Hi all,
This afternoon ITV Racing are covering five races from Newbury, two from Taunton and one from Haydock.
As ever I have taken a look at all the ITV races in today’s preview.
Newbury
It was good to soft, soft in places on Friday morning. With a bit more rain forecast for Friday and Saturday it shouldn’t be a million miles away from that going description.
The feature race of the Newbury card and indeed the afternoon is the Grade 1 Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (3:00). Nine have been declared and it looks like a competitive renewal in which you can make cases for five or six of them.
The most interesting race betting wise for me is the Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (2:25). Twelve have been declared for the race but one of them Fantastikas has an entry at Haydock (1:35) which is his first preference.
Let’s begin with the day’s feature race, the Challow Hurdle.
3:00 – Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) – 2m 4 ½ f
Paul Nicholls has won the last three renewals of the race, and he saddles Captain Teague and Farnoge. The latter made it 2-2 over hurdles when winning at Ascot last month. He looked like a nice prospect at Ascot. If he gets a good stamina test and he’s not of this. On jockey bookings Captain Teague look the stable number one. He won the Grade 2 Persian War Novice Hurdle at Chepstow on Hurdle debut. Looked in need of further than 2m 4f when a 1 ½ length 2nd to Minella Missile in another Grade 2 at Cheltenham last time. Like his stablemate he could do with a good test at the trip but is open to improvement.
Captain Teague isn’t favourite that honour goes to Willmount. He looked an exciting prospect when beating 12 rivals here (2m ½ f) 51 days ago. There should be more improvement to come from him stepped up in distance. Must command maximum respect for a yard that won this in 2018 with Champ. Stablemate Brave Jen was only beaten a head in mares’ only Listed race here (2m ½ f) 28 days ago. Needs to improve for the step up to 2m 4f to win but get into the frame at big odds.
Grade 2 winner Lookaway was a good 2 ½ length 2nd of 15 to Iberico Lord in the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle at Cheltenham last month. He’s got more experience than most of his rivals, but today’s longer trip might not suit him as well as others.
Johnnywho’s has won both his starts under rules, a Taunton bumper on stable debut in the spring on hurdle debut last month. Clearly capable of much better than he’s shown so far and he’s just 5/1 in the early bird betting.
Masaccio, a winner on hurdle debut at Chepstow, went down by a nose under a penalty over C&D 28 days ago. Up in class but open to improvement and has each way claims.
1:15 – New ‘Bet-In-Race’ With Coral Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m ½ f
Martator seems to be slowly getting the hang of jumping fences. He’s shaped with promise on all three starts over the larger obstacles this season. Posted a personal best last time when a 4 ¾ length 2nd of 8 to Etalon over C&D 10 days ago. Jumped soundly in the refitted cheekpieces (not retained) and doesn’t face a chase debutant like last time. Up 1lb but threatening to win a race like this.
Previous course and distance winner The Russian Doyen was returning from 621-day absence when an encouraging 14 length 4th of 6 to Elixir De Nutz over C&D 28 days ago. He’ll be sharper for that run and is potentially well treated if he can build on his latest effort. Harry Cobden, a three-time winner on the 10-year-old is back in the saddle.
1:50 – Coral Racing Club Join For Free Handicap Hurdle – 2m 4 ½ f4
Steal A March just four starts last season but looked progressive with form figures of 2121. Now 4lb higher than when winning at Wincanton (3m 1f) last Boxing Day. The good to soft ground is a positive and although he might be better over 3m he’s on a competitive mark if ready to roll after a year off.
Rambo T gained a second success over hurdles when winning at Newton Abbot in October and ran just as well when a 5 ¼ length 3rd of 16 at Cheltenham two starts back. Jumping lacked fluency when only sixth here (3m) last time. This trip looks more suitable but does need jump better to win. If he does, he’s a big contender.
Now Or Never twice a winner over hurdles when trained in France. The 4-year-old returns from a 419-day layoff on stable debut for Venetia Williams. Up in distance but could be on a handy mark.
2:25 – Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 3m 2f
Top weight Certainly Red completed handicap chase hat trick at Wincanton in February. Back to form effort when a 4 ¼ length 3rd of 7 in the London National (3m 5 ½ f) at Sandown three weeks ago. Five of his six career wins have come right-handed but he’s down in class here and just 2lb above his last winning mark.
Atlanta Brave did well over hurdles last season winning two of his four starts. He was a disappointing 4/1 on chase debut at Cheltenham but left that form well behind when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 8 at Exeter last month. Capable of more improvement over fences and for thew step up to 3m 2f.
Bowtogreatness, twice a winner over hurdles, failed to win any od his six starts over fences but ended last season with a 1 ½ length 2nd of 15 to Midnight River in a valuable handicap chase on Grand National Day at Aintree. This represents a drop-in class for the 7-year-old who can win a race like this. He went well first time up last season and drying the ground is a plus.
Shanty Alley is on a losing run of 12 and underperformed on first start for 7 months when a 9 ¼ length 5th of 7 at Catterick 36 days ago. Finished a ¾ length 2nd of 13 in last year’s race and can race off 5lb lower this time around. To well handicapped to dismiss provided there’s some juice in the ground.
Docpickedme almost made a winning debut for new trainer Richard Hobson when a head 2nd of 7 to Enqarde at Warwick last month. May have found the race coming to quick when only 7th of 10 to Famous Bridge 35 days ago. If you are prepared to forgive the 7-year-old his latest performance he’s not handicapped out of this.
3:35 – Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – 2m 6 ½ f
Despite just the eight runners this is a competitive contest.
Passing Well, a dual winner over hurdles last season, has taken well to fences finishing runner-up on chase debut and then going one place better at Lingfield last month. Capable of more improvement and a 3lb rise for his latest win isn’t harsh.
Walking On Air bounced back to winning ways at Exeter in February and then finished a good 5th of 23 in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham Festival. Looks on a good mark if taking to chasing on seasonal return.
Golden Son a winner twice over hurdles when trained in France. Shaped with plenty of promise when a 3 ¼ length 2nd of 5 to Iroko on stable debut for Paul Nicholls. May have bounced or may have disliked the bottomless ground when pulling up at Aintree last time. The tongue tie he wore in France returns for handicap debut.
Ballycamus a course winner over hurdles made a winning chase debut at Chepstow (2m 3 ½ f) three weeks ago. The step up to an extended 2m 6f should elicit more improvement from the 6-year-old but softer ground would be preferable.
Henry’s Friend, a dual hurdle winner last season, returned from an 8-month absence with a solid enough first effort over fences when a 9 ½ length 5th of 9 at Doncaster (2m 3f) 14 days ago. Step up in trip is a positive and he’s in the mix.
Lubeat Foras was back from 670-day absence and in the process of running a good race, still in front when unseating his rider four out at Ffos Las on chase debut 18 days ago. Provided he avoids the ‘bounce’ and handles this likely better ground he’s not out of this.
Haydock
1:25 – Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (Class 2) – 3m 4 ½ f
Collectors Item seems to be steadily progressing over fences and posted a personal best when a 6 ¾ length 4th of 10 at Sandown 22 days ago. Looks like a hard ride but finished his race off well over 3m last time and looked in need of a marathon trip the last day.
East Street was back to his best when winning at Wetherby two starts back almost followed up, beaten a neck off 3lb higher, at Newcastle 16 days ago. Another who’s a hard ride and needs to jump better than he did last time if he’s to win this, but this marathon trip could really suit the 7-year-old.
Fortescue made a promising return to action when a 6 ½ length 4th of 10 to Nassalam in the Coral Welsh Grand National Trial at Chepstow earlier this month. Has shaped like this sort of distance will suit but he is 0-8 when racing beyond 3m 2f+. All six career wins have come in field sizes 9 and he’s 4lb below his last winning mark and can pop up in a handicap chase this season.
Taunton
2:10 – Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed Race) – 2m ½ f
High class bumper mare Queens Gamble made it 2-2 over hurdles when beating 12 rivals at Kempton last month. Both those successes have come on good ground and she’s a much better horse on a sound surface. The right favourite and the one to beat provided the rain stays away.
Casa No Mento has also won both her two starts over hurdles and is well suited to a speed favoring two miles on decent ground. Likely the biggest rival to Queens Gamble.
Larchmont Lass had Casa No Mento back in second in a Sandown Listed bumper in March, but that success came on heavy ground which wouldn’t have suited the runner-up as much as the winner. Nowhere near her smart bumper form when 2nd of 13 over C&D on hurdle debut 16 days ago. Better can be expected in the sphere and trainer Paul Nicholls has won this four times since 2014.
Jaminska got off the mark at the second attempt over hurdles when winning at Hereford (soft) in January. Went close on handicap/seasonal debut when a length 2nd of 14 here (2m 3f) 44 days ago. Capable of more progress and not ruled out.
2:45 – Racing TV 100% Profits Back To Racing Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m
Not a race you expect to see on ITV. The return to hurdling and the fitting of the first time cheekpieces could see Game Winner return to winning ways. King Of The Lake has shown ability on four starts over hurdles. Looked in need of further when a 11 ¼ length 3rd of 7 at Exeter on handicap debut last month. Bred to stay and if he can improve for the step up in trip can get off the mark for the first time.
Betting Advice:
Yesterday was another good example of why you should wait until you Coral & Ladbrokes have gone BOG for any selection from those two firms.
Anyway, Saturday’s selections and betting advice will be with you in the morning. Watch your inboxes.
It’s been a busy week so I’m giving Sunday a miss but will be back to complete the festive action with a preview of the New Year’s Day’s racing.
Cheers
John