The horse racing broadcaster picks out his picks for Saturday at Newcastle and Newbury, and provides one selection from Bangor-on-Dee.
An actual mixture of high quality and amount on this week’s two function races which type the centrepieces of six races on ITV from Newbury and Newcastle.
The standard comes through the stellar line up for the Preventing Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle. Normally only a minor early season foray on the trail to the Champion Hurdle, however this 12 months it guarantees to supply the solutions to a number of burning questions.
Can Structure Hill bounce again to type? How good is The New Lion and the place does Anzadam match into the Mullins pecking order?
The largest query mark clearly issues Structure Hill. Imperious in his demolition of State Man within the 2023 Champion Hurdle, he appeared set to dominate the hurdling scene for years to return. Two years on and niggling accidents, misfiring racecourse gallops and an absence of respect for hurdles see him fully break up opinion. This time the preparations appear to have gone extra easily, together with his racecourse gallop at Newbury final week, nevertheless it was additionally clear in his far much less exalted galloping companions 12 months earlier, that build up his confidence was additionally a key goal of the morning. This time he wasn’t crossing swords with Sir Gino however with Therapist (properly crushed at Taunton on Thursday) and Act of Innocence (who runs within the opener at Newbury on Friday) and while he readily picked up each it additionally failed to handle the issues as to how he would hurdle at race tempo.
What had beforehand been an asset had become an achilles heel after his disdain for the obstacles led to capsizes at Cheltenham and Aintree, after which way more worryingly a seemingly full lack of confidence in Eire. Steps will clearly have been taken to handle this however there isn’t any dwelling substitute for the pressures of a race. There’s additionally the added concern of a degree that I make recurrently, that this isn’t his primary goal. Christmas at Kempton appeals extra as he can be extra totally wound up earlier than heading to Cheltenham if issues have gone properly.
This subsequently appears the prospect for THE NEW LION (14:00 Newcastle) to take his scalp. Dan Skelton is clearly focusing on excessive worth early season prizes as he makes an attempt to this time make his prize cash lead over Willie Mullins an unassailable one. The New Lion progressed properly final season and the acid assessments as as to if he’s a possible Champion Hurdler might properly face sterner examination later within the marketing campaign. For now, he appeals because the another sure to provide his operating on the day so is most popular.
The looks of the Willie Mullins skilled Anzadam provides additional spice although, at this stage his type is a great distance wanting that required to win right here. Unbeaten over hurdles, he was anticipated to line up in final weeks’ Morgiana however as a substitute comes right here. The actual fact he has two fairly lengthy breaks now in his profile recommend issues haven’t been straight ahead and maybe that is only a sighter to see the place he and subsequently different Mullins hopes stand.
The Gold Cup at Newbury has attracted a most discipline of 24 and is it value noting that there’s important rain forecast throughout Saturday morning. It’s large open however together with his robust travelling nature and skill to deal with deep floor, THE DOYEN CHIEF (14.55 Newbury) appears geared up to run properly. Historically second season chasers have their alternatives on this race, and he has additionally had the good thing about a run at Bangor so should not have any health worries if it turns into attritional. There are many different second season candidates, however a number of have already received main handicaps given the grader an opportunity to hike them up the scores – Myretown and Respendent Gray for instance. That has led to the highest of the weights trying fairly compressed and I used to be tempted by Monty’s Star, who clearly has a contact of sophistication however the steadier of 12 stone in deep floor and a quiet spell for the De Bromhead yard makes Alan King’s chaser attraction extra.
Elsewhere on the Newbury card, DOMINIC’S FAULT (13:40 Newbury) was like Structure Hill amongst the gallopers on show on the monitor final week. He received introduced down three out in a race received by Loverdose at Sandown in January and re-opposes on 13lb higher phrases. This once more may very well be an instance of a horse the handicapper hasn’t had the prospect to meet up with but, up in opposition to just a few which have been reassessed after victories corresponding to favorite French Ship (up eight), Santos Blue (up seven) and the already talked about Loverdose.
If the rain does arrive then I very very like the double determine value of HOT FUSS (14:15 Newbury) within the Gerry Feilden (at the moment at odds of 12-1). A good Flat horse, he took properly to hurdling ending within the body within the Fred Winter off only a 2lb decrease mark. He had a pipe opener on the extent within the November Handicap and circumstances may very well be proper up his road right here. It will be no shock if he was despatched off a great deal shorter, while within the final race JAVERT ALLEN (15:35 Newbury) can proceed the nice type of coach Jane Williams (3/10 final 14 days A/E 1.18). He impressed together with his leaping right here when making all final December and might repeat the feat.
Away from the principle motion Sam Twiston-Davies heads for Bangor the place LAGANHILL (12:37 Bangor) appears to have an honest probability stepping up in journey on solely his second run over fences. He handles delicate floor, has a course win to his title over hurdles, and the good thing about a run at Carlisle three weeks in the past. A mark of 126 appears very affordable.
Go to Betway’s horse racing betting web page.