Hi all,

Not the worst Friday of the winter by any stretch of the imagination.

Newbury’s final two day meeting of the jumps season gets underway this afternoon. The next time the track will be in action is for next month’s Greenham Meeting on the flat.

Soft ground means that Newbury card has attracted decent field sizes for some competitive handicaps.

Up to a Musselburgh it’s the start of the three day The Go North Festival Weekend. With the action moving to Kelso tomorrow and concluding at Carlisle on Sunday.

Over the three days there are nine Go North Series Finals each with £30,000 in guaranteed prize money.

Inside today’s main piece I look at the best of the action from Newbury and Musselburgh. Starting at the Scottish track.

Musselburgh

1:50 – Racing TV Go North Lady Buttons Mares' Hurdle Series Final (A Handicap Hurdle) – 2m 4f

Named after Philp Kirby’s smart mare Lady Buttons. It’s not surprising that the trainer has two mares entered for the race: Ravenscar & Lone Star.  Both are last time out winners, and the latter is a previous C&D winner. However, of his pair I just prefer the claims of Ravenscar who gained a third success over hurdles at Doncaster three weeks ago.

Irish challenger Maimie's Magic has won her last two starts over hurdles with her latest success coming at Newcastle in January. Up just 2lb she looks competitively treated for her hat trick bid. The slight concern would be hold up tactics around here especially in a forecast steadily run race.

2:25 – Racing TV Go North Grey Bomber Juvenile Hurdle Series Final (A Handicap Hurdle) – 2m 1 ½ f

The second of today’s four Go North Series Finals. Now it’s the turn of the juvenile hurdles with a maximum field of 15 declared to meet the starter.

Ring Of Beara, a winner on the flat, has placed on three of his four starts over hurdles and posted a career best on RPR’s when a 5 length 2^nd of 11 at Doncaster last month.  Better ground suited him at Doncaster and despite his improved performance last time the handicapper has kept on the same mark for his handicap hurdle debut.

Irish challenger Bringbackmemories won a juvenile hurdle here on New Year’s Day.  Not as goof on either start since but the cheekpieces that saw him improve on the flat are on for the first time over hurdles. He has claims if the headgear has the desired effect but Ring Of Beara could well treated.

3:00 – Racing TV Go North Brindisi Breeze Hurdle Series Final (A Handicap Hurdle) – 3m

Top weight Crossing The Bar produced the best change of gear in a steadily run race when beating four rivals at Plumpton last month. He’s been nudged up 3lb for his latest success but is one to seriously consider.

Faithfulflyer has already one twice this season including over C&D in November. He’s remained in form since winning at Kelso in January, from 9lb lower, and has to be respected if the there is plenty of juice in the ground.

3:30 – Racing Post Go North Sea Pigeon Hurdle Series Final (A Handicap Hurdle) – 2m 1 ½ f

Ivetwiggedit has been well placed to win his last three starts over timber since returning from a 13 month absence. The improving mare has a 7lb rise in the weights to contend with but she’s going the right way and could be capable of defying it. The only slight niggle would be soft ground given all three of her successes have come on good ground.

Newbury

3:10 – Miss Fairfax won a mares maiden hurdle Exeter and mares novice hurdle at Catterick last season and wasn’t disgraced when a 4 ½ length 3^rd of 9 in Mares Listed race at Doncaster last March. We haven’t seen the 7-year-old since, but she looks on a workable mark for her handicap debut and remains capable of more progress granted a decent stamina test.

3:40 – Five Star Getaway shaped like a return to further was needed when a 10 length 2^nd of 7 at Newcastle (2m 4f) last month. The first time cheekpieces he wore last time are retained and he’s 4lb below his last winning mark.

Enzo D'airy overcame a 653-day absence to win at Chepstow in December. Back to form effort when a 3 length 2nd of 6 at Wetherby 18-days ago. Jumped well last time but 2m 6f could stretch his stamina.

Precious Eleanor is back down to her last winning mark but needs to bounce back from a lesser effort at Warwick last month. In the mares defence the going was softer than the officially described good, but I doubt its going to be much better here either. One to note returned to genuinely good ground.

Friday Selection:

There's a few I could go at today. Ring of Beara, Crossing The Bar, and Ravenscar have chances in their respective races at Musselburgh. However, I’m off to Newbury for today’s selection. Five Star Getaway is down to a good mark and will take some stopping in the Newbury 3:40. At the prices though I'm going with Miss Fairfax. Who hopefully will be fully tuned up for her belated seasonal reapperance.

Newbury

3:10 – Miss Fairfax – 10/1 @ Bet365.

Good luck with your Friday bets.

John