The ITV Racing cameras focus on Newbury and Warwick on Saturday. Here are GG tipster Joe Napier’s best bets through the two cards’ live races.
1.50 Newbury – William Hill Top Price Guarantee Handicap Hurdle
This is a fittingly open for ITV’s opener on Saturday and one who could have plenty more to give reverting to hurdles is THE FOUR SIXES for Olly Murphy. He and Haiti Couleurs catch the eye returning from chasing.
The selection gets the verdict at a much more substantial price, as Haiti Couleurs uses this as a prep for the National Hunt Chase and is now 13lb higher than when he last ran over hurdles. The Four Sixes is only 2lb higher, largely as he has not kicked on over fences, but he was given a very tough task on his chasing debut off level weights with Betfair Hurdle winner Iberico Lord, then unseated when travelling well in front at Wetherby last time out off this mark.
He was progressing over hurdles for Murphy last term, and was second of 14 at Ayr to conclude last season over 2m5½f. He was galloping on fairly relentlessly when making his mistake at Wetherby last time, and so 3m here is worth a go, while we know he is likely to be ridden forwardly.
2.40 Warwick – Read Nicky Henderson’s Weekly Unibet Blog Mares’ Hurdle (Listed)
Even outsiders Royale Margaux and Sunday Soldier cannot be completely ruled out here, as the trio of protagonists here have all been well below their top level for the best part of 18 months and more. However, the most easily forgivable is GALA MARCEAU, who can give Willie Mullins a winner with his only runner on the card.
She was a two-time Grade 1 winner as a juvenile hurdler, fortunately defeating Lossiemouth at the 2023 Dublin Racing Festival, as well as comfortably winning a top level race in France that May. She was also runner-up to Lossiemouth in the Triumph Hurdle, which did make her efforts last season disappointing.
She chased Lossiemouth again at Punchestown, but was twice an odds-on turnover prior. She might have found 2m on good ground too quick and then got bogged down on heavy in a Punchestown Grade 3, and at Cheltenham. Conditions are set to be just right here though and main rivals West Balboa and You Wear It Well are in even more of a form fog right now.
3.15 Warwick – Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase
Both Fugitif and Le Milos have won big handicap chases in the past, so are dangerous entering veterans’ races, but the former carries 12st 1lb here having been out of form, while the latter would ideally want further than this. Fellow ten-year-old GRANDADS COTTAGE, on the other hand, could be better primed.
Another selection for Olly Murphy, the son of Shantou is far less exposed, running at least ten fewer times under rules than the aforementioned duo and is now on a career high mark. That was earned though, with a ten-length success at Carlisle, while his lifeless performance next time up at Market Rasen was too bad to be true.
The fact he reappears so quickly suggests all is sound and cheekpieces are reached for to regain his mojo. On his Carlisle form, there would be more winning for him in open handicaps, let alone in veterans’ races and he is worth giving a second chance to after his previous run.
3.35 Newbury – William Hill Hurdle
Unlike in previous years, this race lacks an obviously creditable novice contender which means we’re dealing with handicappers who are more exposed. As a result, this is a race there for the taking for an outsider and KING WILLIAM RUFUS could be the one for Chris Gordon.
Gordon won this two years ago with Aucunrisque, who is in the race again, but it is his eight-year-old who is more worthy of consideration. He bolted in at Ascot in December, after four successive seconds, and that form has substance beyond the runner-up disappointing since.
He carried a 7lb penalty a week later at Chepstow, but that may well have come too soon for him. With a much more reasonable amount of time in between races and 5lb claimer Charlie Maggs ensuring he carries just 10st 1lb here, he could make the frame at lengthy odds.
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