Hi all,
Inside today’s Daily Punt column, I’m looking at the best of the action from Newbury’s Betfair Hurdle card.
With £155,000 in guaranteed prize money, it's good news that there could be a maximum field of 24 for this year’s Betfair Hurdle. After the last two renewals saw 16 runners (2023) and 14 (2022), it's a pleasant surprise to see a larger field. Earlier in the week, I anticipated the meeting would be on good or good to soft ground at worst. The change to heavy has shifted my perspective on the race compared to Wednesday's preview.
Warwick’s Saturday card has been cancelled due to waterlogging. ITV was due to cover three races live from Warwick on Saturday afternoon. At least it was cancelled early so I didn’t waste time looking at the card.
Newbury
There are four Newbury races live on ITV. It had been good ground at Newbury earlier in the week but the recent rain means it’s now heavy, soft in places at the time of writing.
1:30 – The Betfair Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – 3m
Twelve have been declared for a race that will test stamina if the ground has eased even further. The two I like most are Emitom and Kyntara.
Emitom isn’t the horse he once was, but the 10-year-old has been suited by the switch to Alan King. A winner of a C&D on stable debut in the spring he ran even better in defeat when a 2-length 2nd of 11 to Young Butler back here on seasonal return. Back to form latest when a close-up runner-up to Saint Davy at Ludlow. The winner went in again at Sandown last Saturday. Has won on heavy ground in the past so underfoot conditions should be fine.
Kyntara improved for the return to his original trainer, winning his first two starts at Lingfield and Aintree (heavy). Looked set to land the hat trick at Warwick 28 days ago but a mistake at the last cost him the win. He’s been nudged up 4lb but goes on testing ground, stays well and remains on a competitive mark.
2:05 – Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) – 2m 7 ½ f
On Official Ratings it looks between Shishkin and Protektorat. Shishkin handles soft ground but I’m not sure he wants it heavy. That said it’s his race to lose. I’m not a fan of Protektorat but he’s clearly got claims on a going day. Sam Brown bounced back to winning ways in the the Veterans Chase Final at Warwick last month. He’s not the most reliable of chasers and was pulled up in last year’s race albeit he had a good excuse for his poor run as it was very quick ground. In the unlikely event of a boil over he could be the one to provide it. He might be worth a very small interest bet and if Shishkin doesn’t run, he will go off second favourite.
2:40 – Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) – 2m ½ f
In Thursday’s race preview I had been very sweet on the returning Amarillo Sky. He has won on soft ground, but his improved form two seasons back came on a sounder surface. To win this on testing ground on a return from 378-day layoff would be some performance.
Edwardstone is classy Grade 1 winning chaser and the likeliest winner. He’s the right favourite and will like the ground.
Editeur Du Gite couldn’t dominate when running poorly in the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase two weeks ago. If the first time cheekpieces have the desired effect and he can get to the front he could win.
Boothill fell in a Grade 2 race won by Editeur Du Gite at Kempton over Christmas. He was in contention and likely would have been a strong contender with a clear round. Before that incident, he had won both of this season’s starts, suggesting he could emerge as a Champion Chase contender if he wins here. Heavy ground might see him a non-runner.
Funambule Sivola has won this race for the last two years, but he’s not been close to his best so far this season and would prefer better ground.
3:15 – Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) – 2m ½ f
I covered the race in detail in Wednesday’s column so won’t go over old ground here.
Ante post favourite Ocastle Des Mottes can win this on stable debut for Willie Mullins particularly as he gets the very testing ground he seems to relish. On known form he looks badly handicapped, but he could have improved plenty for joining his new yard. I’m going to take him on, but I’m not as confident as I was a couple of days ago, and I can let him beat me.
Of those on my original shortlist the ground has gone against Tellherthename and he was declared a non-runner on Friday. That leaves Lookaway, Altobelli and L'Eau Du Sud. All three will handle the testing ground and can give their backers a good run for their money. Given the number of runners It’s a race that I will happily consider backing three. I didn’t have Brentford Hope on my radar earlier in the week, but the previous C&D winner gets the cheekpieces go on for the first time over hurdles and he was smart on the flat on testing ground.
Saturday Selection:
It won’t be a busy day on the betting front and I’m just concentrating on Newbury.
On Sunday there’s a decent looking card at Navan with two Grade 2 the highlights of a seven-race card which also includes a Listed Mares' novice hurdle. There’s also Premier Race Day at Exeter with plenty of prize money on offer.
I think Shishkin wins the Denman Chase but I'm still going with Sam Brown even though the 25/1 available a few days ago is long gone.
Newbury
2:40 – Sam Brown.
Good luck with your Saturday bets.
John