Saturday’s racing includes a host of exciting puzzles to enjoy and Matty Sutcliffe is relishing the test as he gives you SIX best bets to follow throughout the afternoon at Newbury and Newcastle.
1:05 Newbury – Coral “Daily Rewards Shaker” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) – Kalkbrenner 3/1 2pt WIN
I suspect KALKBRENNER will go off plenty shorter here and hopefully provide the Cheltenham antepost column with a boost for his hopes in the Albert Bartlett. I was seriously impressed with his hurdling debut at Ffos Las when justifying 13/8 favouritism, jumping fluently in behind leaders before taking up the lead before two out, having the whole field off the bridle and comfortably fading off Swindon Village and the closing The Price Of Peace.
The form is yet to be tested but visually it was impressive, and he posted a higher RPR than stablemate The Jukebox Man who went on to win a Ffos Las novice next time out before faring well in the Challow, so it’s interesting that Pauling comes here with Kalkbrenner as this race has thrown up plenty Challow winners in the past, including last years winner The New Lion, Stage Star and Bravemansgame.
Nicky Henderson won this with a four year old in Jingko Blue two years ago so Buddy Holly has to be feared on yard debut, but it’ll take a smart one to beat Kalkbrenner and the fact they’ve come here as opposed to carrying a penalty in an easier novice further boosts my enthusiasm in this Getaway gelding.
1:40 Newbury – “Join Coral Bet £10 Get £50” Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145) – Guard Duty 6/1 1pt WIN
The only slight concern regarding this selection is the yard form of Emma Lavelle that’s dwindled after her initial terrific start to the season, but she was back in the winners enclosure at Exeter earlier this week and has had a couple go close since, which is just enough to consider GUARD DUTY’s chance of knocking up a second course and distance success.
The Kapgarde gelding looked promising when winning a bumper in three years ago at Southwell, though his two runs since (latest came from a 474 day break) were marred by blatant keenness. He was then applied with a hood at Uttoxeter last season and comfortably fended off Virtual Rock, hitting the line strongly under Tom Bellamy.
Keenness again was his downfall later that month, as it was twice last season when jumping poorly and unshipping his rider at Haydock before going down a neck at Lingfield after another round of indifferent jumping.
Gavin Sheehan then dropped him right out in rear at Windsor and it was only prior to two out that he passed a rival, travelling effortlessly throughout and drawing away four lengths clear in impressive fashion. The second there has franked that form this season having won a class two at Carlisle before beaten a neck in the valuable group three at Haydock last Saturday.
He one again settled well next time out over C&D, and Harry Cobden barely had to move throughout to fend off the progressive Loverdose. A short turnaround was the excuse for him being well beaten off this mark next time out, so we can tentatively forgive him for that.
Given the SP’s he’s been sent off at throughout his career, he’s evidently highly regarded at home and that’s unsurprising given the manner of how his victories have come, and if he can stay settled on this seasonal return then he looks to have a big chance back at this track under Gavin Sheehan who gave him a fantastic ride at Windsor in January.
2:15 Newbury – Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (Registered As The Gerry Feilden) (Premier Handicap) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Viyanni 5/1 1.5pt WIN
The unexposed Live Conti will prove popular with punters but he’ll have to be a fair tool to carry top-weight as a four year in this contest and it may pay to chance another four year old in VIYANNI, who could prove very well-handicapped off 124 this season if stepping up again.
The Almanzor gelding switched hands to Harry Derham after comfortably landing a Bellewstown Handicap for Jonny Murtagh and immediately got off to a winning start over hurdles at Market Rasen when a length winner despite getting the last wrong. He pulled 30 lengths clear of the third there and the second has franked the form to win twice now rated 118.
Viyanni was then sent to Ascot to take on Lulamba and the smart flat horse Mondo Man, and he gave a gallant performance from the front to only be headed in between the second last and the last, beaten an eventual six lengths. The winner is quite evidently in a different league now rated 134 in both codes, the second was third in the G2 Dovecote next time out behind the fifth St Pancras who’s now rated 128 after two subsequent victories (including listed), and the fourth is now rated 118 after two subsequent wins too.
Viyanni justified favouritism next time out to beat the 125 rated Mister Cessna who bolted up two starts later and has since developed into a potentially nice chaser, with that pair pulling clear of the field.
He has to step up again coming out of juvenile company, but he’s a physically imposing son of Almanzor who’s had plenty of time off since to fill out and should he have improved over the summer, then I’d expect him to bely a mark of 124 and go very close here for the in form Harry Derham.
2:55 Newbury – Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Resplendent Grey 13/2 1pt WIN
RESPLENDENT GREY was becoming something of a bridesmaid in better company over fences last season after an initial smart winning chase debut, having finished second to Hyland in listed company, second to Handstands in the Grade 2 Esher, before two fourth places at Cheltenham including finishing 11 lengths behind Haiti Couleurs in the National Hunt Chase, staying on well having dropped to rear in the middle part of the race.
Then off bottom-weight and first time cheekpieces, he was given a confident, prominent ride by Sean Bowen to gallantly win the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown fending off a quarter of Willie Mullins trained runners in the process. End of the season form at Sandown can often be false going forward, but Spanish Harlem in fourth has franked it with two subsequent wins now rated 151, and Resplendent Grey himself returned this season with success in the Colin Parker Chase at Carlisle.
He was nursed into the race under Sean Bowen at a trip that looked to be short enough, but he displayed a smart turn of foot to fend off the strong favourite Handstands who franked that form when running an excellent race in the Betfair Chase, seemingly not staying late on. A six pounds rise doesn’t look enough to stop Resplendent Grey now he returns to a more suitable trip with the re-applied cheekpieces, and connections may have the Grand National in their sights provided he can pass this test.
3:15 Newcastle – BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Konfusion 4/1 1pt WIN
KONFUSION faces a different calibre of rival than he ever has in here, but he was well punted into favouritism in a Class Two 0-145 and was going great guns from the front prior to unshipping Danny McMenamin at the eleventh. It’s tough to say where he would’ve ended up in the race had he stayed on his feet there but he was going just as well as Top Of The Bill who won the race and despite continuing to jump every fence fluently without a rider, he’s clearly come away unscathed enough to take his chance in here just seven days later.
His form since going chasing prior to that reads 313121 and he convincingly made all at Wetherby on seasonal debut. With his jumping seemingly having improved as he’s gone along, he can put his race fitness and low weight to the fore here in for an inform yard who won this with Wakanda in 2015 (also made a winning reappearance at Wetherby that season).
3:35 Newbury – Coral “Pipped-At-The-Post” Payouts Handicap Chase (For The Jim Joel Memorial Trophy) (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-140) – Javert Allen 4/1 1pt WIN
I’ve long been a fan of Jane Williams’ No Risk At All gelding JAVERT ALLEN, who stepped up from his promising hurdling career to land a pair of two miles handicap chases in smart fashion last season. The first came at Chepstow off top-weight on seasonal debut when putting in an exhibition of jumping from the front.
The yard wouldn’t normally have one as forward as that for their chase debut, so it was no surprise to see him better that effort next time out in a competitive 0-130 Handicap Chase over C&D, where he again put the field to the sword and jumped impeccably well to fend off a subsequent winner in Harpers Brook.
He lost little in defeat when beaten short head at Chepstow, having done plenty enough in front to be collared late on by one who revels in those conditions. The other horses to have been ridden prominently there were beaten 47L, fell, and pulled up, so we can upgrade Javert Allen’s performance from the front and while he was beaten here next time out, a mistake five out put end to any chance.
He returned this season with a five lengths fourth at Aintree behind smart hurdler Mambonumberfive off top-weight, and shaped as if in need of the run having weakened only late on. Like most of the yard’s runners, I’d expect him to improve off the back of that and a mark of 126 can underestimate him going forward for a yard in form.
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