Newbury Saturday Preview - 23/03/2019

Warren Greatrex has plenty to look forward to with the upcoming Spring meetings, and kickstart a new season in the Newbury opener - the Insure With Be Wiser Handicap, where Rock My Style can run out a ready winner.

After a long absence, this now 7yo gelding won a couple of weak races over the winter twelve months ago before heading for an early summer holiday.

That got his head back in the game and arose his confident levels, but it all fell to pieces on his first start of this campaign, when unshipping Jack Kennedy at Newcastle.

Recovered to finish second at Uttoxeter two weeks before Cheltenham, holds plenty of ability and can kick on here.

Next up is the Be Wiser Insurance Juvenile Handicap Hurdle, where Friend Or Foe can build on his first start for Paul Nicholls.

A winner at Taunton on stable debut back in December, he made all under Harry Cobden to land the spoils in a Class Four.

Now steps up to Class Two and his level may be even higher than this.

Potentially more to come from this former Emmanuel Clayeux-trained gelding from France - he could have a touch of class about him.

The big race of the day is the EBF & TBA Mares' 'National Hunt' Novices' Hurdle Series Final - a Grade 2 Limited Handicap over two-and-a-half miles, and we have selected both Millarville and Outofthisworld at useful prices.

Millarville is a lightly raced mare for Oliver Sherwood, and has only raced for the Grand National winning trainer three times.

She won a point-to-point twelve months ago, indicating stamina is one of her finest qualities, and will look to make re-successful step up to beyond two miles - for which she won on her second start at Fontwell.

Outofthisworld has proved a little frustrating for Harry Fry, with as many letters as numbers in the last twelve months. When he has completed, she has been well and truly in the frame - a win at Market Rasen and a second at Fontwell.

Pulled up due to mistakes at Ludlow last time, and will look to correct it here.

The 12yo Valdez can prove age is just a number when he lines up in the Doom Bar Handicap Chase.

The oldest fellow on the list is used to these small runner fields, and seems to come through them more so than not.

His best form dates back to 2013 believe it or not, where he landed a hat-trick of Doncaster in useful Class One's.

Good form at the Festival too - racing in an Arkle so the class was once there, and there have been signs this season that it has not departed him.

Third behind San Benedeto in the Greatwood last time, and connections will be hopeful he can give more with a clearer passage, having been badly hampered by loose horses.

Right at the bottom of the weights of the John Haine Memorial Novices Hurdle is Sunrise Ruby - who off 10st 7, must be considered a major player given her form so far.

Two starts for the Champion Trainer - striking on debut at Southwell in a bumper last summer.

She then had to wait for her first start over hurdles, which came here in fact back in January - finishing second to a likeable winner of Jeremy Scott's.

Athletic and looks well; exciting.

Harry Fry chose to bypass Cheltenham with Get In The Queue for a place in the Goffs UK Spring Sale Bumper this weekend, a horse which will bring the curtain down on a memorable career for Noel Fehily.

Two from two for the Rooney's, after eyecatching successes at Uttoxeter and Exeter.

Would have been a worthy candidate for the Champion Bumper last week at the Festival, but Fry is happy to buy his time.

Will be an exciting novice hurdler next season, and fingers crossed he can come through this unscathed.

The roof will also come off Newbury, if this 5yo provides his jockey with his final winning ride.

Rock On Rocky can land the finale - the Sharps Brewery Rock Handicap Chase for Matt Sheppard, and the currently quiet Sam Twiston-Davies.

This horse has had several near misses this term for Jan Johnson and Terry Harman - running creditably in all of his outings.

Arguably his best display away from a win in the last twelve months was his third in a Listed affair at Ascot - won coincidentally by Sam aboard Dr Richard Newland's Vosne Romanee.

Fifth two weeks ago at Sandown in a Class Three, and more is required again here, but not for the want of trying.