2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Preview – DS
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Preview
It looked like our NAP Savante had the race in the bag at Leopardstown on Monday but we had to settle for second. We are back in action in the UK this weekend, Dave Stevos’ 2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday preview and tips are below.
1.35 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)
The mud will be flying at both Newbury and Warwick this afternoon. Nothing made much appeal at big prices in the first two live ITV races so we’ll start with this 24.5f class 3 handicap hurdle.
The favourite, A Pai De Nom, has won three of his five starts this season and was a fine third in the Lanzarote last time out (2m5f, good). He has won over 2m5f on soft but he was well beaten his sole previous start on heavy and he has to prove his stamina for this distance so he might be worth taking on.
The only one that makes any sort of appeal at a price is Alentejo. Nicky Henderson’a charge was bitterly disappointing on his stable and chasing debut in a Ffos Las handicap last month but he won three times over hurdles in France, with all three wins coming on heavy ground.
Those wins came at around 2m2f so like the jolly, he has stamina to prove but he did keep on pretty well over 21.5f in a handicap hurdle at Auteuil back in 2024 so he looks worth a go at this sort of trip.
Given how poorly he ran last time, he certainly isn’t one to be lumping on but he is surely capable of better and at the prices, Alentejo is a tentative each way selection.
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Tip: Alentejo e/w @ 20/1
1.50 Warwick – Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just three runners here so it’s win only. Steel Ally bids to extend his winning streak over fences to three and he is pretty hard to oppose. Mambonumberfive is already 3/3 over fences and he looks the main danger, though his best recent form is on better ground than this. Mirabad was 7.25l behind Mambonumberfive at Kempton in December before unseating at Windsor and a clear round is probably the priority for him. No bet.
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.10 Newbury – Denman Chase (Grade 2)
Another small field and this essentially looks a match between L’Homme Presse and Haiti Couleurs. They will both act on this ground and they will both stay this trip, the question is whether Haiti Couleurs can replicate his top-class handicap form in Graded company.
The worry for his backers is that he ran a stinker and pulled up when he dipped his toe in Grade 1 company in the Betfair Chase at Haydock in November. He was also soundly beaten on his sole try in Grade 2 company over hurdles at the same venue in Feb 2024.
L’Homme Presse, on the other hand, is a multiple Grade 1 and Grade 2 winner. He’s best at around this trip and he likes soft ground. He might just have a bit too much speed for Haiti Couleurs but it is hard to ignore the fact that Venetia Williams has been having a season to forget so far.
If a gun was put to my head I’d probably side with L’Homme Presse but odds of 6/4 are no use to us so this is a race to just watch and enjoy. No bet.
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Tip: No Bet
2.25 Warwick – Middle Distance Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Class 2)
Only seven runners here but thankfully, a few firms are paying three places. The one I like at a price here is Paul Nicholls’ 10yo Outlaw Peter.
By Mustameet, this horse has been out of form and lightly raced for the past two seasons. However, in his defence, three of his last four defeats have come on good ground and when he got soft ground last time out, that was over 3m.
The last time he raced on soft ground over 2m4f was in April 2024 and he won that race at Ayr off a mark of 140. He is now 5lb lower and the last time he ran off this mark, he won at Kempton. A bit like Alentejo, it is hard to be super confident that he’ll bounce back but conditions are right, it’s his first run in veterans’ company and with odds of 16/1 on offer, a small e/w interest on Outlaw Peter is advised.
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Tip: Outlaw Peter e/w @ 16/1 (3 places)
2.45 Newbury – Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2)
Lulamba is as short as 13/8 for the Arkle next month and he is odds on to win his final prep race in this Grade 2. He’ll face six rivals, some with a lot more chasing experience, but he has a massive reputation so it will be disappointing if he doesn’t get the job done (it wouldn’t be disappointing for Irish Panther supporters though!)
Libberty Hunter has the ability to run into the money on this ground but he needs to jump better. The former C&D winner Master Chewy would probably prefer a sounder surface and Saint Segal has finished well beaten both previous starts on heavy ground.
At the odds, it might be worth throwing a few bob e/w on Meetmebythesea at 18s. He is taking a big step up in class here but he’s completely unexposed over fences, he seemed to handle heavy ground fine when winning at Ayr last time and I’m sure Harry Cobden would love to ride a big Saturday winner for his new boss JP McManus.
It must be said that he does have to improve another chunk if the assessor is right (rated 139) but he gave the impression there might be more to come when winning last time. With quite a few of his shorter priced rivals not certain to act on this ground, hopefully he can hit the frame.
2026 Newbury & Warwick Saturday Tip: Meetmebythesea e/w @ 18/1 NB
3.20 Newbury – William Hill Hurdle (Premier)
Dan Skelton has an obvious chance here with Let It Rain and he is preferred by Harry. I was half tempted by his stablemate Faivoir at 40s but he’s an 11yo now and instead, I have come down on the Neil Mulholland trained 9yo, Bucephalus.
He finished off last season in superb form with soft ground wins over this C&D (off 116) and he followed up with an 11l win at Ffos Las off 7lb higher (both under Harriet Tucker). He was hiked up to 132 for that facile win and he struggled off that mark on his first two runs this season but the application of cheekpieces saw him bounce right back to form at Haydock last time out.
This will be the first time he has had heavy ground this season and he has C&D form figures of 311, with one of those wins coming on heavy. Now, this is clearly a much better grade so he does have to produce a career best but this is the most likely venue where that might happen and given the massive pot, he’ll surely be trying his hardest.
At odds of 33/1, Bucephalus is the e/w selection.
