Newbury Friday Preview - 25/11/22

The first event of the afternoon at Newbury is the Maiden Hurdle over 2m 1/2f and Jet Powered for Nicky Henderson could be tough to beat.

Jet Powered has been acquired by superb national hunt owners the Donnelly family and the five year old gelding is set to make his rules debut in this event.

A winner in December 2021 at Borris House in a three mile PTP on Yielding To Soft ground for 4YO's, Bolting up showing a nice turn of pace and foot perfect at his fences.

Exciting for a yard that has done well for this owner and having cost 350,000gns, they will be hoping for him to hit the ground running having his first run since a wind operation aswell.

Ittack Blue is another interesting runner.

A really fascinating event on Friday from Newbury is the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 1/2f where it sees some horses making their chase debuts and also some more established animals.

We are siding with the Jamie Snowden trained Datsalrightgino who has experience over fences whilst also holding some very smart form.

A decent hurdler last term winning back to back races at the start of the season but then slightly lost his way towards the end of the season with soft/heavy conditions going against him.

Sent chasing this term he made a superb debut over fences when second at Newton Abbot behind the talented Boothill, who franked the form last weekend when taking a competitive/valuable Handicap Chase at Ascot.

Datsalrightgino also franked the form of that race when getting off the mark over fences when last seen at Chepstow and racing in this handicap off 138 could still see him with room to manoeuvre.

Frere D'Armes looks a potential danger in a race where you could make a case for a few, but the Snowden yard are in flying form and thats what has swayed the vote.

Another tricky event on the Newbury card is the Novice Hurdle over 2m 4 1/2f, where again there are a few different angles into the race.

We are following the Paul Nicholls trained Stay Away Fay who looks an extremely exciting prospect for the yard having been bought for £305,000 at Cheltenham's December Sale in 2021 off the back of bolting up in a PTP over three miles.

The yard can do no wrong so far this season and having already unleashed some nice new recruits, this gelding could be in the mix aswell.

The first big race of the afternoon from Newbury is the Grade Two Coral Racing Club Novices' Chase over 2m4f and Stage Star should take all the beating.

A superb horse for Paul Nicholls over the last few years, showing form from the get go in bumpers when scoring on debut in 2020 and then finished second to stablemate Knappers Hill in a Listed event.

Signing off on the level at Aintree in April 2021 when third in the Grade Two bumper again behind Knappers Hill, he was then rested and returned last season over hurdles.

Making his debut in emphatic style at Chepstow, he then made it back to back wins at Newbury and then over the same course and distance at Christmas he landed the Grade One Challow Hurdle.

Pulled up at both the Cheltenham and Grand National festivals he was put away for the rest of last season and returned over fences at the start of November at Warwick.

Showing how well he goes fresh, he took to fences like a dream, jumping better than most novices and he bolted up by 13 lengths from the talented West Cork.

West Cork was only beaten 16 lengths by Jonbon showing the class of Stage Star and now stepping into Grade Two company, if improving again he should not be beat.

Next up is the Class 2 Handicap Chase over 2m4f and Beakstown looks incredibly well handicapped off 137 in this event and he's our selection.

Now a nine year old for Dan Skelton, over the years he has shown some superb form in these types of races when being on a mark below 140.

Finishing last season in good form, winning at Ayr off a mark of 129 in a similar event to this, he then raced once more at Sandown when a close third off 135.

Racing off 139 for his seasonal debut in a very competitive Grade Two Old Roan Handicap Chase he finished a decent fourth only going down by 3 1/4 lengths.

The form of that race has worked out superbly with the second Hitman since bolting up at Haydock and the third Ga Law landing the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham's November meeting.

Racing off 2lb lower and having that form line, he should go close.

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.

The final event of the afternoon sees the Class 2 Handicap Hurdle over three miles and we think Steal A March can give the Royal Family a winner on the afternoon.

Fairly lightly raced compared to most in the field the seven year old has only been seen four times since April 2021, winning Handicap Hurdle at Exeter over 2m 5 1/2f off 116.

Bumped up to 3m 2 1/2f at Perth on his last start in 2021, he was a good second off 5lb higher showing he needs a trip to be effective.

Seen twice this year having over a year off he returned in May at Bangor making his chase debut and was second of five, not taking it to fences as Henderson thought he would.

Dropped back over hurdles in June at Worcester he got back to winning ways in good style off a mark of 120 and now only 4lb higher on good ground, he is a big player.