A FASCINATING two days of racing ahead at the Newbury Carnival kicks off in style today with the return of Stayers’ Hurdle winner Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle. This seven-year-old made rapid progress last season and his trainer Emma Lavalle managed his campaign with aplomb. This seasonal debut for the odds-on favourite will not be a comfortable run round with the not to be underestimated Thistlecrack in the field, as well as The World’s End, Unowhatimeanharry and the shock 2017 winner Beer Goggles. This is a race I’m looking forward to watching.

The big Saturday feature The Trophy Handicap Chase looks an excellent renewal and whilst ten-year-old Sizing Tennessee bucked the trend last year, this is typically a second season chasers’ race.

See you there!

Friday

12.45 Newbury Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase 2m ½f

The unexposed Sully D’Oc AA can come out on top here in an open race where a few of these have a bit to prove. This triple hurdle winner in France put up a good effort at Ascot on his chasing debut and latest start, fading out of it late and looking like he needed the run in a good contest won by Doctor Dex earlier this month. He looks sure to take a step forward from that performance for the inform Anthony Honeyball yard.

Unibet 5/1 each way

1.50 Newbury Handicap Chase 2m 4f

Gala Ball strictly speaking, can’t beat San Benedeto at the weights on their form here in March, but that was Gala Ball’s first start for two years when finishing second and in the circumstances, it was an excellent effort. He then won in good style later in March beating Valdez and his Newbury record now reads 2221. He goes well fresh, the soft ground is ideal and with the yard still firing the winners in, this could be another. 

Unibet 13/2 each way

2.25 Newbury Novices’ Chase 2m 4f

A fascinating race with Black Op (nap) preferred to Champ, who did the job well enough on his chase debut here earlier in the month, but Black Op was just as impressive, if not more so, when thrashing the useful Mr Antolini at Stratford. Black Op looked like he was getting back to his classy best, jumping enthusiastically and travelling smoothly. It’s to be remembered how he gave Samcro a race at Cheltenham and then beat Lostintranslation as a novice hurdler, so has all the class needed for this, and if he jumps as well here, he’ll take some passing over this ideal trip.

Unibet 100/30 win

3.35 Newbury 3m Handicap Hurdle

One For The Team for Nick Williams was well backed to score at Worcester on his latest start in a Maiden Hurdle but just found The Big Shark too good for him, form that has been franked this week.

This was a good contest, as One For The Team had some useful types in behind him that day too, as the fifth won last week. One For The Team went up 5lb, yet a mark of 126 in Handicap company could look lenient and he is more than capable of better again. 

Unibet 9/2 win

Saturday

3.00 Newbury Trophy Handicap Chase 3m 2f

Mister Malarky never went a yard at Ascot last time and no surprise to see them go for the cheekpieces, but his form of last year was most progressive, including a fourth in the RSA Chase and a Grade 2 Ascot success. He has looked a thorough stayer on more than one occasion and fits the second season novice tag that often throws up the winner of this. He will act on the ground and if the headgear works, he has a big chance in a race which Colin Tizzard won last year.

Unibet 8/1 each way

Second season chaser Commodore can run a good race for the Venetia Williams yard with ground conditions to suit off a weight of 10-1. On seasonal debut at Bangor he travelled well for a long way in the heavy and looks sure to progress for that run. Last season he made his chasing debut in December at Warwick, leading all the way to win comfortably and then did the same at Sandown in March. As a result, his mark went from 109 to 135 last season and there is more to come.

Unibet 33/1 each way