Who To Follow At Newbury On Saturday - 12/02/22

James Mackie | @JMackieRacing

Thu 10 Feb 2022 15.46

Newbury 15:35

Jpr One

J: Brendan Powell

T: Colin Tizzard

N/A

Age: 5

Weight: 10-9

OR: 130

Days: 33

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.

Form: View

Date	Course	Distance	Type	Weight	Position
20/03/23	TAU	16.5	GS	11-12	1
15/03/22	CHL	16.5	GS	11-7	5
12/02/22	NBY	16.5	GS	10-9	13
10/01/22	TAU	19	Sft	11-12	1
10/12/21	CHL	17	Gd	11-4	2

Paul Nicholls has been a trainer bang out of form and for the 12 time champion trainer this is something that does not happen a lot.

With him not being able to find the reason for the poor form with only two winners from his last 40 runners, he is unleashing some of his big guns this week to get him back on track.

The first big chance of the day for him on Saturday is Bravemansgame in the Novices' Handicap Chase with this event looking a prep run for his next Grade One event.

In the Grade Two Denman Chase he is looking to go one better than last year with Clan Des Obeaux who after finishing second in the race last term went on to win back to back Grade One events.

Too top things off he fields Hitman in the Grade Two Game Spirit Chase with the six year old looking to stop his string of seconds and get back in the winners enclosure.

Paddy Brennan is a jockey that has seen it all in the sport and on Saturday can use that experience to land some winners for his trainer Fergal O'Brien.

One of his best chances of the day come in the second race of the day with last years winner of the race Polish runs of the same mark.

Another nice mount comes in the Novices' Hurdle with Surtitle knocking on the door with both his runs to date and could go one better in this.

Finally, Brenna has a live chance in the bumper with Hullnback who was a good winner of a bumper on debut at Chepstow and having not been seen since that.

Brennan has hit a nice patch of form ahed of the weekend winning three of his last 16 races over the last two weeks which sees him pose a 19% strike rate.