Newbury plays host to a competitive seven-race card on Wednesday afternoon including the feature Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle which has attracted a strong field. Our editors have previewed the chances of all seven runners alongside an exclusive offer from bet365 where you can get £50 in Free Bets when you bet £10 today!
GO DANTE 16/1
Olly Murphy’s charge GO DANTE looked a useful prospect in the making when winning a Wincanton bumper in March this year by a 7.5l. The five-year-old confirmed that special debut performance when blitzing his rivals by 18l on first hurdling start at Bangor on seasonal reappearance in October under Aidan Coleman.
A step up in class came calling after that taking win last time out, but Go Dante lacked fluency over his hurdles and was turned over at odds of 2/7 by Nicky Henderson runner Tweed Skirt.
The five-year-old remains capable of better now upped in trip, however, he faces several other rivals that have achieved more in recent starts and it was disappointing to see him well beat last time out.
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The sole Irish representative comes in the form of GRINGO D’AUBRELLE who finished second behind the very useful and subsequent dual Grade 2 winner Blazing Khal on hurdling debut back in October at Galway over an extended 2m3f.
The five-year-old has since landed a Navan bumper by 10l before reverting back to 2miles over hurdles to gain a first success over the smaller obstacles when getting up to beat Adamantly Chosen at Fairyhouse in a Maiden event.
This is a big step up in class for Gordon Elliot’s charge but the form of his run behind Blazing Khal has subsequently been franked twice since and Charles Byrnes’ charge now heads the betting for the Albert Bartlett at next year’s Festival after recording two Grade 2 Cheltenham wins.
The step back up in trip should very much suit Gordon Elliot’s five-year-old and this winning three-mile point-to-pointer holds leading claims now racing on British soil.
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HIGH STAKES 25/1
HIGH STAKES won four of his five point-to-point starts when trained in that sphere and certainly made a huge impact when racing for the first time under rules for trainer John Edward Walsh when winning a Wexford flat race by 18l over 2m4f.
Warren Greatrex then picked up the son of Scorpion and the seven-year-old made a pleasing start to life in Britain when a head second to Famous Bridge in a Novices’ Hurdle at Ayr in November and despite not always fluent over the obstacles on that occasion, he was nicely clear of the third that day.
The seven-year-old will certainly strip fitter for that stable/hurdling debut but is pitched into deep company on just his second start and is best watched for now, but it does at least highlight the regard he is held in by his new connections.
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LOSSIEMOUTH 7/2
Expectations were high for LOSSIEMOUTH as a four-year-old after landing two bumpers he was expected to make up into a smart hurdler but failed to live up to those claims when failing to win two maiden hurdle races and a novice event at Exeter.
Tom Lacey’s charge missed the entirety of 2020 and returned in January this year to contest a Jumpers Bumper at Newcastle but again disappointed after being sent off the market leader and beating just two home.
Another break soon followed but this time Lossiemouth returned to winning form when landing a conditional jockey’s handicap hurdle off 117 at Ascot before following up at Ffos Las and then taking the step up in company to take the Grade 2 Ballymore Winter Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown earlier this month by 14l.
That remains the best piece of form on offer in this race, but it will be interesting to see how he fairs against several unexposed types now in search of a fourth successive victory.
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PARTY BUSINESS 18/1
PARTY BUSINESS was well beaten on hurdling debut at Warwick to finish eighth having been sent off the second favourite for that Novices’ hurdle in November. The five-year-old was friendless in the betting last time out but approved he has some ability when defying odds of 22/1 to quickly settle things in a Class 3 Maiden hurdle contest earlier this month at Ascot.
That form however looks well below the standard set in this contest and Party Business will need to step up considerably on that winning effort last time to play a serious role.
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STAGE STAR 7/4
This race was won by exciting novice Bravemansgame last season for Paul Nicholls and he would have had several options on who to run in this contest this year and has opted for STAGE STAR.
Stage Star faired well in his bumper days, winning at Chepstow before finding the frame behind stablemate and progressive novice Knappers Hill in Listed and Grade 2 races at Ascot and Aintree.
The five-year-old was always going to be better suited when racing over hurdles and a trip and duly justified cramped odds when returning to Chepstow in October over an extended 2m3f when easily landing a maiden hurdle by 6l. Paul Nicholls’ charge again impressed last time out when thumping four rivals over Wednesday’s course and distance after putting in a fluent round of jumping.
The five-year-old looks to be improving all the time and although this represents his toughest assignment, he looks to be a classy prospect for connections and Paul Nicholls will be confident this five-year-old can maintain his unbeaten run over hurdles.
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WEST BALBOA 8/1
Dan Skelton will have been extremely encouraged by the debut performance of WEST BALBOA after he landed a mares’ novices hurdle at Warwick by 17l in November this season.
It’s hard to know what she beat on stable debut but she had the odds-on Queen River for Nicky Henderson well behind on that occasion and could be a seriously talented individual.
However, this is a big jump in class and despite receiving the 7lb allowance, she looks set to struggle now into Grade 1 company.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
Lossiemouth may be susceptible to an unexposed type in here and despite having the best form on show, he is passed over. Gordon Elliot will have high hopes for Gringo D’aubrelle now up to a more suitable trip. However, STAGE STAR has looked like a horse of real promise on his opening two hurdle starts and already has a course and distance win to his name even at this early stage of his career. Paul Nicholls can make it back to back wins in this race and his five-year-old is definitely one to keep on the right side.
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