There are some competitive contests and graded action for punters to look forward to at Newbury this Saturday, including the running of the Grade 2 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase which has attracted a strong field. Our expert editor has analysed each runner in this Saturday’s contest alongside an exclusive bet365 offer where you can get £50 in Free Bets when you bet £10.
SCEAU ROYAL 2/1
Owners Simon Munir and Isaac Souede’s green silks have been carried to victory by some notable flagship stars in recent seasons, but are any of them as consistent as SCEAU ROYAL? Now at the age of ten, Alan King’s charge will be looking to follow up on last year’s impressive win when seeing off the likes of Champ and Greaneteen off a mark of 163.
Despite going on to finish fifth in the Queen Mother Chase at last season’s Festival, Sceau Royal returned back over the smaller obstacles on seasonal outing, landing Listed honours at Kempton by 3.5l under regular pilot Daryl Jacob before running away with the Elite Hurdle at Wincanton in November.
After finishing third in a quality renewal of the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, the ten-year-old ran below-par when finishing down the field in the International Hurdle at Cheltenham back in December but excuses can be made for Alan King’s charge as that was his fourth run in seven weeks.
Sceau Royal returns to chasing ranks this weekend off the same mark he carried to victory 12 months ago. Alan King’s ultra-consistent charge will run his race once again and holds leading claims back over fences.
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SKY PIRATE 11/2
Last season’s Grand Annual winner SKY PIRATE has failed to return to the winner’s enclosure in four subsequent starts this year for connections, however, Jonjo O’Neill’s charge has bumped into some progressive and top-class talent this term which indicates he is still a force to be reckoned with despite failing to get his head in front.
Back to back defeats to the improving Before Midnight was followed by a creditable run in the Desert Orchid at Kempton over Christmas, finishing third behind Tingle Creek winner Greaneteen and Nicky Henderson’s unbeaten superstar Shishkin.
The nine-year-old found one too good in his latest assignment at Warwick when coming up against Brave Seasca, who was chasing a hat-trick of wins over fences for in-form trainer Venetia Williams in January.
Sky Pirate will have to contend with a return to deeper company this Saturday and although he hasn’t done a lot wrong in his recent outings, the chances are he will find a few of his rivals too good on this occasion.
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FUNAMBULE SIVOLA 7/2
Venetia Williams has her string in fantastic form at present and it would be no surprise to see FUNAMBULE SIVOLA go close after a confidence-boosting win back at 2miles in handicap company last time out at Doncaster, swooping late under jockey Charlie Deutsch to run out a comfortable winner at the line.
The seven-year-old enjoyed a productive campaign last year for connections, winning four out of his seven starts over the larger obstacles and progressing rapidly through the ranks from a mark of 112 to finish the season off 149.
Reappearing this year off a mark of 156, Funambule Sivola had excuses on his opening two outings over 2m4f where his stamina was clearly stretched against Graded opposition at Huntingdon and in the valuable New Year’s Day Chase at Cheltenham.
The return to 2miles worked the oracle last time out at Doncaster and considering the likely make-up of the race with confirmed front runners in opposition, Venetia Williams’ charge may have this race run to suit and perhaps the seven-year-old has a better chance than his current odds reflect.
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HITMAN 9/4
Despite being the youngest in the field, Paul Nicholls has held no secret in how high he regards six-year-old HITMAN who will be looking to win for the first time this season after finishing runner-up in both starts this year.
Hitman was a progressive first season chaser last campaign and after comfortably strolling to victory in a novice chase event at Newbury on his fourth outing over the large obstacles, Paul Nicholls’ charge ran a career-best when finishing third in Grade 1 company at the Aintree Grand National Meeting. Hitman was not beaten far over 2m4f on that occasion but certainly indicated that speed was his strong suit rather than stamina.
Since reappearing in November, Hitman has returned to trips around 2miles and despite travelling like the likeliest winner in Exeter’s Haldon Gold Cup, the six-year-old couldn’t overhaul Colin Tizzard’s Eldorado Allen in the closing stages.
Stablemate Greaneteen proved too good on his latest outing in the Grade 1 Tingle Creek at Sandown back in December but it’s hard to get carried away with the form of that race considering both Nube Negra and Chacun Pour Soi massively underperformed.
Hitman remains a talented individual for connections but it is still open to debate if he is good enough to land a race such as this. Either way, Paul Nicholls will be confident of a bold showing from his six-year-old and perhaps a return to the scene of his last chase win will do the trick.
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BIG RACE VERDICT
Sceau Royal is a worthy and likeable favourite as he returns to the larger obstacles after a spell of impressive hurdling efforts this season. Alan King’s ten-year-old will have to shoulder top weight and although his class may see him through, it might be worth taking a chance on FUNAMBULE SIVOLA who represents the red-hot combination of Venetia Williams and Charlie Deutsch. The seven-year-old got back to winning ways at Doncaster last month and will hopefully be suited by how this race develops over 2miles.
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