Andrew’s Newbury race by race betting guide
We have a competitive seven-race card to get through at Newbury today, with the highlight being a competitive 0-130 handicap hurdle at 3:00. Newbury 1:55 Watch Weekend Winner Powered By BetVictor Novices’ Hurdle – 2m4½f (4yo+) (class 3) Half of the field comes here on the back of wins, and one may add another win to their CV. Captain Bellamy won last time out but was subsequently disqualified due to rider Lorcan Williams going over the permitted strikes of the whip. He will have his chance of making amends under Harry Cobden. However, even with David Maxwell on board, they might all find it hard to get the better of QUEENSBURY BOY. This former point-to-point and bumper winner followed home Wingmen in a Punchestown Festival bumper last season. He has since made no mistake on hurdling debut at the beginning of the month when seeing off his closest rival by over 8-lengths. That was his first run of the season, and he is entitled to come on for that, and with any normal improvement from the first run to the second, he can prove hard to beat. Selection: Queensbury Boy Danger: Captain Bellamy Bet on Queensbury Boy with Betfred Newbury 2:30 Focus Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase – 2m7½f (5yo 0-130) Leave Of Absence was left trailing behind The Changing Man at Ascot last time out (lost left hind shoe) and should find this a bit more to his liking today, but he will need to brush up on his jumping. There isn’t any shortage of pace on show today, which will benefit the improving HAVAILA. This keen-going sort is one from two under Harry Cobden and arrives here on the back of a facile 21-length win off 106 and has only been hit with a 6 lb rise in the weights for that win. The Moores have hit a rich vein of form in the last few weeks, and it would not be a shock if Havaila made it three wins in his last four runs. If Genois can leave his latest run behind him, he could pose a threat to all, as could Art Of Diplomacy, who hasn’t finished outside the top three this season. Selection: Havaila Danger: Leave Of Absence Bet on Havaila with SBK Newbury 3:00 Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle – 2m½f (4yo+ 0-130) This is a cracking handicap hurdle and one that should be hotly contested at the finish. We have two former Betfair Hurdle winners, Aucunriaque and Glory And Honour, coming in here, where one is 13 lbs lower than taking that race back in 2022, and GLORY AND HONOUR is the one that I am siding with. As mentioned, he is now 13 lbs lower from winning over course and distance back in 2022 and has been showing signs that some spark is still left in him at the age of 10. He ran well behind Rubaud at Kempton back in October and would have finished much closer if it hadn’t been for an awkward jump at the final hurdle. Since then, he has left a below-par run at Wetherby behind him when going close at Kempton off this mark under Cameron Iles. He is too well weighed to ignore here and can make a bold bid to get back to winning ways. Ballywilliam Boy is one to keep an eye on in the betting as he makes his debut for new connections since moving from Michael Hourigan. Selection: Glory And Honour Danger: Ballywilliam Boy Bet on Glory And Honour with talkSPORT BET Newbury 3:30 Ultimate Travel Company Handicap Hurdle – 3m (4yo+ 0-140) This is a trappy-looking contest that needs to be solved. Welcom To Cartries reverts back to hurdling after two failed attempts over fences; admittedly, both were in Grade 2 and Grade 1. He would be very interested if he could rediscover some form back over hurdles. Hititi was a good second to Cath Him Derry and was just ahead of Jeriko Du Reponet at Exeter, but he needs a bit more to carry 12st to victory. That leads me to GO TO WAR, who has run like he would appreciate this step up on the trip. To date, he has only had three runs for Nicky Henderson, and after a much better run last time when stepped up to 2m4f at this track, this can be the time this consistent 7-year-old gets his first win for Nicky Henderson. Selection: Go To War Danger: Welcom To Cartries Bet on Go To War with bet365 Newbury 4:02 BetVictor Handicap Chase – 2m6½f (5yo+ 0-120) A few runners come here in good form, but no more than the lightly raced KIKIJO. This 5-year-old has only had four career starts to date (one in France) and showed the benefit of a break and switch to chasing when winning impressively over slightly shorter at this course last month. He has only been put up 4 lbs for that win, and with the promise of the step up in trip unlocking more improvement from this Philip Hobbs and Johnson White-trained gelding, he should prove a tough nut to crack. Muskoka is in a rich vein of form and on the back of a close 4th last time out, can prove the best of the rest. Selection: Kikijo Danger: Muskoka Bet on Kikijo with Paddy Power Newbury 4:37 BetVictor H
We have a competitive seven-race card to get through at Newbury today, with the highlight being a competitive 0-130 handicap hurdle at 3:00.
Newbury 1:55 Watch Weekend Winner Powered By BetVictor Novices’ Hurdle – 2m4½f (4yo+) (class 3)
Half of the field comes here on the back of wins, and one may add another win to their CV.
Captain Bellamy won last time out but was subsequently disqualified due to rider Lorcan Williams going over the permitted strikes of the whip. He will have his chance of making amends under Harry Cobden. However, even with David Maxwell on board, they might all find it hard to get the better of QUEENSBURY BOY.
This former point-to-point and bumper winner followed home Wingmen in a Punchestown Festival bumper last season. He has since made no mistake on hurdling debut at the beginning of the month when seeing off his closest rival by over 8-lengths. That was his first run of the season, and he is entitled to come on for that, and with any normal improvement from the first run to the second, he can prove hard to beat.
- Selection: Queensbury Boy
- Danger: Captain Bellamy
