In form Search For A Tipster winner Karl Hedley picks out his best bets from Saturday’s ITV Racing cards at Warwick and Newbury
VIVE LE ROI (1-50 Newbury)
Vive Le Roi may be more exposed than some of his rivals but he proved the ability was still there when second to Burrows Edge in the Lanzarote Hurdle at Kempton Park last month. The drop to an extended two and a half miles was probably on the sharp side for him, but it’s worth noting that Northofthewall finished behind him last time and has since given the form a welcome boost when winning at Taunton by 24 lengths.
A return to three miles will be in Vive Le Roi’s favour and he commands plenty of respect as he is proven over course and distance.
Soft ground holds no fears for this versatile performer and with Harry Bannister riding once again, the combination are more than capable of playing a hand in the final outcome.
NUBE NEGRA (2.05 Warwick)
Nube Negra was only just denied in a Grade 1 novice chase at Sandown when last seen a couple of months ago and he had to be switched a couple of times late on. Esprit Du Large was just able to get first run on him on that occasion but the pair pulled a dozen lengths clear of Grand Sancy, which means on strict form lines he should have the beating of Rouge Vif.
Nube Negra is a course-and distance-winner who has also won at tracks such as Aintree and Market Rasen. Fflatter tracks seem to lend themselves well to his racing style and it is also worth noting that in fields with seven runners or less, he has never finished outside the first two.
The drying ground ought to be in his favour as he recorded his two most recent wins on a genuine good surface around here and at Fakenham. Harry Skelton has partnered the six-year-old in every career start to date and they should make a decent attempt to secure a third win over fences here.
ALTIOR (2.25 Newbury)
Altior returns to his preferred two-mile trip after tackling Cyrname over an extended two and a half miles in the Christy 1965 Chase at Ascot in November. Despite his defeat, he ran an excellent race having engaged in a prolonged duel with his market rival. The ground that day was abysmal and conditions clearly took their toll.
Altior is rated almost a stone better than his opponents on official ratings and with Nicky Henderson confident he has him back to somewhere near his peak, he is likely to stake his claims for another crack at the Champion Chase at his beloved Cheltenham next month.
He has already beaten a couple of today’s rivals on multiple occasions and it is difficult to see them reversing the form. Simply Ned is now a teenager and, although a proven Grade 1 winner in his pomp, it will be a massive turn up if he has the legs to outlast Altior. Dynamite Dollars has taken to fences like a duck to water, but he is returning after a lengthy layoff. He does have a penchant for flat tracks, though, and he may well chase home the likely odds on favourite.
The jury is still out on Kalashnikov who just hasn’t looked like the same horse since winning at Aintree last spring. Whilst hardly an original selection, it would be great to see Altior back in the winner’s enclosure.
COPPER GONE WEST (2.40 Warwick)
Copper Gone West has stamina in abundance and maintained her recent run of form with an excellent second to Silver Forever at Sandown last month. That was a massive step forward from anything she had shown previously and, despite going up another furlong in trip today, she should make a bold attempt to score a coveted first win at this level.
On her recent run behind Silver Forever, she had s11 lengths in hand of the re-opposing Indefatigable. They meet again on the same terms as last time and Copper Gone West can confirm the form. Alan Johns replaces Aidan Coleman in the saddle, but he has ridden her to victory on two other occasions at Musselburgh and Bangor.
She is only 5lb higher in the ratings than when winning a handicap at Doncaster back in December and must come into the reckoning based on her recent efforts against her own sex.
Tim Vaughan has his yard in good shape and has sent out three winners inside the last ten days.
BACK COPPER GONE WEST AT 6/1 HERE
NATIVE RIVER (3.00 Newbury)
Native River is the class act in this field of seven runners, many of whom have serious questions to answer. The Colin Tizzard trained ten-year-old has not been seen since thumping Black Corton at Aintree back in December and Richard Johnson misses the ride because of injury, but his replacement Jonjo O’Neill jnr has been purring about the chances of his mount going into this race. Having been reportedly working well at home, the former Welsh Grand National winner will likely set his rivals a mighty test this afternoon.
The former Gold Cup winner has seen off the attention of Might Bite in each of their last five meetings and it should be a case of deja vu this afternoon. Native River won this race en route to Gold Cup glory at Cheltenham a couple of years ago and connections will be hoping that he can justify his place in a strong looking renewal of that race in a few weeks.
KING OF REALMS (3.15 Warwick)
King Of Realms has won and been placed on his only other two trips to Warwick, so he clearly is well suited by the undulations of the track. This bold frontrunner often wears his heart on his sleeve by trying to draw the sting out of his pursuing rivals. He seemed to be in better shape last time than on his seasonal reappearance, where he faded only in the closing stages in a similar race at Kempton Park when finishing fourth.
He is only a 1lb higher than when winning his last race and a return to this track could just edge a little bit more improvement out of him. Irish-bred horses have a good record in this race and he is proven at the trip. Horses carrying more than eleven stone tend to do well and he was neither a winner nor was he placed last time out. Taking all of those factors into consideration King Of Realms ticks a lot of boxes that matches up to the most recent winners of this race.
BACK KING OF REALMS AT 8/1 HERE
STOLEN SILVER (3.35 Newbury)
Stolen Silver swooped to deny Edwardstone in a Grade 2 race at Haydock a couple of weeks ago. He looked booked for third place on that occasion but managed to find another gear under his jockey in order to pip the well-regarded Alan King runner to first place.
Before his last win, he was an excellent second to Chantry House in a novice hurdle at Cheltenham. The form of that race is working out well as the fourth-placed Pileon has come out to win twice subsequently and other also-rans including Sheshoon Sonny and Shang Tang have also been placed since
Nigel Twiston-Davies won this race last year with the likeable Al Dancer, so Stolen Silver is likely to have been specifically targeted at this race following his most recent win. Sam Twiston-Davies gets the call up to ride for his dad and the duo can make this a family affair to remember in the finale.
BACK STOLEN SILVER AT 18/1 HERE
Karl Hedley’s best bets
VIVE LE ROI (1-50 Newbury) 15/2 BET365
NUBE NEGRA (2.05 Warwick) 11/8 BET365
ALTIOR (2.25 Newbury) 1/2 BET365
COPPER GONE WEST (2.40 Warwick) 6/1 BETVICTOR
NATIVE RIVER (3.00 Newbury) 1/3 WILLIAM HILL
KING OF REALMS (3.15 Warwick) 8/1 WILLIAM HILL
STOLEN SILVER (3.35 Newbury) 18/1 LADBROKES