Who To Follow At Newbury On Friday - 25/11/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Wed 23 Nov 2022 14.46

Newbury 15:05

Proschema

J: Harry Skelton

T: Dan Skelton

N/A

Age: 7

Weight: 11-8

OR: 154

Days: 27

The penultimate race of the afternoon is the feature Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle over three miles that has seen some superb winners over the years and we think Proschema can go close in this seasons renewal.

The seven year old looks to have matured over the years and is now starting to put it all together and with many in the field now past their best and Proschema still progressing, he could have the edge in this.

Running a few times through the summer, he made his true seasonal debut in October at Chepstow when finishing seventh of 10 over a shorter trip than he likes in the Silver Trophy Handicap.

The form have that race has worked out extremely well, with the first, second, fifth, sixth and Proschema in seventh all winning since, some in Grade Two company.

Proschema was last seen at Wetherby landing the Grade Two bet365 Hurdle by 10 lengths from Thomas Darby and looks very difficult for the latter to reverse the form.

Champ and Paisley Park although very smart animals are now not in their primes and on the face of the race, Proschema is the one to beat.

Form: F3071View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
26/02/23	FON	19	Gd	11-10	4
25/11/22	NBY	24	Gd	11-8	PU
29/10/22	WET	24	GS	11-2	1
08/10/22	CHP	19.5	Gd	12-0	7
14/06/22	ASC	20	GF	9-12	12

Nicky Henderson has been in the racing headlines over the last week or so but could be set for a good weekend as he unleashes more of his big stars.

At Newbury on Friday he gives a rules debut to the highly touted Jet Powered, who was a 350,000gns purchase and races for the yard for the first time in the race they have give debuts to Jonbon and Buveur D'Air in the past.

In the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase Henderson gives a chase debut to Balco Coastal who showed decent form over hurdles but was always bought to be a chaser.

Russian Ruler is looking to get back to winning ways in the Novices' Hurdle and then in the Handicap Chase over 2m4f Caribean Boy has his first run for 279 days.

Other interesting runners on the afternoon for the Seven Barrows trainer include Champ in the Long Distance Hurdle and Steal A March in the finale Handicap Hurdle.

Harry Skelton landed the first Grade One of the British jumps season last Saturday on Protektorat in the Betfair Chase at Haydock and on Friday he has some classy rides at Newbury.

In the opener Skelton sits on a potentially smart recruit for the yard in Ittack Blue who was bought for 310,000gns in May, having won a point to point at Punchestown in May.

Skelton then sits on Frere D'Armes who could still be well handicapped off 128 in the Novices' Handicap Chase and then in the Novices' Hurdle, Heezer Geezer was a good second on hurdles debut and should improve again.

Beakstown holds leading claims in the Handicap Chase over 2m4f off the back of his fourth in the Old Roan Handicap Chase, with the form of the race working out well.

Proschema is arguably the best chance of the afternoon for Skelton after his romp to victory in the Grade Two at Wetherby last time out and if in the same form will be tough to beat.

In the finale Skelton gets the mount on Padelyourowncanoe who was well backed last time out at Cheltenham when falling, but still well handicapped can't be dismissed.