Saturday’s racing looks top quality across the UK, with Newbury and Warwick hosting the showcase meetings during the afternoon.
Matty Sutcliffe has tips at both tracks, with five in all across both, including a massive 200/1 shot in the opening race on Newbury’s card.
Newbury Racing Tips (Saturday 7 February)
Newbury’s card is headlined by the premier William Hill Hurdle, a big-field handicap. Matty has a 33/1 selection in that race, as well as a 200/1 shot earlier in the card…
1.00 Newbury – William Hill Racing Epic Boosts Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) – Fantasy World 9/4 1.5pt WIN + Famous Shoes 200/1 0.25pt EW 3 places
With the ground already heavy at Newbury and further substantial rain forecast, it looks likely that conditions will be tough and that’s not certain to suit Sober Glory who failed to cope with the soft conditions at Sandown in December, nor perhaps will it suit Kadastral who was beaten favourite on soft ground on bumper debut prior to winning here on better ground, and he was made to work by a 14/1 shot when rallying to the land the 2/9 odds late on.
Hurdling newcomer Fantasy World can take advantage of conditions, as the Make Believe gelding is already a two time winner in the mud and his 4yo allowance sees him receive chunks of weight from Sober Glory and Kadastral.
He was purchased for £600,000 after winning a listed flat contest at Ascot for Andrew Balding with staying looking to be his forte, and he’s already as short as 10/1 for the Triumph Hurdle. It could easily be a case of if he jumps around then he wins and while we’re taking that on trust, his dam is a half sister to Davidoff who’s bred some smart jumpers such as Abacadabras, so there is optimism that he can make up into a smart hurdler for a yard who’ve won this race twice since 2018.
I’d already like to have a small go on Famous Shoes, who returns from a wind operation after falling at when well beaten at Wincanton in December. On form he can’t be given a squeak, but James Bowen takes the ride for a yard he has an 18% strike rate with and on pedigree he has a minor chance of handling the mud better than some of these to fill the frame.
Progeny of New Approach are generally fine with handling softer conditions over obstacles, and he’s a half brother to the 114 rated Crossing The Bar who’s won three times on soft ground over hurdles. He’s also a half brother to the smart Mekong on the flat who’s two turf success came on heavy going, and the dam herself was second in listed company on soft ground, so there is optimism that he’ll leave his previous form behind him now on a testing surface after a wind operation with James Bowen taking over from a 7lbs claimer.
1:35 Newbury – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) – Below The Radar 7/2 1pt WIN
The 7lbs claimed by Freddie Keighley could prove the difference in these conditions here for Below The Radar, who looked a nice type two seasons ago when winning comfortably on heavy going at Uttoxeter.
The Getaway gelding failed to find his form for the most part last season, but he was beaten only a neck at Ayr when looking likely to bolt up, though idled in front with Callum Pritchard kicking clear far too early.
He was put up 2lbs for that and returned this year with a nine length third in a Pertemps Qualifier at Kempton and while chasing didn’t go to plan, he bounced back with a two length second at Haydock when splitting two previous winners, staying on well having strongly into the contest.
He’s often shaped as if a step up to three miles would suit, and on the back of that career best RPR he rates the chief threat to Lanzarote Handicap third A Pai De Nom.
2:45 Newbury – William Hill Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Saint Segal 5/1 1pt WIN
The promising Arkle favourite Lulamba has looked excellent thus far over fences, but you’d have to question what’s beaten thus far and he would have to be something out of the ordinary to win this stepping into open company, with just a pound separating him and Saint Segal on official ratings and is taken to continue his own progressive ways.
Regular GG readers know I’ve long been a fan of this horse, and while he continued to frustrate me last season, my opinion that he’s always had the ability of a graded animal appears to finally be manifesting on the track.
His record reads 1212 this season, easily beating Il Ridoto under an aggressive ride at Chepstow on seasonal debut. He then bumped into Thistle Ask in the Haldon Gold Cup, beaten seven lengths giving him 12lbs finishing fifteen lengths ahead of JPR One, who’s now rated 160 after an excellent display off top-weight as Musselburgh last weekend.
He again jumped impressively from the front at Kelso when running a career best RPR of 160, a pound higher than what Lulamba has achieved, easily beating Traprain Law giving him 18lbs who won easily himself next time out before a three length third to JPR One.
Thistle Ask then beat him a further ten lengths in receipt of 11lbs with Saint Segal carrying topweight, but he was again fourteen lengths ahead of the third and Thistle Ask is now rated 160 after his three second third to Jonbon in the G1 Clarence House.
While he is stepping up into graded company now, he’s essentially given a 160 12lbs for a seven and ten-length defeat this season, and taking that form at face value would suggest he doesn’t have much, if anything, to contest these top level graded chases. He admittedly has to prove he can, but his jumping has improved a ton this season and he appears to be a much stronger animal with Ciaran Gethings getting an excellent tune out of him.
Given he’s a 2m4f winner here last season, any stamina reserves on this ground will come in to play and if jumping himself into an early lead, he could take some pegging back.
3:20 Newbury – William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Faivoir 33/1 1pt EW 5 places
Let It Rain can prove much better than her mark of 124 for the Skelton’s and could win this comfortably after her promising reappearance, but there may be better value in chancing the yards Faivoir in running into a place.
The Coastal Path gelding is long in the tooth now as an 11-year-old and he missed all of last season, but he showed the fire still burns when third in the Greatwood at Cheltenham earlier this season. He was well beaten in the Betfair next time out, but he was in 2024 prior to finishing a nine length fifth in this contest under Heidi Pailin from a 5lbs lower mark and it’s hard to envisage a similar performance won’t see him running into a place on Saturday.
He was only half a length behind the subsequent Imperial Cup winner Go Dante there and seven lengths behind the County Hurdle runner up L’Eau Du Sud, in which finished second and sixth himself respectively.
He’s proven in these deep conditions and while he does have to improve on this season’s form, it’ll no surprise should connections have peaked the former County Hurdle winner for this time of the year as they often have in the past, and he’s a big enough price to fill the frame despite his advancing years.
Warwick Racing Tips (Saturday 7 February)
The Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices’ Chase is the feature at Warwick, but Matty Sutcliffe looks to the veterans’ series for his best bet on the card.
2:25 Warwick – Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Series Qualifier) (Class 2) (10yo+ 0-150) – Le Milos 5/2 1pt WIN
The Skeltons successfully plotted Le Milos to win this race by six lengths last season and it’s tough to envisage they won’t have him primed once more for it after bouncing back to form last time out behind a progressive winner.
He’s still a pound higher, but Harry Atkins takes seven pounds off to place him six pounds lower than last year’s success and the cheek-pieces that have been left off for his last three starts now return. His record over fences in February read 111, so now has to be the time to catch him to add a further valuable £18,484 to Skelton’s Champion Trainer prize pot.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1.00 Newbury – William Hill Racing Epic Boosts Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+) – Fantasy World 9/4 1.5pt WIN + Famous Shoes 200/1 0.25pt EW 3 places
1:35 Newbury – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle (Challenger Stayers’ Hurdle Series Qualifier) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-135) – Below The Radar 7/2 1pt WIN
2:25 Warwick – Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (Series Qualifier) (Class 2) (10yo+ 0-150) – Le Milos 5/2 1pt WIN
2:45 Newbury – William Hill Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (5yo+) – Saint Segal 5/1 1pt WIN
3:20 Newbury – William Hill Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Faivoir 33/1 1pt EW 5 places
Below The RadarFAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Newbury & Warwick on Saturday 7 February.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Saturday horse racing tips were published at 3.25pm on Thursday 5 February.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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