Newbury Saturday Preview - 12/02/22

The first race of the afternoon sees the Class 3 Handicap Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m7f and Bravemansgame is the standout selection.

The Grade One winning hurdler took to chasing in impressive fashion at Newton Abbot on seasonal debut, jumping a near perfect round whilst making all from the front.

He then went to Haydock and against another experienced field went on to win easily, being eased down towards the end.

Looking to land a hat-trick over the bigger obstacles in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton over Christmas, he outjumped and saw off the challenge of Ahoy Senor to land the spoils.

He drops into a handicap for this event and if anywhere near his best should win and then head onto the spring festivals.

Next up is the three mile Handicap Hurdle and we are siding with last year's winner Polish for Fergal O'Brien to go close again off the same mark as last season.

Being a very up and down horse throughout his career, he seems to peak around the mark of 130 and also around February, with him being primed for this race now two years in a row.

In this event last term he stayed on best of the rest and cleaned up on his jumping to get to the front at the last and stayed on best of the rest to take the event.

This term he was a winner on the flat at Goodwood in October and has then been seen three times over hurdles getting his mark down from 137 to 130 and he now looks on a mark to strike again.

One to watch.

One of the feature races of the afternoon at Newbury is the Grade Two Denman Chase over 2m7f and we can't look past last year's second in the race Clan Des Obeaux.

The Paul Nicholls trained gelding has been a superstar for the yard over the years, winning numerous big races both in England and Ireland and at a track he likes he should be tough to beat.

The two time King George winner ran away with the Betway Bowl at Aintree in April last season, winning by 26 lengths to re-assert himself as Britain’s leading staying chaser after having lost his King George crown last season.

However, arguably his best career performance to date came in the Punchestown Gold Cup at the back end of last season, beating a two-time Gold Cup winner, and other multiple graded winning horses back in behind him.

He won by just under two lengths and asserted himself once again to be one of the best staying chasers in the game.

This season he has only been seen once to date, primed for a run in his fourth King George, looking to retain his title, he could only run on into second behind Tornado Flyer.

That is some strong form, but he will have to be near his best facing a younger rival in Royal Pagaille who is a very talented stayer on his day.

Another smart race at Newbury is the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase over two miles and we are going for the youngest horse in the race, Hitman.

Having ran respectably over hurdles in France the son of Falco made his British/chase debut at Ffos Las in November in very tricky conditions.

The six year old took every fence in his stride, getting better as the race went on and went on to win the event by an eased down 30 lengths.

That performance was highly impressive and he looked to prove he was a Grade One horse in the making next time out at Sandown when being entered into the Henry VIII Novices' Chase.

Having a big reputation the yard thought he had a big chance but on the day he had to settle for second behind the impressive Allmankind, who landed the event in good style.

With that run under his belt in Grade One company he headed into the Scilly Isles Novices' Chase on Saturday, looking for the step up in trip to really bring him along but unfortunately he fell.

He got back to winning ways at Newbury before heading to Aintree in the Grade One Manifesto Novices' Chase where he looked the winner jumping the last but was outstayed close home and finished a narrow third.

This season he has been twice, starting the Grade Two Haldon Gold Cup where getting tired after jumping the last and was chinned close home by Eldorado Allen.

Looking to go one better in the Grade One Tingle Creek, he again had to settle for second behind stablemate Greaneteen and having now not been seen since then he should be primed for this event.

The feature race of the afternoon is the Grade Three Betfair Hurdle and Jpr One for Colin Tizzard looks exceptionally well handicapped off 130.

The exciting five year old has been seen three times in his career, all over hurdles, making his debut in November at Exeter when seeing off the likeable I Am Maximus and Luttrell Lad in an 18 runner Novices' Hurdle.

Looking to back that up he went to Cheltenham in a smaller fielded event that still held some good talent and he was an ulnucky loser back in second.

In January when last seen he got back to winning ways in taking style at Taunton in a Novices' Hurdle over 2m3f, staying out the further trip well.

Having that stamina coming back to Two miles is a positive in a race like this and stepping into his first handicap off only a a mark of 130 is another bonus.

Should have a big chance if running his race and with only 14 entries at this stage he looks a big player.

The final selection of the afternoon comes in the Listed Bumper over two miles and we have sided with the Gary Moore trained Authorised Speed.

The five year old has kept improving all season long, costing €155,000 he has gone on to run three times, placing twice and then getting off the mark in taking style last time out.

He made his debut at Market Rasen in May 2021 and was a fair second, learning a lot for the experience.

On his second outing this season he finished a length second behind the talented Henri The Second for Paul Nicholls in Listed company.

Looking to go one better last time over course and distance at Newbury he hosed up by 10 lengths and now back into a Listed event should be in the mix.