Newbury 3rd March

A good day of racing this Saturday especially with it being so close to Cheltenham. Newbury hold their gold cup meeting which never fails to attract a few bigger names, this year is no exception.

2:05
A race that revolves around BUCK MAGIC and whether the bounce factor will hit him today after a good run coming off a long lay off last time round, an exciting novice 2 years ago missed a substantial part of his career through injury but if he can build on his Wincanton run then he should take all the beating, Barry Geraghty a very positive jockey booking. LOVE OF TARA has been running against higher opposition than today as of late and has been outclassed, return to handicap company today is a plus but may just want a bit more give in the ground.  LAMBORO LAD was a huge gamble last time at Doncaster when coming 4th, more market support is pretty interesting for him today but will need to improve. ALWAYS WAINING will run his race again but saves his best for Aintree nowadays. CINDERELLA ROSE has been freshened up since his last win at Plumpton but before that was beaten out of sight by Violin Davis which may just account for his chance. THEATRICAL STAR has been running well without reward lately and had some classy bumper form behind Rock on Ruby and Montbazon, if he can produce that over hurdles he should take all the beating, it is a big if though. BENBENS is rated 7 pounds higher than he was for being beat a short head at Taunton last time, that was a weaker race but he is an improving horse and should go close. GODSMEJUDGE hails from an in form yard and is relatively unexposed compared to some of the others. This is a big step up in class though and more will be needed, far from out of it though. Preference today is for the much improved TARVINI who is an in running punters dream after sulking the last two runs and finishing with a rocket on his back. He has been given 99 days off the track to freshen him up and is two from two under Maurice Linehan who seems to have found the key to him. TARVINI to keep his improvement going today and land the opener.

2:20
A race that will always have a dark spot in my eyes after one of my favourite horses Eric's Charm sadly broke a leg in last year and had to be put down. But it is great to see these veteran chasers meet today and it isnt short of class this year. DOM D'ORGEVAL never really fulfilled his full potential but is still more than capable of running a good race. A fairly long layoff must be overcome today though and it could be that Nick Williams has something a bit more long term planned for him. HELLO BUD is a household favourite for many around the country and always runs his race, he may just be a bit long in the tooth now however and others are preferred. NICHE MARKET and FAIR ALONG are the class horses of the race with the latter being placed at the Cheltenham Festival last year and running into 3rd in the Hennessy at this track. A reproduction of that form should see him right there with a chance, be warned he can sulk over fences though. The former mentioned is an Ex Irish Grand National winner and has been placed in a Hennessy and an A-on at this course, will be tough to beat. OUZBECK seems to have lost some of his old sparkle of his younger years and is hard to fancy on that, but a return to form will see him close after a little lay off. MARUFO gets in off a low weight and could be very dangerous here after coming 3rd in a competitive affair at Sandown last time out. MARK THE BOOK won well last time out at Chepstow but seems to do all his winning on heavy going and shouldnt be able to land a punch today. WOGAN is an admirable sort who never seems to stop running and destroying a few fences on the way round. Saying that his jumping was very good at Doncaster last time before being outclassed by Faasel. Should go well today. Im siding with the once very highly rated hurdler BLAZING BAILEY who is from a yard bang in form and should find this easier to win that the big handicaps he has been trying as off late.

3:05
The main race today seems to revolve around the two pricewise horses who have been backed in considerably this morning. ARALDUR and FINE PARCHMENT. The former seems to be his own worst enemy during his races by making a few bad mistakes, but on his best form he is very hard to oppose. The latter won this race last year off a 3 pound lower mark, Gavin Sheehan's 10 pound claim is invaluable here and he should make the frame at least. DAVE'S DREAM has alot of ability but is starting to become a bit disappointing after promising so much in his younger years and is once again opposed today. PASCO loves it round here and should put up a good show once again but one or two look more appealing today. The Moore family have been raving about FIX THE RIB all week, a return to the form he showed two years ago when he was 14 lengths behind Master Minded in the Game Spirit should put him right there, has something to prove though. WOOLCOMBE FOLLY needs to be forgiven his last run to have any chance today but is slowly slipping down the handicap to a nice mark though, more is needed today though and it could be one or two more runs before we see him at his best. AERIAL won very nicely at Ascot and followed up with an admirable effort at Cheltenham last time behind The Giant Bolster. It does seem that the Handicapper has caught him however. RILEYEV was badly outpaced last week at Chepstow and ran on for fourth but races from 3 pounds out of the handicap and may find life tough today. MAD MAX is the selection today. Last time out was his return to action and wasn't asked of much at Haydock last time, dropped two pounds he is still a very lightly raced 10 year old but has had his problem. He was only 5 lengths behind Sizing Europe in the Arkle 2 years ago and would have probably won if he hadnt made a shocking mistake two out. Today will be his first test for new trainer Neil Mulholland and we will give him the nod to return to winning ways.

3:05
DUBAI CREST has something to prove after a very poor effort last time at Taunton, but he is dropped in trip and is best watched today. Two horses come from a very long layoff in this race today, BALGARRY and SIRE COLLONGES the former hasnt been seen on an English racecourse before but has won a 3 year old hurdle at Clairefontaine, for that reason he is a very interesting newcomer. The latter's best effort came here in this race last year and is 3 pounds higher than last years renewal. EBANOUR tries a handicap for the first time for a stable bang in form and is down in trip, it will be interesting to see how he adapts after being consistent in Novice company. LOOKS LIKE SLIM didnt get very far last time when unseating his rider, before that he had been going in the right direction and more improvement may be to come today. REBEL DANCER has something to prove at this level and is best opposed today. ORZARE ran a cracker in the Ladbroke but failed to build on that last time, forgive that run and he is in with a cracking chance. NAMPOUR ran a nice enough race coming off a very long layoff two races ago but didnt get too far when falling at the 3rd at Taunton last time, he was a very good horse in his younger days and im taking a gamble on him stripping fitter today and at least making the frame.

4:20
Oh goody another big handicap to dissect. QUOUSKO D'LISOP is becoming more and more frustrating and looks hard to back today. TESHALI always runs his race but does find winning hard to come by and usually isnt the strongest finisher. RULING PARTY is unexposed and has shown ability in his career so far, it would be no surprise to see him close today but a place may be his best hope. TICKATACK won a pretty weak affair at Southwell last time and may find life tougher today. BALLYQUIN QUEEN brings the best form to the table with a 3rd behind kentford grey lady at this track, he was bogged down last time in desperate going and it would be no surprise to see him go close today. HANDY ANDY needs to show alot more today and im not too sure why he is 6/1 but someone must know something so should be respected. GALIOTTO will strip alot fitter for his last flat outing 17 days ago and is a much better hurdler than he is on the flat and does have really strong each way credentials today. The selection is for the Charlie Longsdon trained BE MY LIGHT who returns to hurdles after not really taking too much to fences but reverting back to hurdles looks a positive mood, a useful 10 pound claimer is on board today and looks to have a nice weight with his claim.

4:55
BACK BOB BACK has been disappointing in his last two runs but before them won at this course in possibly a weaker contest than today and should be resepcted. CHENEY MANOR represents a powerful stable and has a good claimer on board that gets on well with him, he may just be playing for minor prize money today. SHAMMICK BOY has a bit about him but hasnt followed through with the talent he showed in his younger years, not without a chance today. PEPITE ROSE is strongly fancied by Aidan Coleman today even under a 7 pound penalty. As long as she can take the quick reappearance she will take all the beating.

happy punting today guys
Nap - Mad Max