Newbury Saturday

1:50 Betfair Multiples Offer Every Saturday Handicap Hurdle 3m 52y

Annual Invictus is up to winning this if getting an uncontested lead, which is a possibility, but he’s long been unreliable and tends to down tools if not getting his own way, so is not one to rely on.

Preference is for Jay Bee Why, who needs a sound surface and was placed in competitive handicaps on this sort of surface at Kempton in March and April. Two runs this winter have come on ground too soft for him, and he has become well treated as a result.

The slight concern with the selection is the extended three-mile trip, but he stayed on well when placed over two miles and five furlongs at Kempton, and was only run out of things late on when third over two miles and seven furlongs at Market Rasen in the summer.

He has shaped as if the trip should suit, and while he didn’t improve for it at Market Rasen, he’s worth another chance to do so in a winnable race.

2:25 Betfair Denman Chase (Grade 2) 2m 7f 86y

Hitman is not a horse I want to be with at Grade 1 level, even though he had an excuse (burst a blood vessel) when well held in the King George. He probably finds three miles at the outer limit of his stamina, but should see things out at this slightly shorter trip on a sound surface, and he’s a useful tool in lesser graded races. He sets the standard here, but his strike-rate doesn’t really match his reputation, and he tends to flatter too often for me to get involved at short odds.

Fanion D’Estruval is another who barely stays three miles, and can give the selection most to do with Charlie Deutsch taking over from Lucy Turner. Both of his UK wins have come at Newbury, so he can have few excuses, for all he’s not achieved what he promised when bolting up on his debut for Venetia Williams here in 2019.

He can take a while to warm up in his races, but tends to finish off well, and stayed on well enough at Wetherby last time to suggest that this trip is within his compass these days.

3:00 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase (Grade 2) 2m 92y

Greaneteen is an underrated performer in the two-mile division, winning three Grade 1 events at the trip, and despite his skinny price here, he is impossible to oppose. His best efforts have come at Sandown, but he was only beaten two lengths in the 2021 Champion Chase, and it would be disingenuous to suggest he doesn’t act left-handed, with his heavy defeat at the Dublin Racing Festival last year down to soft ground and poor tactics.

He looks a class above his rivals in the Game Spirit, and he’s probably under the radar as far as his Champion Chase chances are concerned, with that race much more winnable now than it looked a month ago, and with his form credentials standing up to scrutiny.

An impressive win here could see his Cheltenham odds tumble, and there will be worse 14/1 ante-post shouts given there are only a handful of potential winners in that contest compared to some of the other Grade 1 events at the Festival.

3:35 Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) 2m 69y

Gary Moore has won this race three times with unconsidered runners near the bottom of the weights, and I’d respect both of his runners this time, with marginal preference for Yorksea over Teddy Blue.

Both showed useful form in juvenile hurdles last term and reappeared in the Gerry Feilden over course and distance where they finished third an fourth.

Both have won since, with Yorksea landing a gamble in a handicap at Fontwell on St Stephens Day. The runner-up from that contest won well at Wetherby last weekend, and Yorksea looks like he’s been campaigned primarily with this race in mind.

His win last time came on softer ground, but he ran well when runner-up on good ground at Cheltenham last November, and should have no real problem with the surface.

Moore’s other runner, Teddy Blue, could have done without a 5lb penalty for winning an uncompetitive maiden hurdle last time, but he’s threatened to win a good pot since an eye-catching effort in the Adonis at Kempton in February.

His problem is that a protracted tendency to pull hard has hampered his progress, but if he ever does learn to settle, then he’s a pattern-class performer, and he’s not taken lightly with Caoilin Quinn’s useful 5lb claim offsetting the extra weight he’s been given.

Warwick Saturday

1:30 Virgin Bet Warwick Castle Handicap Chase 2m 4f

Stolen Silver is higher in the weights than when second in the December Gold Cup at Cheltenham, but he faces an easier task here, and ought to get an uncontested lead which would be a big help at this track.

He’s more reliable that his rivals in the conditions, and perhaps Galahad Quest, who is best on a sound surface, is the one to chase him home despite being out of the weights.

2:05 Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Warwick Mares’ Hurdle (Listed) 2m 5f

It’s not easy to oppose the improving Love Envoi here as she bids to cement her place in the Mares’ Hurdle at Cheltenham next month. She was very impressive at Sandown last month, and although most of her form is on soft ground, it was quicker when she won the Mares’ Novice at the Festival last year, and the signs are that she can handle all ground conditions.

Theatre Glory is best on a sound surface, and should give the favourite something of a race, although has the best part of a stone to find on form, so seems likely to play second fiddle.

2:40 Virgin Bet Kingmaker Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) 2m 54y

Jonbon will be a very short price to remain unbeaten over fences, and is clearly going to be hard to beat, but if he takes a lead from the progressive Haddex Des Obeaux, he will not find Gary Moore’s slick jumper easy to pass, and I don’t think there will be quite as much between the pair as the betting indicates.

Haddex Des Obeaux was really impressive when beating a pair of subsequent winners over course and distance last time, and connections of the favourite would be better off ensuring he isn’t able to get into an early rhythm.

What happens over the first couple of fences will prove crucial to the outcome, and I’m hopeful that the selection will be allowed a bit of rope in front.

Jay Bee Why 1:50 Newbury – 1pt win at 9/1 (Bet365 – 8/1 general)

Yorksea 3:35 Newbury – 1pt e/w at – 12/1 general

Haddex Des Obeaux 2:40 Warwick – 1pt win at 11/2 (Bet365 – 5/1 general)