Saturday 8th February 2025
“Welcome aboard to what is a somewhat new feature on the page. Commencing from this week, each Saturday I’ll be sharing my opinions on each race that is featured on the ITV schedule, this week get things underway with races from Newbury and Warwick.” – Jordan
1.50 Newbury: William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle: The first race that’s featured on ITV this week is the 1.50 at Newbury and this is a Class 3 handicap hurdle that’s ridden over a distance of three miles. I’m with Haiti Couleurs here for Rebecca Curtis and Sean Bowen. He’s the joint top weight in the race here, however, that’s a result of his recent form which sees him coming into the contest having won impressively at Aintree and Cheltenham the last twice. The form of most of his rivals here is questionable and if he’s in the same form as of late he’s the one to beat. Haiti Couleurs – 11/2 (Each-Way) (4 places)
2.05 Warwick: Unibet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase: Next up it’s the 2.05 at Warwick and this is the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase over two miles. It’s impossible to oppose the heavily odds-on favourite L’Eau du Sud here for the team of Dan & Harry Skelton. He’s won all three of his starts to date over fences including the Grade 1 Kauto Star novices chase at Sandown on his most recent outing which came back in December. He should be winning this then all roads lead to a crack at the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival. L’Eau du Sud – 1/4 (Win)
2.25 Newbury: William Hill Bet10 Get10 On Racing Denman Chase: It’s more Grade 2 action now, this time over at Newbury and within the 2.25 which is the Grade 2 Denman Chase over two miles and seven and a half furlongs. Bravemansgame will be a warm order here at the top of the betting, however, I’ve gone with his stablemate Hitman who’s seemingly the Paul Nicholls second-string under Freddie Gingell. He’s been in solid form this term, finishing second to Minella Drama in the Grade 2 Old Roan Chase on his seasonal reappearance before also finishing second in a competitive Ascot handicap last time out. He was runner-up in this contest last year behind Shishkin and I’m not sure that there’s anything in this year’s race that is on his level. If he turns up in the same form that could be enough to go one better this time around. Hitman – 11/2 (Each-Way)
2.40 Warwick: Read Nicky Henderson’s Weekly Unibet Blog Mares’ Hurdle: The fourth race of the day is the 2.40 at Warwick and this is a Listed mares hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. I’m with Gala Marceau here who’s an Irish raider for Willie & Danny Mullins. She’s a dual Grade 1 winning mare, getting the better of Lossiemouth in one of those victories, and is clear here on official ratings. It perhaps, won’t be as straightforward as the ratings suggest and connections had a similar contender in Kargese beaten at Ascot a few weeks ago. However, both of her main rivals in West Balboa and You Wear It Well haven’t shown anything like their best form this season and it’s hard to be confident in either of them, and the rest of the line-up has around twenty pounds to find off level-weights. Gala Marceau – Evs (Win)
3.00 Newbury: William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Game Spirit Chase: We head back to Newbury for race number five and this is another Grade 2 affair in the form of the Game Spirit Chase over two miles and half of a furlong. I like the chances of Libberty Hunter in this for Evan Williams and Adam Wedge. He’s a smart horse who was second in the Grand Annual at last year’s Cheltenham Festival and returned to the track when winning a Class 2 handicap impressively by four lengths at the same track back in December. He’s got a bit to find of ratings here with the market principals, however, the likely pace here could suit him and despite him being nine I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. Libberty Hunter – 10/3 (Win)
3.15 Warwick: Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase: The penultimate race on the ITV schedule this week comes from Warwick and the 3.15 which is a Class 2 Veteran’s handicap chase that’s contested over two miles and four furlongs. I’m strong on the chances of Fugitif if he turns up here for the combination of Richard Hobson and Sean Bowen. He’s still been showing very strong form in top-level handicaps, winning the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham last season and finishing third in this year’s renewal, as well as finishing fifth in the Paddy Power Gold Cup back in November. If he runs up to that level here he should prove very tough to beat. Fugitif – 3/1 (Win)
3.35 Newbury: William Hill Hurdle: Signing us off for the afternoon will be the 3.35 at Newbury and this is the William Hill Hurdle which is a Premier Handicap over two miles and half of a furlong. I’m taking a chance on Favour And Fortune in this particular contest for Alan King and Tom Cannon. The yard form is a bit of a concern, however, I think they have a live challenger with this runner. He was sixth of twelve on his seasonal reappearance in a Premier Handicap hurdle at Ascot back in December and he should improve a considerable amount from that run. He was the winner of a Grade 2 handicap at Ayr on his final start of last season and will contest this off just a couple of pounds higher mark. He’ll also have no issue with soft ground given the weather forecast being a winner on heavy ground in the past. Favour And Fortune – 9/1 (Each-Way) (5 places)
