Stage Star won easily under Harry Cobden in the opener, before Nassalam finished a thirty-length winner in the novice chase…
The expensive purchase Jonbon made an impressive start to his hurdling career, whilst Not Available was an unexpected winner of the 1:50…
Fanion D’Estruval made easy work of the 2:25 handicap, before Paisley Park failed to fire once again in the Long Distance Hurdle, as Thomas Darby took the honours…
Dolphin Square won the final race just ahead of long-shot Flemcara in an exciting finish battled out gallantly by two gutsy geldings…
That was the story from the first day of racing at Newbury, and following a successful day of racing which included some impressive performances, we’ll look ahead to a second day at the racecourse, packed with plenty of quality and top-class racing.
Here we provide previews of five races from Newbury, as well as the Fighting Fifth from Newcastle, alongside our predictions, and also give a brief insight into the European hopefuls taking on the best of the Japanese in the Japan Cup that takes place on Sunday in Tokyo.
(All prices are correct at time of writing)
We begin at Newbury, in the Class 2 Handicap Chase at 1:15 where market leader Killer Clown runs for the second time following wind surgery.
After enjoying a consistent run of races last season, winning once and finishing second in a Grade 3, he failed to impress last time out at Aintree on first appearance since April but did run in a competitive field and may have come on from the run.
The mare Dame De Compagnie is another with a bit to prove as she makes her debut this season.
She enjoyed a hat-trick of wins on her three runs between December 2019 and January 2021, however she hasn’t fired at all on her three runs since.
In her four consecutive runs at Cheltenham earlier in her career she won on three occasions, winning two Class 1 races, as well as a Class 2 handicap win ahead of recent Grade 2 winner Indefatigable.
Kapcorse has scarcely run since winning this easily in 2018, but is an intriguing contender, as is course and distance winner Kalooki who makes his first appearance since March.
Kauto The King has won four of his five last races, and has 7lb claimer Harry Kimber on board.
He has looked to be a progressive type and is likely to go well here for the Colin Tizzard yard.
Irish-raider Somptueux is difficult to write off for trainer-jockey combination Henry de Bromhead and Rachael Blackmore.
Bigger priced runner Espoir De Teillee has shown good form on occasions and has finished ahead of Kalooki and Grand Sancy on a previous run.
Grand Sancy, Ofalltheginjoints and Topofthecotswolds are all runners capable of challenging for the places if at their best.
Our prediction: Kauto The King 10/1 is improving and could be the best bet here in what seems to be a very open race, whilst Espoit De Teillee 16/1 (EW) is our each-way selection as he’s already proven he can beat a couple of horses who rival him here.
In the 1:50 Class 2 Handicap Hurdle, Nicky Henderson’s lightly raced seven-year-old Lecale’s Article is an interesting prospect stepping up in class here.
He has previously won over a shorter distance at the course, before subsequently finishing in second and third respectively in Class 4 novice company.
Masters Legacy steps up in trip for the first time over 20f, but did show staying potential when finishing well at Chepstow, having been 66/1 in-running.
He wasn’t as convincing in his two runs in the spring however, following a lengthy lay-off of over a year, and may be one just to watch with interest here.
The experienced Calva D’Auge runs for Paul Nicholls as Angus Cheleda claims 5lbs aboard the six-year-old gelding.
He’s looking for a hat-trick of successive wins here, having finished his season successfully at Taunton in April before winning well on reappearance at Kempton more recently.
A course and distance winner, having tasted success at the track last December. he’ll look to repeat that feat carrying significantly more weight and against a bigger field of horses.
The ten-year-old Ch’tibello will look to defy top-weight here under Harry Skelton, and makes his first appearance since last December.
Since winning the County Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019, he is yet to win a race, but he has regularly finished in the top three against tough opposition, and this may be an opportunity to return to the winner’s enclosure back in Class 2 company.
Glory And Fortune and Fred are others stepping up in trip, whilst Earlofthecotswolds is a winner over the distance and steps back up in class.
Black Mischief won a Class 3 handicap easily at Newton Abbot in July, and is one to watch here under 3lb claimer Lorcan Murtagh.
Our prediction: The most reliable selection is Calva D’Auge 8/1, who comes into the race in good form and is helped by claimer Cheleda taking 5lbs off his 11st 11lbs weight.
Ch’tibello isn’t one to rule out on reapparance, whilst outsider Boreham Bill (EW) 10/1 (was 14/1) is our each-way selection if able to rediscover the form shown in his 66/1 shock win at Kempton in January.
A small field goes to post for the Listed Handicap at 2:25 over hurdles, with all runners coming into the race having won when last seen.
Jonjo O’Neill’s top-weight Soaring Glory is the short priced favourite.
A course and distance winner, the Fame And Glory gelding recorded an impressive win at Ascot last month.
He is the one to beat, and second favourite in the market Gowel Road will be hoping to give him a good battle on Saturday.
The Nigel Twiston-Davies representative won over an extended 2m 5f in a Class 3 race on his last outing, and will fancy his chances stepping back down in trip.
Captain Morgs also won on his last outing, but the Nicky Henderson runner has only run in a Class 1 race on one occasion in which he finished tenth at Sandown earlier this year.
However, he had been running over a further distance, and this shorter trip seemed to suit when winning at Ascot, and he may be an improving type.
Onemorefortheroad is bidding for a hat-trick of wins, and this is a distance that he has enjoyed plenty of lower class success over.
He is one to watch receiving plenty of weight from the market leaders, and is currently the outsider of the field.
Our prediction: Soaring Glory EVS is the clear favourite and likeliest winner here, however Onemorefortheroad 5/1 could have had decent each-way potential if running in a slightly bigger field.
A combination forecast with the two could be an interesting bet.
The feature race of the day is the Grade 3 Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at 3:00.
Irish-raiders Eklat De Rire and Ontheropes head the market ahead of Paul Nicholls’ Enrilo.
Eklat De Rire, for the formidable Henry De Bromhead yard, boasts impressive career statistics to date, with plenty of wins to his name.
He appeared at the Cheltenham Festival this year, unseating his rider in the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase, a race won by the spectacular Monkfish.
But he had won his three races prior to his trip to England, beating many opponents including Gordon Elliott’s Escaria Ten, and it’s difficult to look past a De Bromhead horse ridden by Rachael Blackmore.
Willie Mullins’ Ontheropes won on his first outing since last November, in a Grade A Chase over 3 miles at Limerick, beating some good opposition including Joseph O’Brien’s pair A Wave Of The Sea and Top Moon.
He finished four-lengths behind Monkfish and well ahead of the aforementioned Escaria Ten last November, but was pulled-up prior to that at Navan in the spring of 2020.
Enrilo finished first past the post in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown, but was unluckily placed third after hampering other runners.
He is without a run since April, but will be strongly fancied as the best of the British hopefuls here, reuniting with Harry Cobden.
Fiddlerontheroof impressed at Carlisle recently, but faces stiffer opposition here over a further distance, whilst Remastered was last seen finishing third over hurdles, and may struggle in this company.
The 2021 Grand National favourite Cloth Cap makes his second appearance since being pulled-up at Aintree, and following wind surgery.
He’ll look to bounce back to winning ways by regaining his crown in a race he won last year when he was extremely well handicapped, beating the ever-reliable Aye Right as well as the late, great Cheltenham Festival hero The Conditional who is sorely missed.
He carries 11st 8lbs this time out, and will face a tougher task against the Irish-raiders at a bigger price of 14/1.
Five-year-old Kitty’s Light looked to have had the beating of both Enrilo and Potterman in the aforementioned bet365 Gold Cup, and was desperately unlucky to lose out on the prize.
The Christian Williams’ trained gelding has recorded two second-placed finishes since, and certainly has each-way claims here.
Potterman is less fancied, but could go well, whilst The Hollow Ginge made more of an impression on last outing and could be returning to form.
Mullins’ Brahma Bull and gorgeous grey Annamix are both big outsiders for the yard, and neither are without claims, the latter being the more fancied with claimer Jack Foley taking 5lbs off.
33/1 shot Cloudy Glen has his first run following wind surgery for Venetia Williams’ yard.
Our prediction: Shortening favourite Eklat De Rire 7/2 could take all the beating and could provide the trainer and jockey with yet another major win in Britain.
Many would love to see Cloth Cap 14/1 back to his best, however his task does seem to be tough here.
Kitty’s Light (EW) 14/1 is certainly one for the places, whilst Annamix (EW) 25/1 is another who could be overpriced if considering his connections and his most recent second-placed finish to Galvin.
Plenty of runners in the 3:35 Handicap Chase have form lines that intertwine, which makes for a very interesting contest in the final race at Newbury.
Market leader Grey Diamond, for Sam Thomas, was perhaps expected to do better on his last run at Ascot, and could only manage fifth at Aintree in April, but he is more than capable of returning to winning ways if back to his best.
Il Ridoto failed to make an impression on his debut for the Paul Nicholls’ yard, but does have some wins to his name in France and could be one to watch with interest.
Frero Banbou finished ahead of Sully D’Oc AA, but behind Grey Diamond, on his last outing, but finished behind Sully D’Oc AA at Aintree, giving weight to the Anthony Honeyball runner.
Here, however, Sully D’Oc AA is the top-weight, and will carry 11st 12lbs as opposed to Frero Banbou’s 11st, which would appear to give the Venetia Williams’ gelding the advantage in that head-to-head.
Dan Skelton’s Eclair D’ainay is another who wasn’t impressive on his last outing, but could have needed the run in his first appearance since April.
The flamboyant Gumball was last seen finishing a mere fourth at Carlisle over fences, but prior to that he won a staying handicap on the flat at York.
If able to find his rhythm here, he is definitely one to watch for the Fergal O’Brien yard and in-form 3lb claimer Liam Harrison who has won three of his last four rides.
Rebecca Menzies’ Sao could have each-way claims at a bigger price,
Paul Nicholls’ Getaway Trump has much to prove after three runs in which he’s fallen, finished last and been pulled up.
He could make a resurgence here on his second start following wind surgery, at big odds of 25/1 for Owners Group 023.
One of the outsiders Star Max runs for the first time since having wind surgery, and makes his debut for David Pipe’s stables, having moved trainer from Joseph O’Brien.
The son of Maxios enjoyed plenty of placed finishes over in Ireland, and could be worth an each-way punt, under claimer Fergus Gillard, at 33/1.
Our prediction: In a race that is very difficult to predict, we would slightly favour Grey Diamond 9/2 ahead of the other market leaders.
However, with some bookmakers paying 5 places, there is plenty of each-way value in the market in such an open race.
Star Max (EW) 33/1, as mentioned, could be a useful addition to the Pipe yard, and could run well enough to get into the places, whilst the entertaining Gumball 10/1 is worth mentioning too.
Six runners contest the 3:15 Fighting Fifth at Newcastle, and seven-year-old mare, 2020 Champion Hurdle winner, Epatante is the favourite, hoping to return to winning ways for Nicky Henderson.
She is a classy mare, with plenty of success to her name, but has looked out of sorts on her last three runs and has a bit to prove here.
The unbeaten youngster Monmiral, for Paul Nicholls, is an extremely interesting contender, but will hope for some rainfall ahead of post time.
He will have to give weight to the mare, but is a strong and impressive-looking gelding who will be difficult to beat.
Sceau Royal has won on his last two outings, but this will be a tougher task for the nine-year-old.
Evan Williams’ Silver Streak won the Christmas Hurdle ahead of Epatante last year, but hasn’t shown the same ability since and finished second to Sceau Royal at Kempton last month.
Not So Sleepy is a lively and unpredictable runner who has been seen on the flat more recently.
It’s difficult to see him beating all of his rivals here, but he did manage a win against the highly thought of Buzz last December.
100/1 outsider Voix Du Reve looks out of his depth in this company, and the Iain Jardine runner is still looking for his first win for the yard since leaving Willie Mullins’.
Our prediction: Epatante at her best will be difficult to beat, especially receiving weight from her younger, less experienced rival.
However, it’s difficult to know if Epatante will be back to her best, and young Monmiral is a formidable opponent.
Silver Streak 9/1 may bounce back to finish in the first three, but with only six runners we wouldn’t recommend an each-way bet.
We expect the front two in the market to battle it out, and Monmiral 9/4 to be just too strong for Epatante, if the rain does come prior to race time.
At 6:40 on Sunday morning (GMT), Ballydoyle duo Broome and Japan take on a big field, including last year’s Japanese Triple Crown winner Contrail, in the Japan Cup.
The Aidan O’Brien trained pair are available at odds of 22/1 and 40/1 respectively, with Ryan Moore choosing to ride the more fancied runner, and Yutaka Take pairing up with Japan who will have to overcome a wide draw from stall eighteen.
Broome was last seen finishing second to Yibir in the Breeders’ Cup Turf, whilst stablemate Japan was back in fourth.
Prix Jean Romanet winner and Prix de l’Opera runner-up Grand Glory is due to line-up from stall six and is available at massive odds of 66/1.
The French-trainer contender is most effective over the shorter trip of 1m2f, and the extended trip of the Japan Cup isn’t guaranteed to suit.
No European contender has won the famous race since Luca Cumani trained Alkaased found glory at the hands of Frankie Dettori in the 2005 renewal.
Good luck to all.
KM
THE CONDITIONAL 