Newbury - Saturday 30th November

 The big day is here in Berkshire. The Coral Gold Cup awaits but the supporting card is good so I'll provide a run down of the days action. 

12:07, Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Walkadina 10/3
Rula Bula 12/1 (each-way 3 places)

This is one of the better renewals of the Mares' Novices Hurdle that opens this card. Listentoyourheart deserves to be favourite on hurdles form after an easy win at the track last time out. She carries a 3 pound penalty for that however. She's won both her hurdle races very easily although she strikes me as one for longer trips in time, especially how she shaped in bumpers and this is a strong race. So she may be worth taking on at 6/4. Jubilee Aplha finished in front of Listentoyourheart in an Aintree bumper at the National meeting but hasn't been seen since. She's clearly very highly thought of but she hasn't run since and this is a hard race to make her hurdle debut in. Sanrisk comes over the Irish Sea and must be respected but she carries a 5 pound penalty for winning a below-par renewal of a Grade 3 hurdle at Down Royal last time so this will require a big effort. I was very taken with Walkadina's performance at Uttoxeter on hurdles debut. She powered away from her rivals (decent form) up the straight to win by a widening 13 lengths. She was very well punted in 2 bumpers last season and looked like winning both before not seeing her races out. She definitely saw her race out last time and she has the addition of a tongue tie now. 2 miles round here should be perfect for her and she has loads of room to improve. At the prices, I think Rula Bula is worth an each-way punt for the Jonjo O'Neil team. She ran a cracker to finish 2nd in the Listed Mares' bumper at Sandown last season and that form ties her in closely with several of today's opponents. She couldn't have won any easier on hurdles debut over 4 furlongs further last time and looks a fair bit of value here. 

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12:40, Coral Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase

Highstakesplayer 6/1 (each-way, 3 places)

A typically competitive affair for this handicap chase. Genois must be respected given connections and the colours he will be running in here but he was put up 7 pounds for winning a 4 runner race last time out and the suspicion is that he was the only one ready that day. This is tougher and he's been well found in the market. Demnat is another who has been supported. He bolted up on debut last season after a ling break before losing his way. We expect, given the stable form, that he will be geared up for his return today but you'll have to take 4/1 about a horse who is coming into this race off the back of 3 poor runs on the bounce. Twinjets was given a real form boost when Masaccio ran so well at this course yesterday and is respected most of those fighting it out for favouritism. He's 10 pounds above his highest winning mark now after being put up another 2 for that run and will need a big career best to come out on top here. I've come down on the side of the Tom Lacey trained Highstakesplayer. He is 6 pounds above his highest winning mark but finished 2nd to Chianti Classico in the Sodexo Gold Cup last time off a pound lower mark to show he is more than capable still. This will be much easier than the task he faced at Ascot and bar pulling up at this course last season heavy ground he hasn't put a hoof wrong in a very long time with 4 wins from his last 6 races. He looks to be improving all the time and is the choice in a very open race. 

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13:15, Coral 'We're Here For It' Novices' Hurdle

The New Lion 8/13

I won't spend much time on this race as I am a big fan of The New Lion for the Skelton team. I thought he looked line one right out of the top drawer at Chepstow and if he improves again he could go right to the top. Califet En Vol and Frensh Navy must both be respected as they have started their hurdling career in good nick but I'm hoping The New Lion is as good as I think. 

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13:54, Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Handicap Hurdle

Issam 6/1 (each-way 4 places)
Lac De Constance 11/1

This is very open. Nicky Henderson is well represented and fields the likely favourite in the shape of Impose Toi. His handicap form last year is the best in this field but this is his first run in 322 days and he was held in 3rd off this mark on his last run so perhaps we can look elsewhere for value. Inthewaterside is a lovely individual but every inch a chaser and will be embarking on that career after this race so may not be fully tuned up, the other Nicholls runner Ivaldi has a similar profiles. Anyharminasking is in good form and should run another good race after finishing 2nd in this race last year off a pound higher mark but he hasn't won since 2022 and is looks in the grip of the handicapper. Spring Note could go well having defeated Brentford Hope at this course last year and Guard The Moon arrives in cracking form too. But I really liked the way Issam shaped in the Welsh Champion Hurdle last month over an inadequate 2 miles. He needed that run and was ridden accordingly. He's back up to his ideal trip now and soft ground is what he wants. He's only 4 pounds higher than when defeating Resplendent Grey over this trip last season. He also came on for last year's debut to win second time up. He's the main play here for a stable going better now. I'll also be having a little bet on Lac De Constance. He looked a world beater 2 years ago before losing his way over fences. He's been lightly raced over the past year but ran well to be 3rd in a big field at Haydock last year over this sort of trip. He's 3 pounds lower now and fell on his seasonal debut last month when holding every chance at the last hurdle. He could be primed now for a big run. 

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14:25, Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle

Queen's Gamble 9/2
Jeriko Du Reponet 5/1 (saver)

Of course Jeriko Du Reponet is well handicapped. That's not in doubt. He has bundles of class but after a no show in the Supreme and a horrible display on chasing debut at Sandown, he's not really one to be trusted and the prices show that. Aston Martini, Ooh Betty and Najavo Indy both have good chances lower down the handicap but are stepping into fiercer waters now and may find this too competitive. Salver is a very likeable horse and will surely be stepping back into graded waters at some point this season but it will take a mighty performance for a 4 year old to defy 12 stone and so I'm ruling in favour of Queen's Gamble. I'm sure Harry Derham will have his star mare ready for this and after being unable to compete in any of the spring festivals she arrives here off a mark of 130. That looks readily exploitable for a mare who has shown so much promise but for one reason or another hasn't been able to really show it. I expect her to win off higher marks than this down the line. I may well have a saver on Jeriko just in case. 

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15:00, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Kandoo Kid 16/1 (each-way 4 places) - Ante post
Henry's Friend 16/1 (each-way 4 places) - Ante post

Remastered 33/1 (each-way 4 places)

I won't spend too much time on this as most of it can be found in the piece I wrote last week. I still stick to my guns here with Kandoo Kid and Henry's Friend and hopefully they can both run well. But I'm going to add in a little bet on old friend Remastered who has returned to form this season and is still well handicapped on his best form. This is the weakest renewal he has run in.

Newbury - Friday 29th November 2024

 It's the opening day of Newbury's Coral Gold Cup meeting and it is a typical top class card. There are plenty of bubbles waiting to be burst here and I can't wait to see who comes out of this with their reputations enhanced. The jumps season is really starting to catch fire now and it only gets hotter from here. I've decided to focus on 3 races: the 12:45, the 13:55 and the 14:30. 

12:45
Coral Racing Club Novices' Handicap Chase

Personal Ambition 8/1 (each-way 3 places)
Myretown 10/1 (each-way 3 places)

9 of the last 11 winners of this handicap have been rated at least 130. There are only 3 here today with rating above that: Kalif Du Berlais (135), Brookie (131) and Personal Ambition (131). Kalif Du Berlais is currently the odds-on favourite with most bookies and it's easy to see why. He oozed class when sluicing up on debut at Kempton in January before following up in the Adonos at the same track in a race where the form is working out well. He was a bit over faced when 3rd in the Grade 1 at Aintree but has looked every inch a chaser and it's telling that Paul Nicholls is going chasing so early. He did however, come to grief on chasing debut at Carlisle last month and it is most likely that he'll find more improvement when he steps up in trip further down the line. This is a tougher race than Carlisle so the value is to look elsewhere, especially with there being each-way places down to 3rd. Brookie heads the weights but will find this more challenging than the 4 runner affair he won at Sandown earlier this month off a pound lower mark. It's worth noting that the odds-on favourite that day was Jeriko Du Reponet and we all saw what happened there. Brookie's only run at Newbury resulted in a 79 length hammering when sent off 11/4 for a handicap hurdle last November. Asta La Pasta stepped up on his seasonal debut to win a 3 runner affair at Carlisle over half a mile further than this. I expect Dan Skelton will find out more about where to go with his horse after the race. Idy Wood must be respected after a professional performance at Kempton last month although he's 6 pounds higher in a much tougher race. Tapley is very likeable and will be worth taking note of how he gets on but connections could hardly have found a tougher race in which to make his chase debut in. Tedley continues in good form but is now racing over a shorter trip and it was a bit disappointing he couldn't bring the hattrick up in a 4 runner race at Wincanton last time. Classic Anthem is likeable and was an expensive purchase from the pointing field. He has every chance of reversing form with Brookie from Sandown but no horse has ever won this race with such a low rating and will probably find more winnable races later in the season. Moulins Clermont looks to have it all to do after such a long absence. If Myretown were to win this for the in form Lucina Russell stable then he would also become the lowest rated winner of this race. That won't sum up his chances though. He is every inch a chaser and cost £135,000 after a win on his sole point run in April 2022. He has been lightly raced over hurdles but impressed when hacking up at Kelso on his last start. That was 264 days ago however, he has been entered up and pulled out all over the place over the last few weeks suggesting that the horse is raring to go but conditions just haven't been in his favour. With the recent weather turning conditions to the easy side of good at the Berkshire track is looks as though he will finally get the chance to strut his stuff. A mark of 123 should be dismissed at some point in his career. The one I like most is Personal Ambition for Ben Pauling. He has a lovely attitude this horse and races here off a mark of 131, which should be exploitable. He defeated Jinko Blue on debut (now rated 140) before finding Sandown's heavy winter ground too much on his second start. He hasn't done much wrong since then as he shrugged off a penalty to slam a decent field in a novice hurdle at Doncaster in January before outbattling Jango Baie (now rated 139) in a grade 2 at Kelso. He was pitched into a grade 1 at Aintree after that but can be forgiven the poor show on his last run of the season. He bounced back to run a mighty race on chase debut at Uttoxeter 28 days ago and was just outsprinted by the classy Lookaway who since ran a cracker in the grade 2 Arkle Trial at Cheltenham. He's now had 2 runs over fences after being 3rd in a point to point at the start of his career and with that recent run under his belt I expect him to go very close. 

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13:55
Coral Johh Francome Novices' Chase

The Jukebox Man 11/4

This race rarely disappoints and looks a real cracker this year as well. Absolute titans of the game has walked away from Berkshire with this prize in the bag including 3 subsequent Gold Cup winners: Denman (2006), Bobs Worth (2011) and Coneygree (2014). There's also Ryanair Chase winner Dynaste (2012), RSA and Long Walk Hurdle winner Champ (2019) and dual King George hero Clan Des Obeaux (2016). What a roll of honour. I'm not sure if there is a future superstar in the field but it definitely looks a belter on paper. Boombawn has been a credit to connections but will find this almost impossible giving 5 pounds away to the whole field, the rest all have decent chances. Masaccio will find this tougher than the handicap he won at the course earlier in the month but is going the right way and clearly likes the track. Bugsy Seagull wouldn't be without a chance of turning round form with Carlisle vanquisher Johnnywho as this is slightly shorter and on softer ground but Jonjo O'Neill's gelding did look to have more in him. Johnnywho was a real pro in that race and looks sure to continue improving but he has a fully fledged grade 1 winner in Captain Teague to overcome, who slammed him in the Challow last December. The Captain is going to improve bundles for chasing and will win many races but this is his chase debut along with The Jukebox Man after the Exeter race turned into a walkover. He must be respected. As for The Jukebox Man, was there a more traumatic last 100 yards at the Cheltenham Festival than the Albert Bartlett for the Ben Pauling stable? This point winner did nothing but keep improving throughout last season and undoubtedly brings the best form into the race with that run in the Albert Bartlett. Yes this is shorter but he's got real scope and the trainer has been ever so bullish about his chances over the past few weeks. He reportedly put in a great piece of work earlier in the week and at the prices he is play.

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14:30
Coral 'Daily Rewards Shaker' Handicap Chase

Scarface 8/1
Sir Psycho 8/1

The first thing that stands out at me in this race is how most of the field are racing on high handicap marks for them: Heltenham 142 (6 pounds above highest winning mark), Sir Psycho 138 (11 pounds above), Golden Son 136 (1 pound above), Galop De Chasse 133 (10 pounds above), Saint Segal 131 (3 pounds above), Scarface 130 (2 pounds above), Lord Baddesley 127 (3 pounds above). Editeur Du Gite races of 150 which is 9 pounds below the mark he defied at Kempton on Boxing Day but hasn't done anything since and Le Patron races off 146 on handicap debut (poor on last 2 runs and in need of a revival). Only La Domaniale is running off a mark lower than what they have won off but the reason for that is due to struggling very badly since last victorious in May 2023. So this begs the question to answer of who in this field is the most ready to strike. Well, Heltenham has a fantastic record at Newbury but his 3 wins here have all come in the month of March and did only scramble home from Sir Psycho off a 6 pound lower mark on the latest occasion. Golden Son is only 1 pound above his highest winning mark but inconsistency might as well be his middle name and he was pulled up at this meeting last year which tempers enthusiasm. Sant Segal is well handicapped when we consider that he was set to win off a 5 pound higher mark at Ascot a year ago but since then has really struggled and his temperament has come into question. You'd like to have seen more in his last 2 runs. Galop De Chasse could still be up to winning off this mark given he won a very strong race on his sole course visit in November of last year but he's been readily found in the market and doesn't make much appeal at the prices. So that leaves us with Scarface and Sir Psycho. Scarface represents the red hot Joe Tizzard stable and is only 2 pounds above the mark off which he won Sussex Champion Chase at Plumpton in the spring. That was over this trip but his 2 runs so far this season have been over 2 miles and he's been finding it tough. It took him a couple of runs to get his act together last season but once he did, he never looked back. From January his form read: 1st, 2nd, 1st, 1st, 3rd. That 3rd was off a 4 pound higher mark in a grade 2 at Cheltenham. He finished just behind Hang In There who is now rated 159. If he has come on for those 2 earlier runs then he should be going close. I'll also be keeping Sir Psycho on side for Harry Derham, who has spoken about how he has targeted this race for the 8 year old. He's 11 pounds above his highest winning mark but was rated 9 pounds higher over hurdles at one point and is now 2 pounds better off with Heltenham who defeated him by a neck at the course in March over a similar trip. He hacked up on seasonal debut in a hot race at Ascot last year and this looks the time to catch him. 

Lingfield & Taunton - Thursday 28th November 2024

 The weather gods have hopefully relented and after a few miserable days we should have a fairly clean run through to the weekend now which will be music to the ears of Newbury's clerk of the course. Lingfield Park however, will most definitely be a sodden place tomorrow when it hosts a decent National Hunt meeting. Most known as an all-weather track these days, the racecourse was opened in 1890 by the future King Edward VII who gave his permission for the Prince of Wales' feathers to be incorporated into the logo which we still see today. I should think it unlikely that there will be another royal visit any time soon but they will be missing out as Lingfield's jumps track offers a real test of stamina and strength with it's uphill climb down the backstraight and long winding finish. I really am a fan of National Hunt racing in this pleasant part of Surrey and it is a shame that it will no longer host the Winter Million with that affair be moved to Windsor from next year. 

Lingfield
13:45, Download The At The Races App Handicap Chase

Airtothethrone 15/2 (each-way 3 places)

Fear ye not. I won't bore you with the ins and outs of how I've decided Tim Vaughan's 8 year old is worth a punt as that can be found on yesterday's piece covering the 14:00 at Hereford in which Airtothethrone was declared a non-runner earlier on today. I suspect he was pulled out due to the ground with Hereford not receiving the apocalyptic deluge that had been expected overnight. He comes here instead and will encounter the much easier surface that connections are seemingly looking for. 

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Taunton
14:35, Trucksmith Dropside Handicap Hurdle

Vivid Pink 6/1 (each-way 5 places)

This is a thoroughly competitive handicap for the grade and it's been plonked in the middle of Taunton's mid-week card. The ground conditions are expected to be far better than at Lingfield with the current description reading: good-soft, good in places. Prairie Diamond will be favourite to complete a quickfire double after success at Wincanton 6 days ago. There must be some caution as that wasn't readily expected (sent off 17/2 in a weak race) and the runner-up (reopposing Sassified) has been mightily disappointing so far this year. My main worry is how he did most of the work in that race from the front and with free running speedball Zhang Fei in here under 7 pound claimer Fern O'Brien there could be a bit of a fight for the lead. That could spell trouble for those on the front end and set this up for something off the pace. Step forth Vivid Pink. This 5 year old mare is still a maiden after 8 races however, her most recent outing at Huntingdon was very pleasing as she finished second having failed to concede a whopping 20 pounds to the winner (a Jersey St Leger winner no less). That was her first run at the trip and it was most encouraging despite the handicapper leaving her mark untouched on 93. She is usually ridden from off the pace to make late headway so with a potential fast pace to aim at on a slightly more demanding course here, she could go close. Her last run in maiden hurdle company was back in May when she finished second to a Dan Skelton runner who has won since and is now rated 117. The Alan King stable continues in good nick, Tom Cannon again takes the ride (against plenty of less experienced jockeys in the race) and I'm sure they'll be thinking that if their mare can bring her A-game that she'll run a very good race. She's the play in the each-way market with a few bookies offering 5 places. 

Hereford & Market Rasen - Wednesday 27th November 2024

 Would you believe it, there's rain forecast overnight. After one of the driest starts to November in recent years, the sky now seems to have decided to make up for lost time. Storm Bert battered the country and left many communities in turmoil but not so Newcastle it seems, with the clerk of the course today announcing that he intends to keep watering in the build up to Saturday's big meeting. Scarcely believable. Hereford on the other hand, where the current official going is good to soft, have called a precautionary inspection for tomorrow morning with up to 15mm of rain due in the early hours. Market Rasen do not have that worry but with the state of their turf already soft, it makes betting the night before on these fixtures a little tricky. Murky waters ahead, both literally and metaphorically but perhaps there's value to be found still. 

Hereford
14:00, Alpha Aggregates Handicap Chase

Airtothethrone 14/1 (each-way 4 places)

This is a 3 mile, 1 furlong handicap chase that may well depend on exactly how much the ground deteriorates between now and flag fall. Rightly so, the eye is drawn to the Ben Pauling trained Harry's Hope who will be seeking the 4 timer. The 6 year old mare is clearly thriving although it's worth noting that her 3 victories last month came on official ground descriptions of: good (good-firm in places), good (good-firm in places), and good-soft (good in places). Regardless of how much rain Hereford get, it's likely this will be the softer than those. She now also finds herself a whopping 20 pounds higher in the handicap than when starting her hat-trick. Ultra Beat and Faded Fantasy have similar profiles with this being the second chase run for both of them. They also ran similar races on their recent chase debuts, running on well when the game was up to grab second. Ultra Beat was struggling from a long way out on very bad ground and the suspicion is he merely ran past very tired horses (he nabbed a 50/1, 10 year old for second who's form going into that race was pulled up, 8th, fell, last, pulled up). I'm not that surprised the handicapper left him untouched. All those at the front end of the market have enough questions to answer so it may be worth chancing Airtothethrone at 14/1 for an each-way play. Unlike many of these, he has plenty of chasing experience but is still only 8. He arrives here just 2 pounds above his highest winning mark. It's worth bearing in mind that this time last year he looked set to win at Lingfield off a 2 pound higher mark before coming to grief at the 3rd last. He was given a break after that, and wind surgery. He ran OK in his next 2 starts afterwards before bouncing back to form at Taunton in April. He was beaten half a length that day by Jesse Lightfoot who has won again since and was last seen finishing 3rd at Cheltenham's Open Meeting. The 3rd in that race has also won since and is now rated 115. Airtothethrone races here off 104. He ran a pleasing race on seasonal debut at Chepstow last month (tired late on, looking in need of the run) and connections have perhaps been waiting for slightly easier ground since. Tim Vaughan's string is also in better form now with 2 of his last 5 runners winning and another coming second (beaten a neck). Alan Johns is back in the saddle today and hopefully all is set for a good run. 

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Market Rasen
14:25, Pertempts Network Bud Booth Mares' Chase

Marsh Wren 7/2 

What a cracking little race this is for a Wednesday afternoon. This Listed Chase was won last year by Galia Des Lixeaux who goes in the Coral Gold Cup on Saturday (not without a chance) and is packed with quality mares again this year. We have a Cheltenham Festival winner (Sine Nomine), a Grade 1 winner (Apple Away), an Irish Listed Race winner (Marsh Wren) and a previous winner of this race (Fantastic Lady). At the weights any one of 3 could go off favourite although at the moment it looks as though the market is siding with Apple Away. Fantastic Lady is rated the highest in the field (149) but must give weight away all round: 2 pounds to Apple Away (141), 4 pounds to Marsh Wren (145) and 6 pounds to La Renommee (142), Sacre Coeur (132) and Sine Nomine (133). It should be a good race. It's worth noting that when Fantastic Lady won this race in 2022 she was rated 137 and herself in receipt of 4 pounds from the runner up Zambella (140). She faces 3 opponents today with higher official marks than Zambella and she has to concede weight to all of them. She did win the Oaksey Chase at Sandown well to drag her rating up 7 pounds from 142 but that was quite unexpected and the big hitters didn't fire in that race; the Henderson stable is still not quite firing on all cylinders at the moment either. Apple Away herself has a bit to do on these terms and hasn't quite gone on over fences so at the prices I'd rather take a chance on Stuart Edmunds' Marsh Wren. The stable has had 3 winners and 3 seconds from 18 runners in November and Marsh Wren's record when fresh reads: 1st, 6th, 1st, 1st, 1st. This is a decent race with good prize money so I'm sure she'll bit fit enough and with regular jockey Ciaran Gething's unavailable, the jockey booking of Sean Bowen is a real confidence booster. Her run in the Mares Chase at Cheltenham was outstanding (got within 6 lengths of Grade 1 winner Dinoblue) and I hope she can kick on this season. 

Southwell & Sedgefield - Tuesday 26th November 2024

I think it is fair to say that there is pretty moderate grade racing taking place this Tuesday in England with Southwell and Sedgfield the battlegrounds on a dank autumnal afternoon. Southwell is probably just about better known as an all-weather track these days but Sedgefield is jumps and jumps only. It may play host to mostly low level affairs however, the course is a true stalwart of the game. Horses have battled it out against each other in this sleepy little corner of County Durham since 1732, nearly 300 years ago. Pre 1994, the run from the last fence to the finish line was an stamina sapping 525 yards (longer than Aintree's National Course) due to the positioning of the water fence. Those days may be behind us now although subsequent King George and American Grand National hero Hewick stormed to victory in the 2021 running of the Durham National which I'm sure will be used to promote the track for the years to come. Anyway, enough eulogising and let's knuckle down to to business. 

Sedgefield

13:25, Download The New Vickers.Bet iOS App Handicap Hurdle

Bathgate 4/1 (each-way 4 places)

This Class 5 event probably wouldn't jump out at you on first look through the card but on closer inspection it's a wide open affair and any one of about 4 of the 13 runners could be sent off favourite. There are not many 1's to be found in the recent form lines so eyes are drawn immediately to last time out winner National Question. He's up 5 pounds for winning another Class 5 at Hexham 18 days ago however, that was by a neck from a 76 rated, 32 raced maiden. The 3rd and 4th from that race have also yet to taste victory. The suspicion is that it was a much more moderate race than he finds himself in today. Trafalgar Square must come into consideration too as a lightly raced 4 year old on his first foray into handicaps although I'm a slightly keener on the chances of the 9 raced maiden Bathgate. Philip Kirby's 4 year old finds himself 8 pounds lower than when starting out in handicaps in the summer however, his last 3 runs have offered plenty of optimism. He was 5th at Kelso in October over 2 miles 5 furlongs, but he cruised into the home straight looking the winner before tiring badly over the final 2 flights. It's worth noting that the winner that day (Double Powerful) has won 3 times since, including at Cheltenham off a mark of 114. In fact, even the runner up (Starlyte) has won both his subsequent races off marks of 93 and 100. I think it's fair to say that race was a severely more competitive than this. Bathgate followed that up by going down narrowly at Ayr when dropped 2 furlongs in trip, again traveling best. He ran a similar sort of race when 4th over the same course and distance 13 days ago (sent off the 9/4 favourite). Hopes are now pinned on a further drop in trip to the bare minimum 2 miles. Joe Williamson rides again (as usual) and his last 3 rides for the stable have yielded results of 3rd, 2nd, 1st. He should be going very close and will hopefully shed his maiden tag here. 

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Southwell

13:40, Watch Unbridled On attheraces.com Novices' Handicap Hurdle

The Blueberry One 9/2

Solar System 6/4 (saver)

I may be mad as a Blueberry but Harry Derham's thrice raced 5 year old makes some appeal on his first run in handicap company. I saw him at Newbury in February when he finished a fair 6th of 13 in a Novice Hurdle over 2 miles on heavy ground. The winner that day (Making Headway) went on to finish 4th in the Imperial Cup off a mark of 129, this will be a whole lot easier. In fact, The Blueberry One had Hasthing 4 lengths in behind him that day who has since been sent off 3/1 fav for a big handicap hurdle at Sandown and was most recently 5th off a mark of 119 in a Novice Chase at Chepstow. The Blueberry One didn't pull up any trees when 7th on his 3rd and final run last season but now finds himself off a very lenient mark of 101 and up 4 furlongs in trip for handicap debut. His trainer knows the time of day and could hardly have found a much easier race for his runner to start off his handicap career. Solar System is the obvious favourite and most likely winner of the race having escaped a penalty for his win 6 days ago and looks the play to cover the stake money. 

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Southwell

15:10, Sky Sports Racing Virgin 535 Novices' Limited Handicap Hurdle

Illucidate 12/1 (each-way 4 places)

I'm plumping for one at a double-digit price in here for the 3rd selection of the day and hope to take advantage of the 4 places being offered by most bookmakers. Illucidate is one of the lighter raced runners in the race, this being just his 5th run over hurdles and he arrives off a break of 203 days. He's a strong traveller who has struggled to finish off his races. However, he was dropped 2 pounds for his 4th placed finish at Southwell last time out. Again he travelled well before coming under pressure between the last 2 flights but he was very badly hampered by a faller at the last when looking likely to battle it out with the re-opposing Northern Rose for 3rd place (with whom he is now 6 pounds better off with). The Nicky Henderson trained Therapist was the winner that day and she is now rated 105. Jumping Jupiter was runner up in that race and has won since; he's now rated 104. Top weight here is off 94. This looks a much easier race to start his season off in and Amy Murphy's stable has been in fair form on the flat for the past 2 weeks. He has yet to win and must give plenty of weight away to the likely favourite but at the prices he looks the value play in the race. 

Ante-Post, Coral Gold Cup (30/11/2024)

Newbury, Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase (30/11/2024)

Kandoo Kid 16/1 with Bet365 (each-way 4 places)
Henry's Friend 16/1 generally (each-way 4 places)

After another great weekend of National Hunt racing I have decided to look ahead to what lies in store at Newbury next week. There are still 31 entries for the big Berkshire race however, with Bravemansgame, Royal Pagaille, Grey Dawning and Chianto Classico all expected to depart we are likely to have Nassalam as top weight. Gary Moore's mudlark is officially rated 156, a far cry from the mark of 169 Ahoy Senor tried to defy 12 months ago let alone the 174 that Denman so memorably shrugged off to victory in 2009. In fact, if Nassalam does run it will be the lowest rated top-weight since Cornish Rebel was pulled up in the 2006 running off a mark of 153. Regardless, the weights are expected to rise significantly. Colonel Harry and Senior Chief have been well found in the market but both have enough questions to answer over trip and ground. In search of value at this stage I've stumbled upon Kandoo Kid and Henry's Friend who can both be backed at 16/1. Kandoo Kid's course form reads 2nd, 1st, 2nd and comes into this off the back of a career best when 3rd in the Topham at Aintree. He's been kept fresh for this since and the Nicholls stable is in much better form than when his string was somewhat struggling in October. Everything about his career so far has suggested that a step up to this sort of trip would bring about improvement and he quite clearly goes well at the course. A mark of 145 is fair enough bearing in mind he chased home Djelo over a trip way too short at Ascot last season and that horse went very close to winning the Haldon Gold Cup off a mark of 147 earlier this month. It's expected that this will be Nicholls' only runner in the race and Cobden's ride so it might be wise to take the 16/1 now. My other selection is Harry's Friend for the Ben Pauling yard who can definitely ready one for the big occasion. I was at Newbury to see his prep run over hurdles and was immediately quite disappointed as he finished a well beaten last of 4 runners. His trainer however, has since stated that he was pleased with the prep and that it achieved what was intended. I now also remember how badly Henry's Friend needed his first run last season. He finished 5th of 9 in a handicap at Doncaster but came on enough for that outing to win next time out at this meeting last year. He has showed steely resilience and stamina in his races to date and I can see why they ran him in the National Hunt Chase at the Festival although that was one race too many for this 7 year old at that stage of his career, I think a line can be put through that. This will only be his 6th run over fences and I feel there is surely more to come from him and his mark of 139 looks readily exploitable. Ben Pauling has been outspoken about how highly he rates his chances and it could be that he's a springer in the market come the day. 

Kempton Park - Monday 25th November 2025

Kempton Park hosts some of the hottest racing you could hope to see on a windy Monday afternoon in the deepest depths of November. Of course, the field sizes do not inspire much confidence but that has always been the way at the course this time of year. I've focused in on 2 races in particular. The 13:00 and the 15:10. 

13:00, EBF Stallions 'National Hunt' Novices Hurdle

Thistle Be The One 4/1 (each-way 3 places)

I started with the likely favourite, Miami Magic here who is currently around the 7/4 mark. This 5 year old didn't achieve a lot before racing under rules but has since finished 2nd in a fair Aintree bumper but stepped up again to hack up in a Maiden Hurdle at Fakenham 26 days ago. He skipped round there (good ground) in the style of a speedy horse. Now the form of that race has taken some knocks and it was only a 5 runner affair. It's worth bearing in mind that he's now going right handed and encountering the softest ground yet after the battering the nation has taken from Storm Bert. He's got to give a 6 pound penalty away here so I'd rather look elsewhere. Groovy Blue was very game in a Fontwell bumper but again, that form looks quite poor and he strikes me as a longer term prospect. Marengo Bay is the unknown quantity in the field but the Henderson stable hasn't exactly been demolishing all before them and this is a hard race to make your debut in. Thistle Be The One caused a surprise when defying an SP of 40/1 to win a bumper at this course in February. The runner up has yet to be seen however the 3rd placed horse that day has since had finishing positions of 1st, 2nd, 1st from 3 runs since. He ran a cracker from the front again at Ayr in April when only being denied on the line by one of Gordon Elliott's. He still had runners from Willie Mullins, Nicky Henderson, Paul Nicholls and Dan Skelton in behind. He's got a lovely attitude and will handle these conditions. The stable is going well and although we have to take his hurdling on trust, at the prices he looks the play especially in the each-way market. 

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15:10, racingtv.com Handicap Chase

Es Perfecto 10/3

I'm a big fan of Bourbali and backed him when he won here last month. However, he is up 4 pounds and 2 furlongs in trip. The Edgar Wallace is a horse who likes to go from the front so could take on Bourbali for the lead and set this up for something off the pace. That brings in Es Perfecto. Alan King's horses have been going along at a fair pace for November and it must sting not to have got a chase win into the lightly raced 9 year old yet. That could change here though as Es Perfecto now finds himself 3 pounds lower than when 2nd to Ginny's Destiny at Cheltenham on last season's debut. He's also 2 pounds lower than when 3rd over this course and distance on Boxing Day last December. He finished behind Blow Your Wad and Outlaw Peter that day and they are now officially rated 145 and 144 respectively. He also had Kotmask in behind him that day (now rated 130). Es Perfecto races here off a mark of 121. He looks the best handicapped horse in the race and if he's fully tuned up he should be going close. 

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Both of the day's selections will be ridden by Gavin Sheehan so here's hoping the 2023 Coral Gold Cup winning jockey can start his week off with a double. 

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