Newbury Saturday Preview - 11/02/23

The first race of the afternoon from Newbury is the Novices' Limited Handicap Chase over 2m 7 1/2f and like Bravemansgame last year, McFabulous for the same stable looks the stand out pick to win the race.

McFabulous has looked a different animal going over fences this season and although three miles is probably at the peak of his staying capabilities, Kempton is a track that suits him.

A superb hurdler around 2m4f-2m5f, he put up some very consistent performances during his career winning the likes of the Persian War Novices' Hurdle and the Grade Two Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton.

Set to start his life over fences at Chepstow he was a non runner and was then switched to Wincanton where the ground was far too quick for him and he was pulled up fairly early on.

Putting that strange performance behind him he has since been foot perfect, getting off the mark at Exeter next time out and then when last seen at Newbury, he went on to see of Thyme Hill by close to seven lengths eased down in the Grade Two John Francome Novices' Chase.

Last seen at Kempton in the Grade One Kauto Star Novices' Chase, Thyme Hill reversed the form with him, being outstayed and well beaten.

However, back in much calmer waters taking on just two other runners who aren't the same standard of horse makes him difficult to beat even giving away all that weight.

The second runner of the afternoon from Newbury is the three mile Handicap Hurdle and at a double figure price Regarding Ruth for Lucy Wadham has a big chance in what looks a weak race.

A smart performer at the back end of last season when bumped up to three miles on good ground at Newbury over course and distance, beating Welsh Grand National and Warwick Classic Handicap Chase winner Iwilldoit easily off a mark of 120.

Dropped down in trip at Cheltenham in April in a Listed Mares Handicap Hurdle she showed she needed to go back up in trip when only fourth of nine and then back up to 2m7f when last seen in May at Market Rasen, she got back to winning ways in fine style.

She is only 1lb higher for her first race of the season and having proven form on quick ground if overcoming the time off the track she should go close.

Eddie Edge taking off 10lb aswell could be huge.

The first Grade Two of the afternoon from Newbury is the Denman Chase over 2m 7 1/2f and we are taking on the favourite Hitman with last years winner Eldorado Allen.

A superb winner of this race last season seeing off proven stayers in Royale Pagaille and Clan Des Obeaux, the field he takes on in this race you can argue are not at the same standard over staying trips.

He finished the season with a good third back down in trip in the Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival, but he finished the season at Aintree when his run in the Betway Bowl came too soon.

Put away after that and returning this term he ran a blinder on seasonal debut in the Grade Two Charlie Hall Chase behind King George winner Bravemansgame and then next time out he didn't disgrace himself again when second to Protektorat in the Grade One Betfair Chase.

Last seen taking his chance in the Grade One King George VI Chase, he was a well beaten fourth behind Bravemansgame, never really getting involved.

Having never ran well at Kempton in his career he might not of handled the track and back over a course and distance he is proven on he should go close again.

This is not the best renewal of this race in the world and although having to give weight away to Hitman, for us it is unproven whether he does stay the trip and is good enough at it and for that reason the best of a bad bunch to take him on with is last years winner Eldorado Allen.

The final Grade Two of the afternoon from Newbury is the Game Spirit Chase where Greaneteen for Paul Nicholls is rated to be a class above this field.

Greaneteen is a solid contender for this event having some superb Sandown form and off the back of his weight carrying seasonal debut at Exeter he looks an even better horse this term.

Second in this event on his first try back in 2020, he then finished that season over the same C&D when landing the Grade One Celebration Chase.

Making his seasonal debut last term in the Haldon Gold Cup when not being able to give the weight away, he improved massively for the run to land this event from stablemate Hitman.

Second in the Desert Orchid at Christmas behind Shishkin, he then went to the Dublin Racing Festival in February and ran no race in the Dublin Chase.

Back at Sandown for his final run of the season he made it back to back wins in the Grade One Celebration Chase and a hat-trick of wins over C&D.

Normally needing the run on seasonal debut, he looked fitter than ever at Exeter in the Haldon Gold Cup giving mountains of weight away and he went on to bolt up with ease.

Nicholls can't have him in any better form last time out ahead of the Grade One Tingle Creek looking to land the race for a second time but he bumped into a primed Edwardstone who he chased home for second.

Given some time since then he returns in this event and if in the same form not having to give any weight away to last years winner Funambule Sivola, his price suggests he can't get beat and he shouldn't

The big event of the afternoon is the 18 runner Betfair Hurdle over 2m 1/2f and with a huge field going to post we have picked out two runners at each way prices to note down.

The first is the Paul Nicholls trained Hacker Des Places who has been targeted for this race off the back of his win last time out.

A very consistent horse for Nicholls last season when running six times, winning two of them and placing in another two.

Needing his seasonal debut last term at Kempton over Christmas, he then went to Lingfield at the Winter Millions meeting and finished a fair fourth behind Metier on heavy ground.

Off a mark of 129 he got back to winning ways at Chepstow again on heavy ground and then at Sandown in March he finished a superb third of 22 in the Grade Three Imperial Handicap Hurdle off 4lb higher.

Sent into another big fielded handicap, this time at Aintree's Grand National he landed a valuable 16 runner event off the same mark of 133.

Seen just once this season at Ascot up to a mark of 138 he was second behind the talented Highway One O Two, who has since ran well in Grade One company.

Hacker Des Places then went to Cheltenham on Trials Day and landed a good Handicap Hurdle from Might I off 137 over 2m1f.

Getting back to his preferred good ground and only 5lb higher for this event he is very hard to overlook, with Nicholls explaining he would have come on for his latest run.

Following a similar form line but at a bigger price of 20/1 Highway One O Two represents a bit of class in the field and should be able to give weight away to the field.

Second on seasonal debut this term at Fontwell by a head giving almost a stone away, he then went to Ascot on good ground and belted a good field off 135, with Hacker Des Places back in second nearly eight lengths behind him.

Upped to 143, Chris Gordon chucked him into the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton and he finished a good third behind Constitution Hill and Epatante.

Only 23 1/2 lengths behind the Nicky Henderson superstar and 6 1/2 lengths behind Epatante who has since gone on to bolt up at Doncaster, he does have to give weight away in this field but he has proved in the past in handicaps he can throw out a good weight carrying performance.

He gets his ideal good ground again and currently the trainer is running at a 42% strike rate for the last two weeks.

Big chance at a double figure price.

The final event of the afternoon is the Listed Bumper over 2m 1/2f and with a good field size we have picked out two horses at decent prices that should run well.

The first is what looks the second string for Paul Nicholls, but we think he has a big chance off the back of his debut when winning a good bumper at Ascot.

The fourth in that race Ledders has since franked the form and not seen since that run in October being waited on for this race, if improving again he looks a nice price at 9/2.

At a much bigger price following the same form line as Fire Flyer is Ledders at 11/1 who was fourth behind the Nicholls horse on debut at Ascot.

However, he learned a bunch for that race and next time out landed a bumper at Lingfield on the all weather, seeing off a nice type for Sir Mark Prescott who went on to bolt up next time out.

The third in that race has since gone on to bolt up at Newcastle in a bumper aswell and At 11/1 he could be overpriced for this event.