Newbury and Southwell will be broadcast live on ITV this Friday, with Graded action over jumps at the former venue. GG tipster Joe Napier has picked out four best bets throughout the card, including a selection who could become the leading staying hurdler in England this campaign.
2.25 Newbury – “Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Chase
Before a disappointing reappearance last season, HELTENHAM was unbeaten over course and distance and has only ever won fresh as an odds-on favourite. He traditionally needs at least one run to get fit and having been on the go since September already, he could well be primed to land this for Dan Skelton.
The eight-year-old took until his fourth start of last season to improve back to his top level of form, finishing second at Newton Abbot before a 13-length win at Perth back in April. He since shot back up the ratings, but after three runs this term, he has been eased 6lb in the handicap despite finishing competitive enough thirds the last twice.
This could well have been the aim since he returned from an absence given his record at this venue and he has had wind surgery since his previous run 12 days ago. His victory at Perth came after just a five-day rest, so he can clearly take his racing fine and should go very close here.
3.00 Newbury – Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2)
Stablemate Doddiethegreat is respected after throwing away the West Yorkshire Hurdle at Wetherby to Strong Leader, but under no penalties, IMPOSE TOI looks ready for Graded glory for Nicky Henderson as the mount of Nico De Boinville.
The seven-year-old repeatedly ran to a solid level last season over around 2m4f, finishing second in the Coral Cup, fourth in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree, then second in Listed handicap company at Punchestown. Having seen out his races well, a step up in trip was taken to begin this season and he won extremely impressively at Aintree in a Pertemps qualifier.
De Boinville appeared keen not to win by too far, but he simply had too much horse under him as he came clear to win by over three lengths. From a mark of 148, handicaps now look to be a thing of the past and with none of his rivals consistently able to produce top class efforts in here, he could prosper and announce himself the top dog among British staying hurdlers.
3.15 Southwell – Midnite Golden Rose Stakes (Listed)
Four of the last five favourites have won this Listed contest, with the only non-favourite winning at 3/1, so fancied runners tend to produce the goods. That could well be the case again this season with MARSHMAN the clear form pick and strong market leader.
Karl Burke’s charge has a record fresh of 1121, his only defeat coming when a neck second to subsequent Group 1 scorer Montassib at Doncaster in March 2024. Earlier this season, he won twice on the all-weather at Newcastle and Lingfield, then was second over 5f here in Listed company when possibly drawn on the wrong side of the track.
He was third off a mark of 110 at Newcastle in April which is a high level of form and stall 12 should be ideal this time. There are a couple of opponents whose ratings are not dissimilar to his, but the selection has proven all-weather pedigree and should be too good.
3.35 Newbury – Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” Payouts Handicap Hurdle
Alan King’s I’M A LUMBERJACK is a stoutly-bred National Hunt horse, with winners on his dam’s side in this sphere doing so at trips up to 3m4f, so the step up to 3m here could well pay dividends for the six-year-old off a low handicap mark.
An easy winner of a Warwick maiden hurdle in December 2024 over 2m5f, he subsequently struggled under penalties at that intermediate trip against some useful enough rivals. However, in easier waters, he won by 14 lengths to conclude his season at Bangor, again seeing out his trip thoroughly.
There is a chance a rating of 120 underestimates him significantly if 3m proves to be his trip and there are plenty of signs that point towards that being the case. He was beaten only a short-head to begin the previous campaign over 2m, surely short of his optimum, which also proves he will be fit for this after his summer break.
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