Newbury Horse Racing Tips: Best bets for Betfair Hurdle day
The big meeting on Saturday comes at Newbury, where the feature is the Betfair Hurdle (15.15), a race that has a rich history. There are also two Grade 2s on a cracking card at the Berkshire venue and a good Listed bumper also closes the card. Here's our race-by-race look at Newbury, which runs from 12:55-16:25 on Saturday afternoon.
Newbury Tips
12:55 - Betfair Racing Podcasts Novices' Hurdle (2m½f)
A big field of 18 has been declared for this opening contest and the one to be on is surely MAKING HEADWAY, who was fourth in the Grade 1 Formby at Aintree on his last outing.
The lightly raced six-year-old sets the standard on that form and he had previously run another superb race, when chasing home Kamsinas at Haydock in November. Kamsinas is well-fancied for the feature Betfair Hurdle later on the card and that form is clearly strong.
Making Headway won a novice hurdle on heavy ground at Carlisle in October, so will have no problems with conditions should they deteriorate, with the forecast rain suggesting they will. It will take a smart performance to beat him now that he has dropped significantly in grade
Selection: Making Headway
13:30 - Betfair Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle (3m)
The recent rain will make this a gruelling test of stamina over 3m and that might suit ON THE BLIND SIDE, who has dropped back to the same mark as when successful over course and distance last season and simply loves it when the mud is flying.
On The Blind Side proved he retains all of his old ability, despite his advancing years, when a good third on heavy ground at Sandown in December and his latest run, in a valuable contest at Plumpton, is easily forgiven. That tight track probably wouldn’t have suited him.
The return to Newbury is definitely a plus for On The Blind Side and he might be capable of stamping his class on this field off top weight under James Bowen.
Selection: On The Blind Side
14:05 - Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2, 2m71/2f)
The heavy rain that is due to hit Newbury won’t suit hot favourite Shishkin here and as a result, there will be plenty piling on Protektorat, who loves heavy ground. However, he hasn’t looked like the same horse this season as he did last and I wouldn’t want to take short odds.
There could be an upset and the one to back is SAM BROWN, who looked as good as ever at the age of 12 when landing a 3m veterans’ handicap chase at Warwick last month and simply loves the mud. He is certain to have conditions in his favour here.
Sam Brown likes big, galloping tracks and won a bumper at this course in his younger days. He also recorded one of his best efforts on heavy ground at Haydock, a left-handed venue.
This is a stiffer task than he faced last time, but the visor that sparked a return to form there is back on and there is every chance Sam Brown can spring a surprise.
Selection: Sam Brown
14:40 - Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2, 2m½f)
This should be straightforward for EDWARDSTONE, who was no match for Banbridge when upped to 2m 41/2f at Kempton last time but that was a strong race and he pulled too hard to have any chance of staying the trip. He was a spent force in the home straight, hanging left.
Put a line through that run and he would be long odds-on for this race, as his best form over this 2m 1/2f trip is miles in advance of anything else on offer and, encouragingly, most of it has been achieved on soft ground. He will therefore have no problem with the easing going.
Jonbon is the only horse to beat Edwardstone over this trip this season and, with him nowhere to be seen, it will be disappointing if the ten-year-old can’t get back on track.
Selection: Edwardstone
15:15 - Betfair Hurdle (2m½f)
This is the feature race of the day and Willie Mullins saddles the red-hot market leader Ocastle Des Mottes. However, he has yet to run in Britain or Ireland and is a difficult horse to weigh up.
I’d rather take him on and it’s possible that KNICKERBOCKERGLORY could spring a surprise for Dan Skelton, who has a superb record in handicap hurdles over this trip.
Knickerbockerglory has a remarkably good record when fresh and was impressive when running away with a hot handicap on his seasonal reappearance, at Ascot in November.
He was below that form at Cheltenham next time, but probably found that came too soon and he has been given 83 days off since. That is a positive given he is best after a break.
All of his best form is on soft and heavy ground and this track suits front-runners like him.
Selection: Knickerbockerglory
15:50 - Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m71/2f)
This could be another one for Skelton, who saddles HITCHING JACKING and the lightly raced seven-year-old appears to be improving over fences judging on his last run at Doncaster.
That was only his second start in a chase and Hitching Jacking was beaten only by two well-handicapped rivals. He put 27 lengths between himself and the rest of the field.
His best form over hurdles came on soft ground, so he will have no problem with the rain, and the handicapper has given him a chance by dropping him 2lb in the weights here.
Selection: Hitching Jacking
16:25 - Betfair Exchange Beacons Bumper (Listed, 2m1/2f)
There are plenty of horses with experience in this closing bumper, but it might go to one of the lightly raced runners because NOAHSGREATRAINBOW won well on his debut at Wincanton, and looks open to plenty of further improvement for top trainer Harry Derham.
The son of Milan pulled nicely clear with one other rival on that occasion and has probably been targeted at this Listed event since, as Derham has a 23 percent strike-rate at the track.
Selection: Noahsgreatrainbow
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