Racing Chat- Friday November 25th

[The Brigadier]

The ITV cameras roll on to Newbury for their two day Coral Handicap Chase (Hennessy/Ladbroke Trophy in old money) meeting with five races covered and the ground likely to ride on the soft side of good. Let’s hope it stays like that and we have no reproduction of the Ascot debacle from last Saturday. Here’s my thoughts on the five races.

 

Newbury 1.20

A rarity for ITV with a 2m 4F novice hurdle kicking off proceedings today. It may end up to be between the Paul Nicholls trained Stay Away Fay and Nicky Henderson’s Russian Ruler. Both have been the subject of glowing reports from their respective handlers. Stay Away Fay is making his rules debut but was an impressive winner of an Irish point to point at Lingstown (3rd and 4th won since) last December and was bought at the Cheltenham December sale for a cool £305k. Apparently only workmanlike at home and taken time to get fit so today my preference is for the Nicky Henderson trained Russian Ruler. Henderson stated recently that he thought he would be a top drawer novice hurdler last season but he didn’t come to himself and was a tad disappointing. His breathing has been done and is expected to be amongst the front rank of the Henderson platoon of novices this season. The only winner in the contest is Chris Gordon’s I’ld Like To Know but he has to shoulder a 6lb penalty here. Dan Skelton’s Heezer Geezer ran well at Aintree last month on his hurdling debut and is another to consider but it’s Russian Ruler and the local team of Henderson and De Boinville for me.

 

RUSSIAN RULER 2 points win @ 11/4 bet365

 

Newbury 1.55

A small but select field of five assemble for the grade 2 Berkshire Novice Chase. A warm favourite here is the Paul Nicholls trained Stage Star who impressed when winning on his chase debut over course and distance 24 days ago. That was his second start at the Berkshire track having won the prestigious Tolworth Hurdle last season over hurdles. He looked good last time and will be hard to beat if in the same form. His biggest danger may well be Nigel Twiston-Davies’s Carlisle scorer Beauport. He was all out to win the Colin Parker Memorial Chase that Sunday from a strong field and will not go down without a fight although the 5lb penalty he occurred for that win weighs heavily against him here. Camprond is actually the highest rated of the quintet on hurdles ratings but came down at the first on his chasing debut last week and has to prove his jumping here. Sebastopol and Wonderwall make up the field but may find this too hot. Paul Nicholls remains in top form and can take this with his six year old novice who could be quite good under Harry Cobden.

 

STAGE STAR 3 points win @ 4/5 William Hill

 

Newbury 2.30

An intriguing six runner 2m 4F class 2 handicap chase is up next where a case can be feasibly made for each of the runners. Beakstown hasn’t won as often as his ability suggests but this looks a good opportunity for the Dan Skelton trained nine year old. A well backed winner at Ayr in the spring he ran well on his re-appearance in the Old Roan Chase at Aintree when beaten just over three lengths by Riders Onthe Storm. The second and third that day were subsequent big race winners Hitman and Ga Law giving the form plenty of substance. A run of that nature should see him go very close today under the trainers brother Harry. Heather Main saddles Numitor but he has an absence to overcome and runs off of his highest ever handicap mark. The trip maybe on the short side nowadays for the Henderson runner Caribean Boy whilst top weight Paint The Dream ran as well as could be expected when fourth to Bravemansgame at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall Chase. He may be the biggest threat to my pick Beakstown.

 

BEAKSTOWN 1 point win @ 3/1 BetVictor

 

Newbury 3.05

Six have declared for this year’s renewal of the Long Distance Hurdle run over three miles. Many a good horse has won this contest including the likes of Baracouda (twice), Big Bucks (four times), Inglis Drever (three) and in more recent years Paisley Park three years ago. He’s back again but is rising eleven years of age now and we may have seen the best of him although he does have claims. Proschema impressed when winning well at Wetherby in the West Yorkshire Hurdle last month by ten lengths from the re-opposing Thomas Darby. He has obvious claims although doesn’t want any rain as he is clearly better on good ground. Thomas Darby is 6lb better off for that beating and did win this last year so must have some sort of chance here as well. The best in at the weights today is Nicky Henderson’s Champ who although also rising eleven has a very good record fresh with form figures of 1211121 when racing after a 100 days or more absence. 4th in last season’s Stayers Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival he’s partnered by his usual partner in Jonjo O’Neill Junior and can give Henderson another winner at his local track.

 

CHAMP 1 point win @ 9/4 William Hill

 

Newbury 3.40

Despite a fair sized field of fourteen this three mile class 2 handicap hurdle doesn’t have that much depth to it. The front pair in the market today raced against each other last time at Cheltenham two weeks ago when the well backed Padleyourowncanoe fell four from home forcing Shearer to unseat. It was too far out to say who was going best and both have claims again today. Paul Nicholl’s Shearer was chasing a hat trick following a brace of three mile novice hurdle victories and can go well although has to carry the steadier of twelve stone as the second youngest horse in the field. Harry Skelton’s Padleyourowncanoe is very well treated on his back form and is the one I prefer today. Best outsider may turn out to be Emma Lavelle’s Flemcara who was runner up last year and can race off of 5lb lower handicap mark. A few of these have been chasing recently with the likes of Press Your Luck, Fidux and Pileon easy to overlook. Paul Nicholls saddles a brace in Time To Tinker and Barbados Bucks with preference for the latter although I’m a bit miffed that stable number one Harry Cobden appears to have chosen the former. The King’s Steal A March has also to be respected for Nicky Henderson racing here following a layoff of 174 days.

A tight contest with preference for the Skelton’s Padleyourowncanoe.

 

PADLEYOUROWNCANOE 2 points win @ 4/1 William Hill

 

[kensland]

Double.

1.45. Donc. Topofthecotswold     9/4.      unpl

1.55. Newb. Beauport        3/1      Nr 

singles & double. 

Good luck all.

 

 

I

Edited November 25, 2022 by kensland