Newbury races: tips, racecards and preview for the Challow Hurdle meeting on Saturday
ANOTHER day, another Grade 1 as the Betway Challow Hurdle is the main attraction at Newbury.
Philip Hobbs has potential star Thyme Hill hoping to cement his reputation as one of the most exciting talents in training but there’s six other competitive heats on the card.
Race 1 – 12.05 Betway Mares’ Handicap Hurdle
It’s not the strongest heat to get us underway and it’s a tricky punting heat to say the least.
But you can’t go wrong with backing a Nicky Henderson hope at Newbury and his SUNRISE RUBY is probably one of the safer options in this trappy race.
She was given an easy enough time at Sandown last time and will come on for that reappearance. She ran encouragingly into second late on and although the handicapper didn’t miss it, she should be winning sooner rather than later.
Born To Please bolted up last time on her return to hurdles and why she needs to back that up again here in a deeper race could go off a tempting enough price for Mark Usher.
Fair Kate is lightly-raced and should be better than her current mark but is yet to put it together on the track. Any market support is interesting.
Last but not least Fejoada is worth a second look on the back of her second to Floressa two runs ago. She flopped last time out but has been dropped 6lbs and that was unlikely her running that day.
SELECTION: Sunrise Ruby
DANGER: Fejoada
Race 2 – 12.40 Betway “Introductory” Hurdle
Potential is the key word here and there are some exciting prospects on show from the big yards, as you tend to get at Newbury.
The two that appeal most on paper are Nicky Henderson’s MISTER COFFEY and Colin Tizzard’s PTP winner Premiumaccess.
Henderson’s hope won a bumper on his only start and he was backed that day. He should be built better for a race of this nature and Henderson as we know likes to run a few of his better ones at his local track.
The market will be the best guide as will a good paddock inspection.
Tizzard’s Premiumaccess would be more of a long-term project but the same points apply with the paddock and market. A well-backed Tizzard horse tends to go well.
Dan Skelton runs three-year-old Scorched Earth who won on his stable debut and gets a bit of weight from his elders. This is plenty deeper than his last effort though and he would have to be good to beat some of these.
It’s not a betting heat in all honesty and one to have your notebook and binoculars out for the long-term. I’d just side with Henderson again if pushed though.
TENTATIVE NOD: Mister Coffey
Race 3 – 1.15 Betway Handicap Chase (for The Hallowe’en Trophy)
The first chase of the day is competitive and the market will be headed by the resurgent Defi Sacre who looks a new horse of late.
He has bolted up the last twice and connections have got him out here hunting a quickfire hat-trick. He won here cosily again only ten days ago and a 5lbs rise is how the handicapper has reacted.
The second has won since and shows that he was well ahead of the handicapper but I just can’t dive into a horse running again so quickly at short odds.
AMOOLA GOLD is a horse I have had on my radar for a long while and the return to Newbury makes me very sweet on his chances at decent odds.
He showed at the end of last season he is a chaser on the up when beating Brelan D’As and then a third behind Ballywood where but for a bad jump late on would have been plenty closer.
He returned after a layoff when backed before a similar race in November and travelled well throughout before a couple of bad jumps late on again cost him.
He ran no race last time at Aintree and hopefully the return to this track plus a couple of runs under his belt can see him take advantage of this mark which should prove lenient. A bit of market confidence would be good to see beforehand.
Go Long has returned to a winning mark and has shown hints of form in better company without winning. He can’t be ignored for Evan Williams.
Chozen won first time out last season and won’t mind conditions in the slightest. Trainer Tim Vaughan continues to have a promising season and this lightly-tried chaser has a sniff too.
EACH-WAY SELECTION: Amoola Gold
DANGER: Defi Sacre
Race 4 – 1.50 Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap Hurdle
The action steps up a notch here with the first of the ITV contests and the return of One For Rosie is good to see.
A promising novice hurdle campaign ended with a third in Grade 1 company at Aintree and he’s now rated 145. His form is standout in this and he has more experience than a lot of the younger horses in here.
But this will not be the be all and end all for Nigel Twiston-Davies’ grey this season and he will likely come on for this run and could go chasing sooner rather than later.
I’m inclined to take him on here and top of the shortlist is Oliver Sherwood’s SEVARANO who won here last time out and makes his handicap debut.
He beat a decent field with a penalty that day and although the second has been beat since that was a bit of a non-event and a mark of 134 should look generous down the line.
There was talk of the Challow after his latest win so connections must think a lot of him and perhaps his opening mark made them think they could take advantage before going up in class.
Now Look At Me is less exposed than most and the Tom George team are just clicking into gear again. This is deeper than his recent outings but this pot had to be taken on with a mark of 124.
Point Of Principle was second in a big handicap at Aintree at the end of last season and he has a decent record fresh. He’s on a career high mark but has a shout in this if he has improved over the summer.
EACH-WAY SELECTION: Sevarano
DANGER: One For Rosie
Race 5 – 2.25 Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase
Another big handicap pot at Newbury and this should go the way of Colin Tizzard’s COPPERHEAD who was always going to be a different animal over fences.
He put it together in good style last time out and a 9lbs rise does not put me off whatsoever. Tizzard has openly said he was excited to get this five-year-old chasing and 134 is no insurmountable task this early in his career.
This is a big ask and he has to prove he can go in soft but if he reproduces his Wincanton effort he will not be far away whatsoever.
The big threat is clearly Jonjo O’Neill’s Cobolobo who put it together last time out and is also well handicapped. But he is plenty less consistent and harder to trust, especially as he’s the likely favourite.
I have it between those two, but Polydora should not be ruled out for Tom Lacey. He is another lightly-tried horse and could also be well treated when you go back to his form behind De Rasher Counter. However, he doesn’t win as often as you’d like and could be a bit fragile.
Antony has a big shout for the Gary Moore team, while Moving In Style also has a sniff off bottom weight.
SELECTION: Copperhead
DANGER: Cobolobo
Race 6 – 3.00 Betway Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1)
The main event has drawn a field of five, and it’s the exciting THYME HILL they all have to beat.
Philip Hobbs is not one to talk up his horses, but this youngster has been given a hymn or two from the experienced handler.
He has not put a foot wrong over hurdles and has built nicely on his Champion Bumper run last year. His form is much stronger than anything in this race and he should just win this, as his odds suggest.
I expect him to take this on his way to a bold show at the Festival and he certainly looks a huge prospect for the Hobbs team moving forwards.
Stamina will be no issue and neither will the ground. He has speed too and shouldn’t be caught out by the long straight.
Enrilo won a Grade 2 last time out at Sandown but it was somewhat an unexpected success. He should build on that though and has shown glimpses of being a proper horse earlier in his career.
I don’t think he is in the same league as Thyme Hill though and it would be an upset in my book despite them only having 6lbs between them on paper.
Nicky Henderson runs The Cashel Man. He’s also taken a while to get going after moving from David Simcock’s but showed he has a proper engine here last time out.
This is a different kettle of fish all together though and he needs to step up again after the form has taken a couple of knocks too.
Eclair Surf was backed off the boards on debut for Emma Lavelle last time and he could be the interesting one. He is completely unexposed and Emma Lavelle can do no wrong.
BIG RACE BANKER: Thyme Hill
Race 7 – 3.35 Betway Novices’ Handicap Chase
The closing handicap is about a tricky puzzle as you could hope for to finish the day.
Tidal Flow will be popular but is not a horse I could trust, especially at the prices. He can often throw in the towel early on and his jumping can be hit and miss too.
There is a horse in there but he’s just not for me.
It looks a race to have a couple of swings at and Gary Moore’s DIABLE DE SIVOLA looks a cracking each-way option.
He’s been brought along steadily since switching yards but showed enough last time at Plumpton that a big run is coming. He’s only six and I expect him to improve here off a mark of 133. The more money the better too.
Kateson has promised plenty without quite delivering just yet. She’s another that should improve down the line and could prove well-handicapped.
She showed she can jump last time but this is tougher and she just looks short enough.
The other each-way dart I’ll throw is Commodore Barry for Kim Bailey. He is beginning to disappoint but this track should suit better than the likes of Leicester and Exeter and he should prove better over fences starting here.