Saturday 30th November 2024
1.54 Newbury: Coral ‘Daily Rewards Shaker’ Handicap Hurdle: I’ll be getting things underway this Saturday with the 1.54 at Newbury which is a Class 2 handicap hurdle over two miles and four and a half furlongs. I’m trying my hand with two selections in several of these competitive handicaps on the day. In this particular affair I’ve firstly gone with Anyharminasking for Jonjo O’Neil and Jonjo Jr. He returned to the track with a fine third of thirteen in a competitive affair at Cheltenham last month. He can have a serious say here off a pound higher mark. My other pick is Issam for Tom Symonds and Jordan Nailor. He’s a three-time winner within handicap hurdles on these shores and there was nothing wrong with his fourth behind the talented Lump Sum on seasonal reappearance in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month. He should also improve for that outing here and can go well off the same mark. Anyharminasking – 8/1 (Each-Way) & Issam – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 place firms)
2.25 Newbury: Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle: Next up for me is the 2.25 at Newbury which is a Premier Handicap Hurdle in the form of the Gerry Feilden over two miles and half of a furlong. Firstly, I like the chances of Liari here for the team of Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He won back-to-back Listed events last season by a combined total of eight lengths and returned to the track with a solid third at Chepstow last month when the yard’s runners needed a run. He’s been dropped a pound for that effort last time and should have improved a great deal, he’ll have no issue with soft going having won on heavy and I think he’s one of the bigger players in the contest. I also like Aston Martini here for Nicky Henderson and David Bass. She won a competitive Class 2 novice event at Lingfield back in January before finishing a distant fourth in a Sandown Grade 2 when the yard was under a cloud. She bounced back to form though on seasonal reappearance in a competitive Bangor handicap a couple of weeks ago and should build on that run here off three pounds higher. Liari – 6/1 (Each-Way) & Aston Martini – 15/2 (Each-Way) (4 place firms)
3.00 Newbury: Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase: The feature race of the afternoon at Newbury comes up at 3.00 and that’s the Coral Gold Cup, a Premier Handicap Chase over three miles and two furlongs. I’ve had two once again here the first of which is Victtorino for Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. He’s back down to a mark which is just a pound higher than when he won the Silver Cup at Ascot last December and the yard has just started to come into form. He should have a big say if he returns to the form he showed last winter. My second pick is Galia Des Liteaux for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. She signed off last season when finishing eighth in the Grand National, so today’s distance will be no issue at all for her and she should improve significantly from her seasonal reappearance at Carlisle earlier this month where she finished second in a Listed Mares Chase. She’s also just a couple of pounds higher than when finishing three-quarters of a length second in the Classic Chase at Warwick back in January and I think she looks a rock-solid candidate. Victtorino – 7/1 (Each-Way) & Galia Des Liteaux – 10/1 (Each-Way) (4 place firms)
3.20 Newcastle: BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase: I’ve got one race from Newcastle on the day where I’ve got a further two selections and this is the Rehearsal Handicap Chase, another Premier Handicap chase this time over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. The first of my two selections here comes in the form of Jet Plane for Dan Skelton and Fergus Gillard. The yard is no strange to success in big handicaps and I think that they have another live chance here, he won back-to-back handicap chases last term and made a very encouraging return to the track last month when third and a length and three-quarters behind Jagwar at Wetherby. That horse has since come out and won again and looks like a nice prospect solidifying the form and the Skelton charge will contest this off the same mark. My second pick here is Frero Banbou for Venetia Williams and Ned Fox who takes off five pounds. He’s a cliffhorse for many as it’s been a long time in between drinks for him, however, he’s on a very tempting mark here, even more so with Fox’s five-pound claim. He may appreciate a step-up in trip here also and he should be competitive at the least off today’s mark. Jet Plane – 11/1 (Each-Way) & Frero Banbou – 12/1 (Each-Way) (4 place firms)
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