Newbury on Friday

A big meeting today at Newbury, unfortunately for me i cant go to the meeting today after originally having tickets to last Saturday. But well done to Newbury for staging this re-arranged card and also for granting free entry.

12:10
A race that fell apart after Cue Card's withdrawal, which probably took away most of the value from the race. SPRINTER SACRE looks the sure winner if he can have a clear round, Barry Geraghty has been quoted as saying he is one of the best he is ridden. His biggest threat today is probably going to be the improving Paul Nicholls horse HOLD FAST, who last time could hardly have been more impressive when winning a pretty competitive handicap at Sandown on his second start for the yard, it is also interesting that he holds a Champion Chase entry and it will be interesting to see just how good he is. FRENCH OPERA won this race last year and is a very classy 2 mile chaser, but is the Henderson second string and will probably need the run, it could just be that his target is the Celebration Chase at Sandown at the end of the year. ZAYNAR is a very tough horse to predict, he could bolt up one day (like he did at Ascot) or never go a yard. However it looks that Nick Williams has rejuvenated the Grey Gelding who is now back running consistently. It does look like he is biting off more than he can chew here but if at his best definitely has place claims. IM SO LUCKY ran a good race for a long way in the Champion Chase behind Sizing Europe but faded on the turn for home and you would imagine this is too much for his as could be said for KINKEEL who is only there for minor place money. SPRINTER SACRE should take all the beating here though.

12:40
A race that revolves all around the defending Gold Cup champion LONG RUN who really does need to win this race if he is going to stake his Gold Cup claims. BURTON PORT is very interesting but should need the run and may have a more long term target this year. TIDAL BAY always seems to find at least one too good nowadays but on his day is more than capable, it should be that he isnt classy enough to beat the Henderson charge but definite each way claims. If WHAT A FRIEND runs to his Gold Cup form then he is a serious threat to the favourite, but he really does need to step up his game for this race if he is going to land a blow. THE GIANT BOLSTER rounds up the field and won impressively last time at Cheltenham but in a Handicap and has to give 6 pounds to everything but LONG RUN today and will take a mighty effort for him to be involved.

1:15
A race full of class with a Triumph Hurdle winner and the first two home in last years County Hurdle lining up in the field. We will start with RAYA STAR who took advantage of a slowly run Ladbroke Hurdle last time to land his big race. He should find a 5 pound rise too much but still has each way claims. OLOFI was running a big race last time at this track when coming down at this track last time out behind Celestial Halo. Big market support is very interesting for him. EMPIRE LEVANT won a Handicap Hurdle at Newbury two runs ago very impressively then found only Rock on Ruby too good two days later, reproduction of that form should put him close. Keep in mind he is 12 pounds higher for them two runs. BRAMPOUR has run some very good races this year but the handicapper seems to have caught him now, Harry Derham takes off 7 pounds, but that still may not be enough. DESERT CRY will appreciate a strong gallop but would appreciate softer ground than this. SIRE DE GRUGY had a run at Chepstow to put him straight and will be alot fitter today, he was an exciting novice last year but will need to come on if he is going to get closer today. DARLAN was very impressive last time under Barry Geraghty at Taunton last time, but it has been questioned how much he actually had left then. Before that at Cheltenham he won a battling finish which will only help him in today's company. ABERGAVENNY won a flat race at Southwell last time out and has been well in himself but may just come against one or two good horses, saying that he is nicely handicapped and would be no surprise to see him run well. Market support very interesting. GET ME OUT OF HERE and FINAL APPROACH contested the County hurdle last year. On that occasion the latter got on top right on the line. Since then he hasnt done much but finishing 10 lengths behind Voler La Vedette is a good effort and its interesting that Willie Mullins brings him over for today. The former finished a nose behind in the County and was giving away 9 pounds at Cheltenham. He is only one pound higher today but that is eliminated by Maurice Linehan's 7 pound claim today. He has been running over longer distances (second to Oscar Whisky last time) but a return to his best should see him go close. THIRD INTENTION looks a good horse and Colin Tizzard is adamant he is a better horse than we have seen so far. The race really does revolve around ZARKANDAR though who is one of the main challengers to Hurricane Fly in the Champion Hurdle in March. Its no secret that Paul Nicholls doesnt have him 100% for this race and for this reason i am going to oppose him in this big field this afternoon with JP McManus' second string, GET ME OUT OF HERE. It is a gamble on him returning to his best but last time ran a very good race at Cheltenham and his jockeys claim in invaluable. If at his best he will take all the beating.

other races to follow....