AN excellent Saturday of racing to look forward to with strong cards at Newbury and Warwick. The feature Handicap Hurdle at Newbury at 3.35 may have a smaller field than normal with 14 runners, however there is no doubting the quality of field and the competitive nature of this renewal. This is a race in recent times that has been dominated by first season hurdlers and runners aged five or six, however the presence of last year’s winner Soaring Glory, the second Fifty Ball and Tritonic make this an intriguing renewal.

In the Game Spirit Chase this looks a tight call with Sceau Royal, Hitman, Funambule Sivola and Sky Pirate taking each other on and I look forward to watching here. Earlier, in the Denman Chase, Royal Pagaille can strengthen his place in the Gold Cup picture, taking on last year’s second and King George VI winner in 2018 and 2019 Clan Des Obeaux.

At Warwick there is some renewal of the Kingmaker with Edwardstone and Third Time Lucki taking each other on and this popular course will have a good Saturday crowd. heading to Newbury for their excellent card.

Enjoy whether at the races or #athome 

Cheers

The Wine Tipster

1.50 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (3m ½f)

The Big Breakaway makes a return to hurdles after not jumping well in a match with Chantry House in a Listed race at Sandown in November. He has had a wind operation since then and has his first start over hurdles since finishing fourth to Envoi Allen in 2020 at The Festival. The Big Breakaway was once very highly regarded, and it should be remembered that he only a seven-year-old having his eleventh career start. He can return to winning form here.

Unibet 8/1 each way

2.05 Warwick – Kingmaker Novices’ Chase Grade 2 (2m)

Edwardstone really caught the eye when winning the Grade 1 Henry VIII at Sandown’s Tingle Creek meeting, when beating War Lord by sixteen lengths, with Third Time Lucki (went too quick) back in third. He then followed up easily at the Kempton Christmas Festival and whilst Third Time Lucki, one our my Ten To Follow, who will be much closer this time. Edwardstone is such an exciting horse over fences and will win the Kingmaker on route to the Arkle.

Unibet 10/11 win  

2.25 Newbury – Denman Chase Grade 2 (2m 7½f)

Royal Pagaille can take on the likely favourite Clan Des Obeaux and score another winner for the Venetia Williams team, who are in flying form. Royal Pagaille has built on his Gold Cup sixth this season with a second to A Plus Tard (looks even better form after the Irish Gold Cup) and he toughed it out with top weight in the Peter Marsh to beat the classy Sam Brown. Both these starts were at Haydock, though Royal Pagaille needs to be assessed as being effective at other courses as he has won at Kempton too. Royal Pagaille will run a big race here and I can see Newbury really suiting him.

Unibet 17/8 win

3.15 Warwick – Warwick Castle Handicap Chase (2m 4f)

Jacamar for the Milton Harris team has been contesting some very good handicaps and has to be an each way play here. He ought to have beaten Our Power, reopposes here, at Wincanton in December and the fact he’s better off at the weights makes him look well treated. He then won at Kempton at their Christmas Festival meeting and then didn’t get up the hill at Cheltenham on Festival Trials Day. Jacamar is racing at Warwick for the first time and if he can jump fluently down the back, he’s got every chance with ideal ground.

Unibet 10/1 each way

3.35 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (2m 1½f)

Broomfield Burg (nap) for Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson has season form figures of 112221 and won comfortably at Kempton on Boxing Day when moving smoothy clear to win easily ahead of Black Poppy, who has won since. On his previous start at Cheltenham Broomfield Burg looked like he was going to win at two out and then failed by half a length to peg back Lively Citizen after the last.

Broomfield Burg finished runner-up on his last start here in November so has that important course experience. This first-season hurdler looks sure to step up considerably after his Kempton success, the conditions are in his favour and interestingly he has two Grade 1 entries at The Festival.

Unibet 4/1 win

First Street, also for the Nicky Henderson team, looked really progressive on handicap debut when quickening away in good style, beating stablemate Mengli Khan at Kempton last month over two miles, on his first hurdle start over the minimum trip. That was his fourth appearance over hurdles and with plenty of pace on here this will suit him to make a late challenge.

Unibet 11/1 each way