he could have improved plenty for joining his new yard. He can win this on stable debut especially as he gets the soft ground he seemed to relish in France. I kind of feel I must take him on, but I’m not as confident as I was a couple of days ago and I can let him win.
Altobelli finished a 1 ½ length 3rd of 9 to Luccia in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot in December. That’s solid handicap hurdle form and he gets a 4lb pull with the winner. A more strongly run race will suit him and he’s got a nice race in him off his present mark.
Lookaway was a good 1 ½ length 2nd of 9 to Captain Teague in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle here (2m 4 ½ f) last time. Prior to that the 7-year-old had finished runner-up to Iberico Lord in the Greatwood Hurdle. He’s a neat and economic jumper of a hurdle and won’t be far away.
L’Eau Du Sud ran as if something was amiss when pulling up in the Greatwood Hurdle on his seasonal return. He finished a 5 ½ length third in the Morebattle Handicap Hurdle on his final start of last season and is 2lb lower. I suspect he’s on a winnable mark if Dan Skelton can get him back to his best.
Brentford Hope was an easy winner over C&D in a lesser race on his seasonal reappearance in November. After an 11lb rise and up in grade the 7-year-old came up short when a 2-length 3rd of 8 to Hansard in the Gerry Feilden back here the following month. The cheekpieces go on for the first time over hurdles and he was smart on the flat on testing ground.
Betting Advice
It won’t be a busy day on the betting front and I’m just concentrating on Newbury.
Saturday’s selections will be posted on Saturday morning
On Sunday there’s a decent looking card at Navan with two Grade 2 the highlights of a seven-race card which also includes a Listed Mares’ novice hurdle. There’s Premier Race Day at Exeter with plenty of prize money on offer. I might have some selections on Sunday so watch your inboxes.
Cheers
John