Newbury selections

🐎 My selection for the 12:55 Novices Hurdle is the talented youngster Making Headway, trained by Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero for owner Malcolm Jones. This talented youngster won a point to point before winning on his debut under rules in a hurdle race at Carlisle. This race was over 2 mile 1, and on ground described as heavy. He beat the respected To Chase A Dream by 3/4 lengths, with the front pair pulling clear of the rest. He then went to a Grade 2 race at Haydock, in which he travelled strongly and jumped with fluency throughout, only to be beaten a length by Kamsinas for Fergal O’Brien. 13 lengths behind Making Headway was I Love My Baie, who won next time out at Ayr, and Rich Spirit who won next time out at Catterick. Next for Making Headway was the Grade 1 Formby Novices Hurdle at Aintree, in which he was held up in rear throughout but stayed on to finish fourth, just pipped for third, behind the winner Jango Baie. He now drops down in class and returns to heavy ground, which he recorded his first win on at Carlisle. 

🐎 My selection for the 1:30 is Kyntara, trained by Mel Rowley for owner Lady Dulverton. Kyntara was an extremely consistent horse for Kim Bailey, never finishing outside of the top 3 in the field throughout 2021/2022. He moved yards to Mel Rowley before winning by 13 lengths at Lingfield on his stable debut and following this up with another win at Aintree, by 7 lengths, in extremely testing conditions. It was at Aintree this talented gelding beat Gaye Legacy, who finished second in a class 2 race at Kempton, and then won next time out at Newbury. He then went to Warwick, finishing a close second behind Laura Morgan’s J’ai Froid, in a class 2 race. He travelled strongly throughout the race and may have completed the hat-trick if it wasn’t for his stumble at the last hurdle. The ground should be in his favour and he will be able to stay his usual trip of 3m.

🐎 My selection for the 14:05 Denman Chase is unsurprisingly Shishkin, trained by Nicky Henderson for owner Mrs J Donnelly. Shishkin has a huge fan base in racing and rightly so, winning 11 consecutive races, including wins in the Skybet Supreme Novices Hurdle, Ladbrokes novices chase and Sporting Life Arkle Challenge Trophy Chase. 2023 has seen Shishkin win the Betfair Ascot Chase, before his close second in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham, and then win in the Aintree Bowl. Upon his return from racing after a 226 break, Shishkin refused to race at Ascot, and was travelling strongly at Kempton in the King George before unseating Nico De Boinville. I haven’t given up on this extremely talented 10 year old, and he comes here with a massive chance.
 

🐎 My selection for the 14:40 Game Spirit Chase is Boothill. Boothill is a 9 year old progressive gelding, trained by Harry Fry for owners Brian & Sandy Lambert. His early 2023 campaign has seen him finish second in a Grade 2 Class 1 chase at Doncaster, before a third in Grade 2 Class 1 race at Kempton, finishing 6 lengths behind Coral Gold Cup winner, Datsalrightgino, in second place. He had a 252 break before returning to racing in November when proving himself as a winner in the Class 1 Byrne Group Handicap Chase at Ascot. He jumped impressively and travelled strongly throughout the race, winning by 4 lengths to First Flow, who has since won a class 2 race at Lingfield.  He followed this win up next time out at Ascot, staying on strongly with determination to beat Frere D’Armes by 3/4 lengths. He then went to Kempton, in the Desert Orchid Chase, and fell four from home. If this fall hasn’t affected his confidence, Boothill will have extremely strong claims.  

🐎 My selection for the 15:15 Betfair hurdle is Spirit D’Aunou, trained by Gary Moore for owners Heart Of The South Racing 130. On his racing debut, Spirit D’Aunou finished second only 3/4 lengths behind Jupiter Allen. He then won on his next start at Huntington, before winning again at Ludlow. He then had a break of 64 days when returning to racing with another win at Sandown. Next was the challenge of Chepstow, which Spirit took in his stride when winning by 6 lengths to the respected Mothill. After a break of 196 days, Spirit came fourth at Cheltenham before impressively winning on his next start at Sandown. His handicap record is now 3-3 and his trainer has won this race 3 times. The in-form Caoilin Quinn takes the ride and with his claim of 3lbs, brings his weight down from 11.13 to 11.10. This race is over a distance that suits him and he has won on heavy ground on two occasions. I can also imagine the progressive likes of Norman Fletcher and Aurigny Mill will also play big parts in this wide open race. 

🐎My selection for the 15:50 is Inch House, trained by Jonjo O’Neill for owner Mr Michael Geoghegan. Inch House absolutely loves Newbury, as he bids to complete a Newbury hat-trick. He will stay the 3 mile trip and the heavy ground shouldn’t cause a problem. Although not travelling or jumping as well as usual last time out at Cheltenham, he stayed on to finish second behind the 147 rated Stumptown. He hasn’t finished out of the top 3 runners in 2023 and comes here with strong claims at his favourite track. 
🐎My selection for the 16:25 listed NH flat race is Union Avenue, trained by James Moffatt for owner Thomas Gardner. Union Avenue came third and second on his point to point starts, before having a break of 202 days and winning upon his return at Kelso. Despite stumbling nearby to the home turn, he travelled strongly and prominently throughout and shows his determination when staying on to steal the win. He then went to his next National Hunt Flat Race at Aintree, pulling clear of the rest to finish extremely strongly in testing ground. Although his usual partner in Charlotte Jones can’t claim her usual, I can imagine he would be a big player in a race like this, with experience on his side.