A bumper Saturday of jump racing action at Warwick with three Unibet sponsored races, including the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase and the Unibet Kingmaker Chase, where L’Eau Du Sud is Unibet 1/4 on to take this Grade 2 on route to the Arkle at the Cheltenham Festival.
As you will have read, Arkle favourite Sir Gino is unfortunately a non-runner in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury tomorrow, as he is sore from a small wound to the inside of his near hind leg, however he should be back to normal by the beginning of next week and Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson will be deciding whether his potential superstar will have a run before March.
Newbury’s big February Saturday meeting has Grade 2 action with the Denman Chase and the Game Spirit Chase, whilst their big handicap hurdle always has some smart types in the field and is very competitive as ever.
Enjoy whether on course at Warwick or Newbury and if #athome enjoy the action on ITV Racing.
See you at Warwick.
Cheers
The Wine Tipster
1.50 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (3m)
Shutupshirley came back from a 756-day absence to score easily at Fontwell on Boxing Day and has wisely been given a bit of time to get over that run. Stamina looked very much his long suit that day over three miles and two furlongs, and whilst this is tougher, he’ll handle the ground and is still at the right end of the handicap. Shutupshirley can go in again before the handicapper starts to get a grip.
2.40 Warwick – Read Nicky Henderson’s Weekly Unibet Blog Mares’ Hurdle (2m 5f)
Royale Margaux won seven races in France before being campaigned over here this season, where she has run some good races without notching up a victory as yet. Last time out she was a good third at Kempton’s Christmas meeting to Della Casa Lunga, beaten 2½ lengths, with West Balboa well back in fourth. If Royale Margaux can build on her last appearance, she can be competitive in a race which is more open than the betting suggests so she worth an each-way play.
3:15 Warwick- Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase (2m 4f)
Le Milos (nap) as a ten-year-old is now eligible to run in these Veterans’ races and has a strong chance of scoring his first success since November 2022 in the big handicap chase at Newbury.
His form figures for this season read 543 with the last two starts being under three miles, and back in his novice chasing days Le Milos won at Fontwell over 2m 3½f. Le Milos has been giving every indication that he can still win races, aided by the fact that he comes here off a mark of 139 and we know that his local trainer will have been sure to have had this race as a target.
3:35 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (2m ½f)
Navajo Indy has a bit of ground to make up on Secret Squirrel on their Windsor form last time out, but the selection never looked happy at that tight track last month in a rough race, whereas he’d run out a ready winner here the time before, completing a hat trick of wins in the process. A return to a track he likes, plus the addition of some headgear, puts him right in the picture
Minella Missile is a seven-year-old having only his fourth start under rules having won his maiden hurdle at Chepstow at 20/1, and then he stepped up considerably to follow up at 22/1 in the Grade 2 Hyde Novices’ Hurdle at Cheltenham’s 2023 November Meeting, with Captain Teague back in second, beaten 1½ lengths. Minella Missile was then off for 14 months and reappeared in January at Windsor, finishing ninth to Titan Discovery after travelling well at the back of the field ahead of making a move from two out before hitting the last and then losing momentum. He looked in need of the run late on, whilst clearly retaining his ability and providing this doesn’t come too soon, Minella Missile has strong each-way claims.
The Wine Tipster’s Treble
After a successful few weeks, The Wine Tipster is right back in the saddle with this week’s selections… but will he end up back in the Winner’s Enclosure?
Roll these three picks from our red-hot tipster into a treble and the drinks really may well be on you! Shutupshirley, Le Milos, and Navajo Indy. Add to your betslip, hit the ACCA BOOST option, and a £5 each-way treble potentially returns over £980 if they come in! Of course, it’s a long shot, but stranger things have happened!
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