Hi all,
I hope you enjoyed yesterday’s Breeders Cup Preview. Saturday’s selections will be with you this evening.
It’s going to be a very busy few days with a fair few selections lined up.
The weekend gets underway today. Newbury races over jumps for the first time this season. However, the good ground means the field sizes aren’t great. That said I have found a handful of selections which can be found at the end of the main piece.
Newbury
It’s good, good to firm in places on the chase course. Not surprisingly the field sizes reflect the prevailing going conditions.
Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1:55)
I probably shouldn’t but I keep getting drawn to these races. Huelgoat, trained by Paul Nicholls, has made a good start to his chase career making 3-3 when successful at Fontwell 15-days ago. He’s a good jumper of a fence and goes well on quick ground. He’s up 6lb for his latest success and faces probably his toughest assignment so far over fences. However, he’s almost certainly capable of more progress and will be tough to beat.
The Joe Tizzard trained Whydah Gally should do better over fences than hurdles. However, the bigger threat to the favourite could be Git Maker, that’s if the rain arrives. The 6-year-old won an Irish point prior to joining Jamie Snowden and then won three of his four starts of hurdles last season. He seems ground versatile but a bit more ease would likely suit him as he does have a bit of knee action.
Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle (3:05)
You can see why Didtheyleaveuoutto is favourite here. He was doing his best work at the finish when a 3 ¼ lengths 4th of 10 to Knappers Hill in Silver Trophy Handicap Hurdle at Chepstow (2m 3 ½ f) last time. He was a ¾ length runner-up in this 12 months ago and is 3lb lower this time around. He needs 3m these days and quick ground so has plenty in his favour today. However, the 9-year-old is hardly a prolific winning machine.
Arguably Flemcara’s best performance last season came over C&D when a neck 2nd of 14. That performance came of a 242-day layoff, and he returns from a 196 day break here. He’s 4lb lower than he was at the start of last season and although the 10-year-old isn’t getting any younger he’s still capable of running well if ready to roll. Unlike the favourite who doesn’t want good to soft ground and might not run was the ground to ease. Flemcara wouldn’t be bothered if the rain was to arrive.
Watch Last Fan Standing Handicap Chase (3:42)
Arguably the most competitive race on the day and you can make a case for most of the eight runners. The three on my shortlist are:
Jemima P showed she’s much better over fences than hurdles in 2021 when winning four of her five starts over the larger obstacles. Off for 398-days before finishing 2nd of 3 at Kempton over hurdles 18-days ago. That run should have put her spot on fitness wise. Although the top weight is 8lb higher than for her last win over the larger obstacles she may be capable of a bit better and is a sound jumper.
Java Point is another with plenty to recommend to him. The 7-year-old won three of his six starts over fences last season including here over an extended 2m 7f in April. Raised just 3lb for that success which looks more than workable. The drop back to 2m 4f shouldn’t be an inconvenience but more of a worry would be his record fresh. That said, he has a good chance if trainer Tom George has him ready.
Striking A Pose didn’t really build on the promise of his seasonal return win on chase debut at Exeter last November. However, we at least know he goes well fresh. The 6-year-old should be capable of winning again this season. Can go close if the ground doesn’t prove too quick for the 6-year-old.
Betting Advice:
Newbury
1:55 – Git Maker – 1pt win – 7/2 – Gen
3:05 – Flemcara – 1pt each way – 10/1 @ bet365
3:42 – Striking A Pose – 1pt win – 7/2 @ Coral & Ladbrokes
Cheers
John