Newbury selections Saturday 22nd March
As we reach spring, so the ground over jumps is starting to quicken up. That is certainly the case at Newbury today after the track had less rain than expected overnight. My selections therefore are horses who already have proven form on decent ground. We made a strong finish to an excellent week at Cheltenham in the previous column with headline selection Inothewayurthinkin landing the Gold Cup (SP 15/2), whilst there was also victory for Kargese (advised 100/30).
Newbury 2.05: Old Cowboy
This is a very classy novice handicap with horses who can be expected to compete in grade class in time. The one I fancy is OLD COWBOY who looks to have been brought along steadily this season with a view to going handicapping.
He has kept quite high company in novice races, starting off here with a highly encouraging third to the useful Jurancon over 2m in January. He then seemed to get bogged down in the heavy ground at Sandown next time, so a line can be drawn through that effort. Hen then did not enjoy the run of the race at Ascot two weeks later when carried wide into the straight having been held up off a slow pace. I am sure he is much more able than that form line suggests.
He then enjoyed what was essentially a glorified gallop when winning a small race at Plumpton last week, seeing off the 1/8 Mullins hotpot in the process. That won’t have over exerted him and I think an opening mark of 121 is fair. He enjoyed the quick ground at Plumpton so conditions won’t be bothering this gelding.
Newbury 2.40: Scarface
Scarface does come with his risks – he is a quirky individual, but at an each-way price he looks worthy of a bet in a race likely to be run to suit.
His best performance this season came over this course and distance in November when finishing a strong second to Le Patron despite giving away 10l at the start. He has not repeated those slow starts since, so hopefully he will get a level start today. He then went on to be placed in two top Ascot handicaps over the winter, and his run here in the Greatwood at the start of the month was ruined y a terrible mistake at halfway.
This normally sound jumper will relish a return to faster going. He enjoyed a profitable spring last campaign, highlighted by a win in the Sussex Champion Chase at Plumpton on good going. That came off the back of winning a Grade 3 novice handicap at Sandown. He has now been dropped by the handicapper to within a pound of that Plumpton winning mark and I think Scarface will enjoy what should be a truly run contest here.
Newbury 3.15: Jasmine Bliss & Crazierthandaisy
One of my favourite races of the jumps season is this EBF mares final, a race where almost the entire field will have been trained with this race in mind all winter. The key is to finding those with most improvement to come and my two are hopefully in that category.
JASMINE BLISS must carry top weight here, but nevertheless I think she will prove to be far better than a 125 rated mare. A winner of a bumper here last season, she has looked a classy individual over hurdles, despite this being a trying campaign for trainer Harry Derham.
Her initial second at Lingfield was an excellent effort considering her lack of hurdling experience but she then disappointed at Ffos Las at a time the yard was totally out of form. Since then she has resumed normal service with a comfortable enough win at Ludlow (her idling late on keeping the winning margin small). Last time she beat a number of her rivals today with ease at Southwell on better ground. She looks to be fulfilling her early promise now and she might prove to be a different grade to these opponents.
CRAZIERTHANDAISY is of most interest of the Nicky Henderson battalion despite not being the mount of Nico de Boinville. This scopey individual has looked raw all winter, but shown plenty of signs of promise. She is improving with each run and I expect further development off the back of a ten week absence and a switch to handicapping.
2m was too short for her at Uttoxeter on her hurdling debut, though she finished well for second. Her jumping left a bit to be desired at Southwell next time, but she jumped better when outstaying the opposition to win over 2m5f at Warwick on New Years Eve, appearing to need every yard of the trip. A stronger run contest today will suit her better and given she showed excellent form in fast ground bumpers last season, the faster ground today might be of benefit too.
Recommended bets:
1pt each-way – Old Cowboy – 2.05 Newbury – 8/1 general
1pt each-way – Scarface – 2.40 Newbury – 6/1 general
1pt each-way – Jasmine Bliss – 3.15 Newbury – 9/2 William Hill (1/5 odds 1st 5)
1pt each-way – Crazierthandaisy– 3.15 Newbury – 13/2 Bet365 (1/5 odds 1st 5)
