Newbury Saturday

1:40 - Coral Racing Club

Handicap Hurdle 2m4f118y

Jet Powered came with a big reputation last season, but while some raved about his hurdles debut here a year ago, the form is paper-thin, and he was well held on his only subsequent outing. He’s unexposed, but given he was talked of as a Supreme candidate last term, it’s unlikely he’s been keeping much back, and looks overrated on what he’s achieved.

North Lodge is rated 11lb higher than the overnight favourite, but has run to that level already, with a win in Grade 2 company and better efforts in defeat on his last two starts, most recently when third to Three Stripe Life in the Grade 1 Mersey Novices’ Hurdle last year. An absence since then is an obvious concern, but Alan King has been making all the right noises about him and I’d be surprised if he’s not 100% straight for this return. The form of all of his races has proven solid, and he looks good value here.

Rock My Way needs a mention having shaped much better at Cheltenham than he had done on his return, and he’s dropping to a favourable mark. He’s respected with conditions likely to suit, and he might be the one to give the selection most to worry about.

2:15 - Bet In Race With Coral Intermediate Handicap Hurdle 2m69y

Brentford Hope has always had huge talent, but while he became frustrating for Richard Hughes, he has really taken off for Harry Derham, and he was mightily impressive in winning a competitive handicap over course and distance last month.

In that contest, the front-runners – himself included – went off too hard, but Brentford Hope maintained the gallop in impressive style to win by 16 lengths. Raised to a rating of 133 for that facile success, he remains fairly treated based on his high-class flat form, and this race was pencilled in as a target some time ago by the erudite Derham.

He runs into something of a talking horse in the shape of Under Control, who has a remarkably similar profile to Nicky Henderson’s Epatante, who also bombed out in the Dawn Run at Cheltenham before running up a sequence. Under Control is respected, but Henderson has hardly been keeping her light under a bushel, and she is too short in the betting now having been predictably backed in the ante-post market.

I still believe that Brentford Hope will be hard to beat even after the handicapper had his say for his latest romp. The one caveat is his jumping which was largely slick last time, but he did make a significant early mistake and needs to be error-free to land the big pot he’s capable of.

2:50 - Coral Gold Cup Handicap Chase 3m1f214y

Ahoy Senor is an open book by now, but his flaws – obvious enough though they are – tend to be overplayed, and it’s a shame that the only mistake he made in the Gold Cup put him on the deck, as he was loving taking the field along and looked to have plenty left to offer. He lost little in defeat by Shishkin at Aintree, where his jumping was fluent, and he has never impressed on his return, so a failure to complete at Wetherby in the Charlie Hall is not that much of a worry.

Corach Rambler was similarly in need of his return at Kelso before running a much better race at Haydock last week, and I’d expect a big improvement from Ahoy Senor here, remembering how impressive he was when landing the John Francome Novices’ Chase here two years ago, winning that Grade 2 by 31 lengths after jumping very well on the whole, if a little out to his right. He is bidding to join the likes of Mill House, Arkle and Burrough Hill Lad who have carried 12 stone or more to victory in this historic contest, and he has the class to prevail if his jumping passes muster.

In terms of the others, a case can be made for a few, but Twig appeals as the best each-way bet for those able to take advantage of extra places on offer. Ben Pauling’s ex-pointer is a prolific winner who may have gained his experience in calmer waters, but has progressed quietly in staying handicap chases, and should not be underestimated under his light weight. His form figures over fences – including between the flags – reads 31411211112112, with his latest three-length second of 13 to Whacker Clan in a three-mile-two-furlong handicap at Cheltenham the latest in a series of career-best performances. His young jockey is a natural talent who can still claim 5lb and Ben Pauling’s son of Sulamani really deserves his crack at a big winter prize having been campaigned with extreme patience to date.

3:25 - Coral Get Closer To The Action Handicap Chase 2m92y

As mentioned elsewhere, I’m keen to oppose Real Stone here despite his easy win at Haydock last weekend (or because of it, if you get my drift), and I think there is value in backing Master Chewy against the Skelton horse.

Master Chewy won well at Aintree in November and showed improved form despite being beaten three-quarters of a length by Djelo there last time, the loss of the fences in the straight not helping his cause. He was the guts of 15 lengths ahead of Real Stone that day and meets that rival on identical terms with both going up in the weights, and I see him confirming that form, which was franked when Djelo won again at Newbury on Friday.

Recommended:

North Lodge 1:40 Newbury – 2pts win 15/2 (Bet365, BetVictor, Ladbrokes)

Brentford Hope 2:15 Newbury – 2pts win 5/2 (general)

Ahoy Senor 2:50 Newbury – 1pt win at Betfair SP

Twig 2:50 Newbury – 1pt e/w 18/1 (Bet365, Betway – 6 places)

Master Chewy – 3:25 Newbury – 2pts win at Betfair SP