Some top notch jumping action takes place at Newbury on Friday 28th November, as day one of the Coral Gold Cup meeting lights up the live ITV Racing. Our GG Lucky 15 tips article focuses on the live terrestrial racing from the Berkshire track and we pick out our four best bets…
1.50 Newbury – REGENT’S STROLL (1pt win – 2/1 generally)
Wendigo’s form behind Wade Out has been given a huge boost with that performer next coming out and winning at Cheltenham, but Jamie Snowden’s star showed a lack of pace that day and he could be vulnerable to the quicker REGENT’S STROLL in the Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase at 1.50pm. A winner on both his visits to Newbury, the Paul Nicholls-trained raider ended last season with a second placed finish in the Mersey Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree. This is his chasing debut, but the Ditcheat team will have him firing for his comeback run and with Wendigo likely to need three miles in time then the door is open for Regent’s Stroll to prevail here.
2.25 Newbury – TWINJETS (1pt win – 7/2 generally)
It could prove to be a big day for the Ditcheat pairing on Nicholls and Cobden, as they can strike again in the 2.25pm race with TWINJETS, who can build on a Fontwell last month. Given a 4lbs rise for that victory, the eight-year-old wasn’t really stretched that day when getting the better of Etalon and another of Friday’s rivals in Heltenham. He suffered defeat on his two starts at Newbury last season, but he can bounce back to winning ways at the track in this event, and can duly make it two wins on the bounce.
3.00 Newbury – STRONG LEADER (1pt win – 5/2 William Hill)
Olly Murphy’s STRONG LEADER has often struggled at the top table of the staying hurdle division and has long been unable to get his head in races like the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival. However, the battling eight-year-old holds an excellent record in Grade 2 contests and he heads into the Long Distance Hurdle on the back of a win in the Grade 2 West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby. A winner of this contest 12 months ago, he has the ideal partner in Sean Bowen, who will be working a long way from home to get him going, but the pair should take this. Impose Toi is the improving handicapper, but Strong Leader has shown he relishes the long home straight at Newbury and he could well get the better of his rivals up the long run-in.
3.35 Newbury – THUNDER ROCK (1pt win – 9/1 generally)
Rated in the mid-150s when a classy staying chaser, THUNDER ROCK has plummeted down the ratings and takes his chance in the final race on the card at Newbury at 3.35pm off a mark of 134. Fourth in the Cleeve Hurdle back in January, Olly Murphy’s charge has found life tough in recent outings, but a significant drop by the handicapper means he takes his chance off a really attractive mark. This is his first run of the campaign, so he’s sure to come on for it, but he’s a proven class act on his day and at near double-figured odds then he’s certainly the value play.
GG Racing Lucky 15 Tips For Friday 28th November
1.50 Newbury – REGENT’S STROLL (1pt win – 2/1 generally)