Newbury Saturday Preview - 06/03/21

The first race of the day at Newbury is the Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over 2m4f and we can't look past the favourite Not A Role Model, who is seeking a hat-trick.

The nine year old has been in superb form this season, needing his seasonal debut at Ffos Las on heavy ground, but then coming on for that run to land back to back races.

In November he dropped down to 2m4f and landed a Handicap Chase on good ground at Wincanton and then when switched to hurdles last time out backed that up at Fakenham.

Although up 5lb for that win he has a handy 5lb claimer on board that offsets that which makes him a big player seeking a hat-trick.

The Henry Oliver trained Singlefarmpayment has been such a nearly horse in staying chase events during his career having been in and around the frame in competitive handicaps at Cheltenham mostly.

Although not winning on many occasions he has placed in races like the Grade Three Ultima Handicap Chase on two occasions showing he is a very experienced runner is these contests.

This season he made his seasonal debut in November at Sandown in a Veterans' Handicap Chase and finished a good fourth behind horses that have since franked the form.

The 11 year old then went to Doncaster last time out over three miles and again threatened to run a big race but settled for fifth behind some less exposed types.

However, what makes him interesting today is that he is having his third start for his new yard and is set to race off only 1lb higher than his last winning chase mark.

He is a tricky customer, but is handicapped on Saturday to run his best race for a while.

One of our best each way punts on the Newbury card comes in the Grade Three Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase over 2m4f, with Killer Clown for Emma Lavelle looking like a big player.

The six year old has progressively got better this term when taken over the bigger obstacles, having shown glimpses of form over hurdles last season.

Having unseated his rider on chase debut, he then went to Uttoxeter and finished a good sixth of 18 in a handicap chase showing that he jumped fairly well.

Next time out the gelding stepped up again to finish third behind Alnadam at Sandown, but last time out reversed the form with that horse when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day in a tough Limited Handicap Chase.

He has not been seen since that race although going up in the handicap is still nicely treated off the back of how the form of his races have turned out.

Should be fresher than most horses.

The next event sees a superb Class 3 Handicap Hurdle over two miles and it sees some very smart horses looking to use this race as a stepping stone for bigger races at the Spring festivals.

Proschema for Dan Skelton is one of these horses and heads into this race searching for a hat-trick having landed back to back races at Newcastle in jumpers bumpers.

The six year old was a smart second on his debut at Wetherby and although being pulled up at Cheltenham in the Greatwood hurdle has bounced back to form on the flat.

If turning that current form over hurdles he is a big player looking to get a nice mark for the handicaps at Cheltenham.

The penultimate runner of the day at Newbury comes in another Handicap Hurdle over two miles and Gastara for trainer Johnny Farrelly looks to have a big chance.

The six year old has taken some time this season over hurdles, but last time out the penny seemed to drop and off the back of that we think he can run another big race.

Having ran poorly on hist first three starts of the season at Chepstow over a mixture of 2m and 2m4f, last time out at Sandown he gave his best showing when third being rival Sopran Thor.

He is getting weight again off Sopran Thor in this race and getting back to better ground conditions should see another improved performance.

The final selection at Newbury comes in the 2m4f Novices' Chase and this small fielded event should be dominated by the classy Hitman for Paul Nicholls.

He looks a stand out runner in the race having moved over from France this season and looks a seriously smart recruit for the yard.

Having ran respectably over hurdles in France the son of Falco made his British/chase debut at Ffos Las in November in very tricky conditions.

The four year old took every fence in his stride, getting better as the race went on and went on to win the event by an eased down 30 lengths.

That performance was highly impressive and he looked to prove he was a Grade One horse in the making next time out at Sandown when being entered into the Henry VIII Novices' Chase.

Having a big reputation the yard thought he had a big chance but on the day had to settle for second behind the impressive Allmankind, who landed the event in good style.

He was then upped up to todays trip last time out in the Grade One Scilly Isles Chase at Sandown and although travelling well took a tumble a long way from home.

If staying on all fours in this event he should not be beat.