The first horse that I considered on tomorrow’s Newbury card was Miss Overdrive in the in the 12.25. She was a shade disappointing on her hurdling debit at Towcester and didn’t jump fluently. It may well be that stamina is her forte and she steps in trip tomorrow which may also help her jumping. The negative could be the going however as she won her bumper on good ground and her full sister Over Sixty is best suited by a sound surface. With the going likely to be soft I will reluctantly pass over Miss Overdrive in favour of Queen Poline whose bumper wins came with plenty of give in the ground.
The 12.55 is quite a difficult race to weight up with 4 horses that have claims. The Paul Nicholls runner Lady An Co is particularly tricky to assess. She has winning form over hurdles in France where she has also been placed in good races over fences. She has her first race for her new yard tomorrow. Captain Americo looks the sort to be progressive over fences and was runner up at Exeter on his second run over the larger obstacles. Tomorrow’s trip should be well within his compass. Calusa Crystal won 4 times over hurdle last season and had little chance when beaten by Crack Away Jack on her chasing debut. She has a tenacious attitude and should win races over fences as the season progresses. She appears to be best on good ground however and may not have conditions to suit her at Newbury. Riverside Theatre won 3 times last season and also performed well in top company at Aintree and Punchestown. She is the pick of these on hurdles form and as long as the ground is not too testing she may just shade it.
The 2.05 features two recent winners in Bench Warrant and Pettifour as well as a highly rated Paul Nicholls runner in Michel Le Bon. The latter won twice over hurdles last season and is expected to be one of his stables better novice chases. Despite the absence of a recent run, Michel Le Bon, who is getting weight from his two main rivals, can make his chase debut a winning one.
I give Exmoor Ranger an each way chance in the 3.40.
Spirit River won over hurdles at Auteuil in March and the horse he beat went on to be placed in listed races. He looks an interesting runner in the 3.15. In the bumper at 3.45 my selection is Oscar Whisky who was an impressive winner at Newbury in March.
Sir Winston was expected to do well last season by many shrewd judges but was pretty disappointing. As a result he runs off a mark of 84 tomorrow in the Taunton 3.25 which may underrate his level of ability.
Northern Gem had some decent form on the flat and can make a winning debut over hurdles for David Pipe in the 12.15 at Uttoxeter. Ernst Blofeld should relish the testing conditions at Uttoxeter and is my suggestion in the 1.55.
Today’s picture is of Denman and is included by kind permission of the artist Sarah Clegg. Denman is set to carry top weight in the Hennessy Gold Cup at Newbury on Saturday.
ahorse 