Friday Newbury Tips and Preview by Dave Stevos
Friday Newbury Tips: All Live ITV3 Races
Last weekend wasn’t a complete write off thanks to Bristol De Mai. Okay, he was only 3/1 but he won very bravely and there are few horses better around Haydock than him. Fortified Bay also nicked some place money for us at 18/1. Endlessly was never put into the race and there will be other days for him. Flashjack ran alright and he will likely head back to Haydock for the same race he won last year. Prominent racer Drumconnor Lad was held up in rear and stayed there. He’s one to watch out for in the Spring. Dave Stevos is back in action tomorrow, check out his Friday Newbury tips below…
Friday Newbury Tips: 1.50pm – Berkshire Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Just 3 horses will compete for this 20f Grade 2 Novice Chase. The three biggest trainers in the UK are represented, Tizzard, Henderson and Nicholls. Fiddlerontheroof is the even money favourite to follow up his narrow Exeter win (19f gd/sft). However, his very best form has come on soft/heavy and whether he will appreciate the unseasonably quick ground at Newbury is debateable. Caribean Boy is another one that has done all his winning on testing ground and on his first run back he is best watched.
The one that has the least to prove on this sort of ground is Paul Nicholls’ representative, Getaway Trump. He is a top of the ground horse and he won a 3 runner heat at Fakenham last time (21f gd). 5 of his 6 wins have come on good ground and he will relish the conditions at Newbury. He chased home Champ in a Grade 1 novice hurdle on his only previous run at this track (20f gd/sft). His effort when beat a distance at Cheltenham on his penultimate start might be off-putting for some but he has never really produced his best there. 4/1 looks too big about Getaway Trump and a small win bet is advised.
Friday Newbury Tips: Getaway Trump @ 4/1
Newbury Friday: 2.05pm – Handicap Chase (Class 2)
A field of 11 will fight it out for the £18k first prize in this 20f handicap chase. It is a tricky race to try and read with 5 of them having their first outings of the season. Plenty of them would enjoy a softer surface too but one that will really enjoy the ground is Count Meribel for Nigel Twiston-Davies and Mark Grant. This 8yo son of Three Valleys unseated and pulled up on his last two starts. He hasn’t won since November 2018 and it is no coincidence that it was the last time he got his preferred good ground. His six starts since have come on soft and the majority of those efforts were below par.
Good ground is key for this fella and his last 4 starts on it have produced form figures of 2211. His last win came off a mark of 137 and while he remains 5lb above that rating, he looks fairly treated on his 2L defeat to Lostintranslation on unsuitable ground at Cheltenham in November last year. Mark Grant keeps the ride and he has been on board for every one of Count Meribel’s starts. 20f around Newbury should really suit this horse and at odds of 10/1 he is the e/w pick.
Friday Newbury: Count Meribel e/w @ 10/1 (4 Places)
Newbury: 3.00pm – Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2)
The feature race at Newbury on Friday is the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle. 3 miles is the trip and 10 will go to post. Paisley Park is back to defend his crown but he is not an odds on shot this year. His Cheltenham flop has clearly put punters off but I wouldn’t be surprised to see him bounce back to form. However, the one I’ll be taking a chance on here is Honest Vic. Regular readers might remember me tipping this fella up at Cheltenham in March. He ran a blinder in 5th on unsuitably soft ground and he relished the step up to 3 miles at the same track on his return.
That 24f win at Cheltenham last time out off 141 was a career best by a distance. He hacked up by 4L and it looked like he had plenty left in the tank at the finish. Now rated 150, it makes sense to move into Graded company and I think he could be up to the task. Henry Daly’s son of Kalanisi loves good ground and he gets weight from some of his main rivals. Yes, he will have to improve again but he is only a 7yo and he should come on for his seasonal return. At odds of 12/1, Honest Vic is the e/w NAP of the day.
Friday Newbury Tips: Honest Vic e/w @ 12/1 NAP
Newbury 3.35pm – Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
Last up on ITV3 on Friday is another 24f heat, this time a handicap hurdle. 13 are due to go to post and back on proper good ground Ocean Cove could go well at a price. Trained by Fergal O’Brien, this 8yo ran poorly last time out at Cheltenham. He ran a better race on his seasonal comeback behind Acey Milan at Aintree and I am putting a line through his Cheltenham effort in the hope he just had an off day.
This will be the son of Ask’s first run on genuine good ground since a solid 2nd at Haydock in May 2019. He was beat 4L off a mark of 137 and he is now 4lb lower off 133. He has amazingly only had two career starts on good ground, that Haydock run and a win at Ayr. It was soft for his last win at Warwick but after that Ayr victory Fergal O’Brien said that Barry Geraghty reported that he wanted good ground. He He gets his conditions here, O’Brien has his string in flying form and at odds of 22/1 Ocean Cove is the e/w selection.
