Who To Follow At Newbury On Sunday

Horse To Follow - Sceau Royal

The second Grade Two at Newbury on Sunday is the Game Spirit Chase over two miles and the Alan King trained Sceau Royal could cause a small upset.

The eight year old has been tried over both hurdles and fences during his career and although winning races like the Shloer Chase and Henry VIII Novices' Chase over the bigger obstacles, last term showed that he may need to step back to hurdles.

This has now seen his handler move him back to the smaller obstacles this term and it looked to be the right move off the back of his seasonal debut when taking the Welsh Champion Hurdle.

He used that run to the go on and land the the Grade Two Elite Hurdle at Wincanton next time out and then ran another cracker in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle finishing second to Champion Hurdle winner Epatante when stepping up to Grade One company.

Having been frequently run already this season, King still entered him for the International Hurdle at Cheltenham in December and he ran another superb race to finish a closely bunched fourth.

With the versatile horse predominantly running this season over hurdles, King gave him his chance over fences over Christmas in the Desert Orchid Chase.

Unfortunately it was a disaster with him falling early on in the race, but we still think this gelding can go well in this race having the best form at this trip throughout the field and if improving his jumping should be a player off the back of a break.

Trainer To Follow - Paul Nicholls

The master 11 time champion trainer is set for a huge day at Newbury on Sunday with some stand out chances across the day and enters the event in great form.

The Ditcheat handler could land both the Grade Two events on the card having the favourites in both contests with Greaneteen in the Game Spirit and also Clan Des Obeaux in the Denman Chase.

Other big chances across the day come from Southfield Harvest in the Handicap Hurdle and also Enrilo, who makes his handicap debut over fences.

Nicholls has been in superb over the last 14 days landing seven winners from 30 races which sees him pose a 23.33% strike rate.

Jockey To Follow - Jonjo O'Neill Jnr

Jonjo O'Neill Jnr is one of the most talented young riders in the sport at the moment having not plied his trade for long but still showing how could he can be in most of his races.

On Sunday at Newbury he has a handful of smart rides that should see him in the winners enclosure, starting with his big ride of the day on Soaring Glory in the Betfair Hurdle

Again for his dad on the day he sits on Palmers Hill for JP McManus in the Handicap Hurdle and then over the fences with Rockpoint, who has an each way squeak.

The rider has been in sterling form over the last two weeks which has seen him land three out of his last 17 races which sees him pose a 17.65% win rate.