There’s a cracking jumps card at Newbury on Saturday afternoon, mixing some excellent veterans’ contests with the Grade 3 Greatwood Gold Cup at 1.50pm.
Watch all the action – as well as every race from the UK and Ireland – via live streaming when logged into MansionBet. Our tipster has previewed the card at Newbury (12.40-4.15, seven races).
12.40 – BetVictor Seniors’ Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)
What a week already for claiming rider Millie Wonnacott, with three winners from just six mounts since last Sunday, and there could be another one in store for her here with NEACHELLS BRIDGE for the in-form Neil Mulholland yard. It hasn’t quite happened in two runs back over timber, but his return at Wincanton was promising and he’s been eased a further 3lb for this. Add in first-time cheekpieces and his rider’s handy 7lb claim and he’s a lively player in a very open contest.
Selection: Neachells Bridge @ 13/2
1.15 – BetVictor Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Again, wide open fare, this time in a Veterans’ handicap over fences. Some proper servants line-up and the likes of Shantou Village, Present Man, Singlefarmpayment and West Approach are well capable, but Sir Ivan and VALADOM are preferred. The former has been in cracking form for Harry Fry and deserves to put his head in front, but Richard Hobson’s charge might just dominate this from the get-go. If he gets in a nice rhythm, he’s got a featherweight to carry and could be hard to pass.
Selection: Valadom @ 11/1
1.50 – BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Grade 3, 2m4f)
Grand Sancy was put in as early favourite as trainer Paul Nicholls bids for a tenth career success in the race (also runs Capeland). Harry Cobden’s mount has to bounce back from a poor effort at Wincanton in November but Ga Law went a really tempo that day and it took him from his comfort zone. He’s capable. Killer Clown won a very good race at Kempton on Boxing Day, form advertised since, but he’s 15lb higher now, while The Big Bite is another player. UMBRIGADO is 2-3 over fences and improving with each start in this sphere for David Pipe. He handled a drop in trip last time at Wetherby but should be home again over this distance. He’s got more to come and can overcome his 5lb rise.
Selection: Umbrigado @ 6/1
2.30 – BetVictor Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Proschema was disappointing in the Greatwood at Cheltenham in November, a race Tegerek was a fine third in, but could bounce back having won a pair of jumpers’ bumpers at Newcastle recently. Glynn is another with scope for better, Nicky Henderson’s charge having been pulled up in the Lanzarote at Kempton last month after a pleasing comeback second at Doncaster. HASANABAD was quite useful on the Flat and scored decisively on hurdles bow Southwell in September. He was held next time at Newton Abbot after things conspired against him, but he left that behind with a near miss off 92 in a Chelmsford handicap in December and had two January runs on the all-weather to keep him ticking over. We surely haven’t seen his best yet.
Selection: Hasanabad @ 9/1
3.05 – BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m)
Sopran Thor (second) was ahead of third-placed GASTARA at Sandown (2m4f, heavy) but Johnny Farrelly’s charge might turn the tables now. He travelled sweetly in that race and maybe didn’t find as much as looked likely in the testing ground. The drop in trip isn’t a concern here and, from an unchanged mark, he should go well with in renewing hostilities, his old rival having gone up 3lb.
Selection: Gastara @ 13/2
3.40 – BetVictor Novices’ Chase (2m4f)
Paul Nicholls has the two leading players in this with HITMAN and Getaway Trump – though the latter is more than likely heading to Doncaster instead. Either way, he’d do well to concede weight to his stablemate, who’s rated 11lb higher. The French import gave Allmankind a race at Sandown in the Grade 1 Henry VIII in December and should bounce back from last month’s mishap back there by accounting for Colonel Custard and Captain Cuckoo.
Selection: Hitman @ 2/9
4.15 – Irish Thoroughbred Marketing Standard Open NH Flat Race (2m)
Huntingdon scorer Silent Revolution and Lingfield Polytrack winner City Derby join the very impressive Southwell scorer FAME AND CONCRETE as three previous winners in this field conceding weight. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge looked well above average in that December romp and may hold sway over the Paul Nicholls runner. Our Jester and Young Butler come from very good sources and have plenty going for them on paper ahead of their debut runs.
Selection: Fame And Concrete @ 6/5
*All odds correct at time of writing