Newbury Friday Preview - 27/11/20

The first race of the day at Newbury on Friday is the Class 3 Maiden Hurdle over two miles and there is only one star that we think can win this.

The five year old has been seen twice to date, finishing second on his debut run but came on for that in a huge way when taking a Kempton bumper by close to five lengths.

His pedigree makes him a very exciting prospect or Nicky Henderson being a full brother to the great Sprinter Sacre, and over the last few years the handler has had some gems from JP McManus and this gelding looks another superb athlete.

He makes his hurdling debut in this contest and if handling the flights should go on to win the event with bigger races in the offing throughout the season.

The first chase event of the day sees the Class 3 Novices' Limited Handicap over two miles and the Gary Moore trained Editeur Du Gite looks weighted to challenge.

The six year old is receiving some handy weight off the rest of the field which should give him the edge in our eyes and he looks this season to have really taken to the bigger obstacles.

He was sent chasing last year and it took his first two events for him to get used to the step up to occasion but on his seasonal debut in October he made a very eye-catching start finishing second behind the smart Sully D'Oc AA for Anthony Honeyball.

That form looks solid heading into this race and he should also improve for his first start of the term.

Bravemansgame was a new recruit for the Paul Nicholls yard last season being bought for £370,000 at the Cheltenham sales at the 2019 festival and was given to the 11 time champion trainer.

The gelding was bought for this exceptional amount after running back in March over in Ireland at Lingstown in a point to point and he hosed up by seven lengths beating a field of 11 runners.

He raced twice in bumpers last season showing glimpses of ability but Nicholls always said anything he did last season was a bonus as he was bought to be a jumps horse.

He has made a very good impression off himself over hurdles to date finishing second behind the smart Soaring glory on debut and then improving for that run to get off the mark at Exeter in taking style by 11 lengths.

What has made that win more impressive is the second placed Runswick Bay has since gone on to win his next race at Taunton.

The Novices' Chase over

The six year old won a good Irish bumper on his final start two seasons ago and since then has moved to Tizzard's yard and made his debut last season at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle.

He was gambled on massively for that contest but could only finish a decent second just being outstayed by third in the 2019 Champion Bumper, Thyme Hill.

He then made his second start in England at Wincanton when again in another battle with Edwardstone and he finished second again.

In what looked his big chance to get off the mark he headed to Sandown in heavy conditions and he did not disappoint bolting up, he then went over course and distance in the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle and landed his first black type event.

The son of Stowaway was then sent to the Supreme Novices Hurdle where he never got into the race and ultimately disappointed.

Sent chasing this term by Tizzard he could only finish second on debut at Ffos Las behind If The Cap Fits, but used that experience to get off the mark next time out narrowly at Exeter.

Although this horse needs soft ground he only takes on two other runners in this event that are unproven at this level and that is what makes him the most appealing.

The Class 2 Handicap Chase looks to be a very competitive affair with plenty of familiar faces heading to post and we have a nice each way selection.

The Venetia Williams trained Cepage has a huge chance of landing the spoils on seasonal debut with some stand out form in the book over the last few seasons.

Last term the gritty eight year old was seen best at Cheltenham when running some strong races in Handicap Chases and he is set to go off a similar mark in this event.

Having won the Grade Three Handicap Chase at jumps racing HQ in January, he then headed to the festival off a mark of 155 and ran a cracker to finish seventh in the Ultima Handicap.

He drops in trip today for this event and having showed he can run with this weight on his back, his front running style should leave the field needing to catch him.

The feature race of the day at Newbury is the Grade Two Long Distance Hurdle and we think the superstar Paisley Park can bounce back to form and defend his title.

The eight year old at the Cheltenham festival last season was looking to extend his unbeaten run to eight races and also land back to back renewals of the Stayers Hurdle having been the horse to beat in they Stayers' Hurdle division, but it was not to be for the fan favourite.

After the race it was found that the son of Oscar had come back with an irregular heartbeat that was certainly the cause of his underwhelming run in the Grade One he dominated last season.

Now, the Andrew Gemmell owned horse is said to be back to his best having been given the all clear from the vets and the frequent winner has been wearing a heart monitor in pieces of his work at home and the problem has not resurfaced.

This year the gelding will be taking on much younger horses compared to his race last term when edging out the veteran Thistlecrack on the line and he needs to bounce back from his last run, but is said to be flying at home.

The final runner on Friday comes in the three mile Handicap Hurdle and the veteran Dell' Arca is in such a rich vein of form it is hard to overlook him.

The David Pipe trained runner is now 11 years old but has found a new lease of life in his last two runs when winning both of his events at Aintree and over course and distance at Newbury.

He landed both of those events off a mark off 125 and although going up 6lb for those wins, he used to be a 150 rated hurdler and effectively still has 19lbs in hand.

He will need to give another career best performance at this late stage of his career, but the trainer and jockey partnership on this horse have a 100% strike rate at this track which is a huge bonus.