Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday Tips by Dave Stevos
Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday Tips
Thibault saved the day for us on Saturday. He ran a cracker to grab 2nd, advised e/w NB at 22s and returned at 80/1. Emitom was never put into his race and hopefully Perfect Candidate is okay as he pulled up. Yalltari was bitterly disappointing and Navajo Pass couldn’t cope with a rejuvenated Goshen. Riders Onthe Storm could never land a blow but I was thrilled for Dashel Drasher and Matt Griffiths who both landed maiden Grade 1 victories. We are in for a treat on Sunday with some top class racing from England and Ireland on ITV. Check out Dave Stevos Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday tips below…
1.50 Newbury: Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
A nice and easy start to the day with this 18 runner, 24f handicap hurdle. The one I’ll be taking a chance on at a big price is Howling Milan for Sam Drinkwater and Robbie Dunne. This 7yo son of Milan has won just one of his twelve starts, a 16f novice hurdle on good ground at this track. However, he was very unlucky not to add a handicap win here to his CV in December 2019. He unfortunately fell at the final hurdle with the race at his mercy (20.5f sft).
That effort came off a mark of 125 and he is now rated just 118. This season has yet to get going for him but he did show signs that he was coming back to form when 3rd at Bangor last time on heavy ground. The return to good to soft ground should be to his liking today and he clearly appreciates this track. There is enough stamina in his pedigree to suggest this trip might suit and he is wearing only a tongue tie for the first time since he fell with the race in the bag five runs ago. I think there are enough positives to warrant an each way bet at odds of 28/1.
Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday: Howling Milan e/w @ 28/1 NB (5 Places BetVictor)
2.05 Market Rasen: Novices’ Hurdle (Listed)
Only five horses will line up behind the flag for this 20.5f Listed Novices’ Hurdle. On ratings Minella Drama is the one they have to beat and he is the market leader at around 5/4. He has done nothing wrong under rules so far and he was only a beat a neck last time out on his first start at Grade 2 level at Haydock (15.5f hvy).
The trip is an unknown but he has the best form in the race. Stoner’s Choice has taken well to hurdling for Fergal O’Brien. After finishing 2nd on his first run over timber he notched up a trio of novice wins on good to soft and good at Perth, Carlisle and Market Rasen. However, this is a much tougher race and he came up short in two attempts at Listed level in bumpers.
Here Comes Johnny and Optimise Prime both have similar profiles to the O’Brien horse. The former has won 4/5 over hurdles in maidens and novices and he is proven at today’s distance. Optimise Prime is on a three timer after a couple of novice wins at Hereford. He too has won over 20f. I have no strong opinion on who might win this race and it is best watched with a view to future engagements. No bet.
Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday: No Bet
2.25 Newbury: Denman Chase (Grade 2)
With Dashel Drasher winning the Grade 1 at Ascot on Saturday only 7 will go to post for this Grade 2 contest. The trip is 3 miles and two-time King George winner Clan Des Obeaux is a warm order to make it three wins from three runs at Newbury. He didn’t run to expectations in this year’s King George. However, I think the tough prep run on heavy at Newbury may have blunted him on that occasion. He has been given a nice near 2 month break since Kempton and he is the one they all have to beat.
On the figures, Lostintranslation looks the main danger. Last year’s Gold Cup 3rd has been badly out of form this season though. He was beat out of sight on his return at Haydock.He then failed to complete in the King George when pulled up. You couldn’t back him after those two dreadful efforts and he is best watched. I’m not sure about this trip for the admirable Kalashnikov and the biggest threat to Clan Des Obeaux may be his stablemate Secret Investor.
He ran a blinder in this race last year when beat just over 2L by Native River. He dotted up in a handicap chase at Chepstow on his seasonal return off a mark of 153 but he flopped at this track over 26f on his last start in November. Bryony Frost’s mount has had an 85 day break since that poor run and that is a plus given his form figures when having a break of 56 days or more (221222). I think this could be a 1-2 for Paul Nicholls and a reverse forecast on Clan Des Obeaux and Secret Investor is advised.
Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday: Clan Des Obeaux/Secret Investor reverse forecast
2.47 Navan: Boyne Hurdle (Grade 2)
We get a rare treat from Navan on Sunday on ITV with this Grade 2, 21f Hurdle. All eyes will be on Tiger Roll as he prepares for a tilt at the Aintree Grand National in the Spring. He won this race at 25/1 a couple of years ago. However, this time his trainer will just want to see some of his old enthusiasm return. He ran a lifeless race at Cheltenham last time over the X-Country fences. His legion of supporters will be hoping he runs a much better race today.
The ground at Navan is heavy and this could come down to who handles conditions best. Fury Road loves when the mud is flying and he is 2/2 on heavy. The son of Stowaway disappointed upped to Grade 1 level last time at Leopardstown but he did score by 3L in a 21f heavy ground Grade 2 on his penultimate start at Punchestown. His 3rd behind Monkfish and Latest Exhibition in the Albert Bartlett is top notch form and he looks a worthy favourite.
The biggest danger to the favourite is Beacon Edge. Trained by Noel Meade, this son of Doyen ran a blinder on his last start at 20f when beat less than a length by Champion Hurdle favourite Honeysuckle. He lost nothing in defeat at this track over 16f last time when he stayed on well behind Bachasson for 3rd on heavy. Going back up in trip will suit and at odds of 11/2 he should be hard to keep out of the frame.
Navan Sunday: Beacon Edge e/w @ 11/2
3.00 Newbury: Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2)
Just the five will fight it out for honours in this season’s Game Spirit Chase. The intriguing contender here is last year’s RSA winner Champ. He hasn’t run since that battling victory and he takes a massive drop in trip. He is surely best watched on what is most likely a prep run for the festival in March. A few of these have Champion Chase aspirations, including last year’s runner up Sceau Royal. He found Altior too good in 2020 but there is nothing as good as him in it this time.
Greaneteen is another horse who holds an entry in the big one, one of three Paul Nicholls’ horses in the race. He chased home Politologue last time out but he has to shoulder a 6lb penalty for his Grade 2 win at Exeter back in November. Fanion D’Estruval ran well behind First Flow at Ascot last time. He has handicap form that ties him in closely with Magic Saint. Sceau Royal is the best treated by the conditions of the race but he fell last time out and he doesn’t appeal as a bet at the prices. This is another race I won’t be getting involved in. No bet.
Newbury and Market Rasen Sunday: No Bet
3.15 Market Rasen: Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)
After Thibault’s excellent run on Saturday I think Gortroe Joe could be worth a punt here. Trained by Fergal O’Brien, this 9yo son of Old Vic was 3rd in the Taunton race in which Thibault unseated at the last. His previous start came at this track over 18f and he won doing handstands off a mark of 120. He got an 8lb hike for that facile win and he is racing off an 8lb higher rating this afternoon.
On his chasing form that mark shouldn’t be beyond him. He won off 128 here over 21f back in April 2019 and he is 2/3 when completing at Market Rasen. A confirmed front runner, he shouldn’t face too much competition for the lead today and I think he could make a bold bid from the front. At odds of 11/1 he is the each way selection.
Wincanton Sunday Tip: Gortroe Joe e/w @ 11/1
3.35 Newbury: Betfair Hurdle (Grade 3)
Run over the minimum trip of 16f, the Betfair Hurdle is always a competitive contest. This year is no exception and a maximum field of 24 will go to post. The one I’ll be taking a chance on at a nice e/w price is Mack The Man for Evan Williams and Adam Wedge. This horse was in the process of running a big race in this last year when brought down at the last. He didn’t take to chasing at the start of this season but he got back on track at Wincanton last time (15.5f hvy).
He scored by less than a length off 127 and he is in off 5lb higher today. Last year he was rated 130 and he is only 2lb higher for this repeat bid. The 7yo son of Flemensfirth has won on all sorts of ground but given his sire, I suspect that he will prove to be best on sounder surfaces. With 7 places on offer from Betfair, Mack The Man is the e/w NAP of the day at odds of 22/1.
