Saturday 7th February 2026
Our four selections on Saturday come from Warwick and Newbury, with the first of those coming from the 1.35 at Newbury, and this is a Class 3 handicap hurdle over three miles and half of a furlong. There aren’t many outfits better at competitive handicaps than the Skeltons, and they look to have a very live challenger again here with A PAI DE NOM, who’s the mount of Harry. He won a handicap at Cheltenham in November, before winning a novice event at Leicester over a shorter trip, and most recently finished a very solid third of fifteen in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton. He steps up in trip again here, which could well unlock further improvement, and there should be more to come from him here off the same mark as his Kempton run. A lot of them have question marks hanging over them here, so the main danger could come from Below The Radar, who ran well at Haydock last time when second in a seventeen-runner affair.
We head over to Warwick for our second pick of the afternoon, the 2.25, the Veteran’s Handicap Chase over two miles and four furlongs. This could be another one for the Skeltons with LE MILOS, who’s the mount of seven-pound claimer Harry Atkins. He’s no stranger to these types of events now and ran well last time out at Sandown, finishing second of nine and a length and a quarter behind Nocte Volatus. He remains on the same mark here, however, with Atkins taking seven off his back, he does look well-in. He should be bang on the premises once again. Paul Nicholl’s Knappers Hill is very dangerous here under Freddie Gingell. He returned to the track this year following a long layoff and has more than enough ability to win these types of races.
Our third selection of the day comes back at Newbury, and the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase at 2.45, which is contested over two miles and half of a furlong. It’s extremely hard to see past LULAMBA here for the team of Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. He was a Grade 1 winner over hurdles, and won both of his two chase starts to date in comfortable fashion, with his most recent success being a nine and a half length victory in the Grade 1 Henry VIII Novices’ Chase at Sandown in December. It would be a big surprise if he doesn’t add another success to his tally here, and a bold showing is extremely likely, with all roads leading to Cheltenham. The rest of them here are exposed; therefore, the six-year-old Meetmebythesea could outrun a big price for Ben Pauling. He’s got a lot to find on ratings, but he’s still improving.
The concluding selection comes within the 3.20 at Newbury, which is the William Hill Hurdle, a Premier Handicap over two miles and half of a furlong. UN SENS A LA VIE could be worth siding with here for the Twiston-Davies team. He’s looked to be above average in novice events this term, winning twice, and was only three lengths behind potential superstar, and the current Supreme favourite, Old Park Star, on his penultimate start. He makes his handicap debut here, and there’s every chance that his opening mark could underestimate him. A big run from the six-year-old would be no surprise. Dan Skelton’s Let It Rain is the likely main danger; he was an excellent third of fifteen and three-quarters of a length behind the winner on handicap debut at Ascot in December, and should build on that run off a four-pound higher mark here.
1.35 – A Pai De Nom – 2/1 – (Win) (NB)
2.25 – Le Milos – 5/2 – (Win)
2.45 – Lulamba – 4/5 – (Win) (NAP)
3.20 – Un Sens A La Vie – 6/1 – (Each-Way) (5 places)
