Racing chat - Saturday 2nd December 2023.

[White Feather]

Won't be able to get a bet for this Saturday, as on a week's holiday to the Canary Islands.

Stolen Silver in 2.50 Newbury at 18/1 (William Hill)

Empire Steel in 3.05 Newcastle at 10/1 (PP)

2 x singles

Each way double

[The Brigadier]

Newbury 1.40

Eleven have declared for this 2M 4 1/2F class 2 handicap hurdle which has a very open look about it. If there is one horse that may well be ahead of his handicap mark then it surely is the Nicky Henderson trained Jet Powered who is making his handicap debut here having impressively won a Irish point to point and a maiden hurdle at the track a year ago. He flopped when last seen as a 2/7 favourite last New Years Eve but a mark of 131 may well underestimate his ability and he’s the pick for a team that is in terrific form. With Nico de Boinville up at Newcastle to ride Constitution Hill, James Bowen comes in for the ride.

 

JET POWERED 1 point win 7/2 bet365

 

Newcastle 1.55

The much awaited re-appearance of Nicky Henderson’s superstar Constitution Hill, the real poster boy of National Hunt racing. Unbeaten under rules in seven starts including six Grade ones with last season’s Champion Hurdle at Cheltenham the stand out victory. He bolted up in this last year and at very prohibitive odds should be winning with his head in his chest. Too skinny to back but a race to watch and savour.

 

Newbury 2.15

Nicky Henderson has won the Coral Bet Bundles Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (better known as the Gerry Feilden) on three of the last four years and looks to have a major chance of enhancing that record with his smart chestnut filly Under Control who’s won four of her five starts so far over hurdles including when defeating her stable mate Iberico Lord who’s already come out and won the Greatwood Handicap Hurdle this season at Sandown when last seen in April. She’s 9lb higher now but could be useful and a recent away day to the track should have put her spot on for this. Her main danger is likely to be the Harry Derham trained Brentford Hope who was so impressive at the last meeting although has been raised 11lb for that victory.

 

UNDER CONTROL 2 points win @ 11/8 William Hill

 

Newbury 2.50

An ultra competitive renewal of the 3M 2F Coral Gold Cup, better known to those of us of a certain age as the Hennessy Gold Cup. A field of twenty have declared and claims can be made for plenty. Paul Nicholls took the first major handicap of the season with Stage Star in the Paddy Power Gold Cup a fortnight ago and can take this with his similarly profiled Complete Unknown. A smart novice last season winning at Ffos Las and Kempton as well as running Gerri Colombe to 7 1/2 lengths in a grade 1 novice chase at Aintree. He’s been out already this season winning a three runner intermediate chase at Newton Abbot in October and has been laid out for this. He looks sure to run his race with luck in running and can be backed each way with additional places. Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius looks a danger although his re-appearance run at Ascot was rather disappointing.

 

COMPLETE UNKNOWN 1 point each way @ 15/2 William Hill 1/5th 123456

 

Newcastle 3.05

Eight line up (although Datsalrightgino and Bill Baxter are more likely to run at Newbury) with the conundrum that is Shiskin making a quick re-appearance after failing to start at Ascot last week. If he jumps off then surely he’ll be able to give weight to some exposed handicappers and it’s worth chancing that he consents to start with last weeks cheek pieces taken off now. Best of the rest may well be Sandy Thomson’s Empire Steel but as long as there’s no shenanigans at the start this valuable prize should be going to NIcky Henderson’s nine year old who may have too much class for his rivals.

 

SHISHKIN 1 point win @ 13/8 888sport

 

Newbury 3.25

Just seven line up for this class 2 2M handicap chase. Dan Skelton’s Real Stone blew his opposition away last time out at Haydock coming home 20 lengths to the good in a hack canter and a rise of 8lb looks lenient to me. He is actually held on his previous start by the favourite here Master Chewy but that was Real Stone’s first run of the season and if in the same form as last time should be hard to beat under Harry Skelton.

 

REAL STONE 1 point win @ 10/3 William Hill