A CRACKING Saturday of action awaits with Newbury’s big jump meeting of the season and with dry conditions forecast racing looks sure to take place on good ground. Newbury’s recent morning of racecourse gallops with lots of stars on show was a big hit on Racing TV and was an excellent initiative, which will no doubt be repeated.

At Newcastle The Fighting Fifth is the feature with the 2020 Champion Hurdle winner Epatante making her seasonal debut for her trainer Unibet Ambassador Nicky Henderson. Epatante is rightly favourite at 4/5 with Unibet after looking so impressive at The Festival and she certainly goes well fresh, with ground versatility another positive. It is hard to see her being beaten.

Enjoy all the action.

Cheers!

The Wine Tipster

1.15 Newbury – Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (2m 6½f)

Cap Du Nord has been well placed by trainer Christian Williams and has more to offer in his chasing career. Last season he finished fifth to Bennys King at 50/1 in this contest when staying on late, which was ahead of other good performances, including a win at Fakenham. On seasonal debut, he finished fourth at Wincanton in a good contest to Not A Role Model, when after racing out the back throughout he then stayed on well. He jumped smoothly that day and with good ground he can be right in the mix this year off bottom weight.

Unibet 17/2 each way

1.50 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)

Tea Clipper won three of his four starts last season, including an excellent performance at Huntingdon when beating Magic Dancer last December. He went straight in my notebook that day and continued his upward trajectory when winning on seasonal debut last month beating Flash The Steel at Chepstow, who reopposes today.

Unibet 5/2 win

2.25 Newbury – Limited Handicap Hurdle (2m)

Sebastopol for the excellent and inform trainer Tom Lacey can strike here on favourable good ground, as he has twice been taken out of engagements because of the soft ground. 

Last season he won very stylishly on seasonal debut at Wincanton and made it two wins from three starts when striking at Musselburgh. There is plenty more improvement to come and in this hot contest he will be suited by the likely strong pace.  

Unibet 7/1 each way

3.00 Newbury – Trophy Handicap (3m2f)

Vinndication (nap) has the class to win here off top weight and providing he jumps better than when second to Cyrname at Wetherby, who showed as the top rated chaser that he was right back to form, then he will come out on top here.

Vinndication will relish this trip and the good ground conditions can really work in his favour.

This seven-year-old has the right profile for this contest and is certainly still progressing. 

Unibet 11/2 each way

Two For Gold stablemate of Vinndication is another improving type in this field. He won three of his four starts last season and was second on the other occasion to Copperhead. On seasonal debut at Wetherby he was runner-up over an inadequate trip when jumping really well. He has won over three miles and stepping up in distance will suit.

Unibet 10/1 each way

3.35 Newbury – Handicap Chase (2m½f)

The Russian Doyen has been lightly raced in the past two seasons and this seven-year-old has an opportunity to defy his poor recent form figures. He has been campaigned over further and yet he appears to be a non-stayer as we saw at Cheltenham earlier in this month in albeit testing conditions.

He clearly has ability, as he finished fourth to A Plus Tard over two miles four furlongs at the 2019 Cheltenham Festival when leading three out before weakening up the hill.

The Russian Doyen won over course and distance here last year on good going and with

the blinkers on and he is worth an each way wager.

Unibet 11/1 each way