Newbury - Thursday 6th November

I will be at Newbury on Thursday for the Berkshire track's jump season opener. 

12:30, Cheltenham Festival Specials Live At BetVictor 'Chasing Excellence' Beginners' Chase

No Bet

Fergal O'Brien's Sixmilebridge will be short odds to get the job done on chasing debut considering he has just one opponent. A classy hurdler last year, the 6 year old has some pointing experience to call upon and could take high rank amongst the novice chasers this season for all he will find the ground lively enough. 

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13:05, OLBG Conditional Jockeys' Handicap Hurdle

Inside Man 5/1, 2pts win

Jane Williams' stable has had a fair Autumn and her 5 year old Inside Man arrives in better nick than some after winning at Newton Abbott 58 days ago. Top conditional Toby McCain-Mitchell takes the ride and this upwardly mobile young hurdler could well carry along his trajectory here. 

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13:40, Agetur UK 40th Anniversary In Business Maiden Hurdle

Captain Hugo 3/1, 2pts win

Olly Murphy's Willstar is very well bred and will be popular but Captain Hugo could take some beating here for an in-form yard. The 5 year old built on his debut promise to run out a ready winner at Worcester in May. The form is nothing special but he quickened clear in taking style once given the office late on and definitely shapes like one who'll improve for obstacles. 

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14:15, CSP Mares' Novices' Hurdle

Jackie Hobbs 10/3, 1.5pts win

This is a fair mare's novices' hurdle and Nicky Henderson's Khrisma could be hard to beat if re-producing her Punchestown form. She's not straight forward though and it could be that Jackie Hobbs puts her poor run at Aintree behind her on hurdling debut. Harry Derham's mare looked a very smart prospect when winning at Ascot in February. She can be forgiven the run last time out and will no doubt improve for hurdling given her stature. The stable knows how to ready one. 

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14:50, Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle

Tranquil Sea 9/2, 2pts win

There's a few in this that look to be having a prep run for other targets and although East India Dock is improving and Act Of Authority brings in decent Cheltenham Festival form, it could be that they struggle to give lumps of weight to Tranquil Sea. The Skelton's 5 year old runs off a mark of 123 and is taking on classier horses than he beat at Chepstow last time out but he won that with a bit in hand despite hitting the front a long way out. The better class of opponent here will drag him further into the race and if connections harbour any hope of getting into the final then he must go close. 

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15:25, Daily Racing Boosts At BetVictor Handicap Chase

Leader In The Park EVS, 2pts win

Ben Pauling's horses are running well this Autumn and he looks to have found a nice starting point for his second season chaser Leader In The Park. Twice a winner last season, he went off the boil a bit by the Spring but runs well on a decent surface and has looked as though he's better than a mark of 128. This is very winnable.