Newbury Preview

The first race of the day at Newbury on Saturday sees the Class 3 Mares Handicap Hurdle over two miles and the big priced Fair Kate could cause an upset.

The Tom Lacey trained five year old was smart at the back end of last season when finishing a smart second at Chepstow and ran at the same track in November for her seasonal debut but looked like she needed the run.

The champion jockey is booked which is a bonus and she is dropping back down to two miles which seems to suit more than what she went over last time out.

Next up is the Class 4 Introductory Hurdle over two miles and we have sided with the Alan King trained On To Victory in a field that is very open.

This five year old was a smart horse on the flat winning at a mark of 103 for Eve Johnson Houghton and now moving to Alan King he starts life over obstacles.

He ran at Haydock in December and was coming with a solid effort in a similar event to this one on Saturday but unfortunately he fell at the last and if working on his jumping should be in the mix.

Newbury host a tricky card on Saturday and this Class 3 Handicap is up there with one of the toughest on offer to pick a winner but we think we have cracked it.

Go Long for trainer Evan Williams holds plenty of potential and having ran modestly on both his starts this season it only looks a matter of time before his true talents are revealed.

The nine year old has already won over this distance and now dropping back in trip for his two previous runs this season should see him go better.

One For Rosie goes for us in the Class 2 Handicap over two and half miles and this Nigel Twiston-Davies trained six year old has plenty of ability.

Having raced in five hurdles contests and one bumper he has gone on to win three of them and place in all of the rest showing his consistency.

He is having his first run of the season but last time out in April he was a strong third to Reserve Tank and Brewin'upastorm who have since gone on to win this season.

Big Player.

The Mandarin Handicap Hurdle Chase sees a field of 10 go to post and Cobolobo for the Jonjo O'Neill team when on song looks very difficult to beat in this sphere.

The seven year old showed he is very much a staying type when winning last time out at Haydock over 3 mile 1 furlongs on soft ground and if replicating that here he has a huge chance.

He has gone up in the weights for that but after romping home by five lengths he looks as if he should have enough in the tank to deal with it.

The big contest of the day at Newbury on Sunday is the Grade One Challow Novices Hurdle over two and a half miles and Thyme Hill for trainer Phillip Hobbs is our selection to land his first black type win of his career.

The five year old gelding has been remarkable all season winning both his contest in great style and showing a clear staying ability.

He started his life over hurdles at Chepstow in the Grade Two Persian War Novices Hurdle and seeing off some smart youngsters that have since gone on to frank that form.

The gelding then went to Cheltenham in the Grade Two Ballymore Novices Hurdle and again put in a strong winning run to enhance his credentials in this division.

He was destined for big things off the back of his third in the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham and he has a very big chance to fulfil his potential.

The Novices Handicap Chase brings the house down on the Newbury card tomorrow and Diable De Sivola at a decent each way price looks to have a decent chance.

The Gary Moore trained six year old has raced three times this season with the first two less than impressive but he seemed to get the hang of things last time out.

He finished a nice second at Plumpton behind a smart runner and from the way he has gone this season he should come on for that performance again.