Newbury Friday Preview

The first race of the day that starts off a superb card of racing on Friday is the Class 3 Maiden Hurdle over two miles and we like the look of King Roland.

This Harry Fry trained five year old has been a model professional during his short career racing three times, once in a point to point and two in a bumper, going on to win all of them.

The gelding is now having his first run over hurdles and if staying in the same form as last season and taking to the flights he could be one for the future.

The Class 3 Ladbrokes Chase comes next over two miles again and in this Limited Handicap contest we have sided with the Gary Moore trained Flying Sofa.

The six year old heads into this contest off bottom weight which should be a huge help to the useful gelding finished the back end of last season off nicely and has pretty much picked that up again this season.

He was second on his seasonal debut at Kempton over slightly further than todays trip and then he finished fourth of eight on his last start which looked a hot contest.

That looks like a nice prep race with some strong form heading into this contest and he handles these conditions really well.

Faustinovick for trainer Colin Tizzard is our next selection on the card in the Class 3 Novices Hurdle and this five year old looks the one to beat on form alone.

The gelding has only raced three times during his career finishing second on his point to point debut behind Andy Dufresne who looks to be a smart recruit for Gordon Elliott and that saw him then move to Tizzard's yard, where he was a smart second on his bumper debut where he finished behind a really smart Paul Nicholls trained gelding that day.

He made his first start over hurdles at Carlisle at the start of November and again was a smart second behind Glenduff who is related to the 2018 Champion Bumper winner Relegate.

Coming towards the business end of the card and there are some real stars on show and the first we fancy is the Amy Murphy trained Kalashnikov

This six year old is racing for the second time this season after finishing a good second on his seasonal bow at Aintree behind Forest Bihan.

Many fences were taken out of the race that day which it made it more of a bumper contest but it told us that the gelding needed the run and will be much better for it.

Kalashnikov was smart hurdler finishing second in a photo finish at the Cheltenham festival to Summerville Boy in the Supreme Novices Hurdle.

Last season he took to the bigger obstacles and seemed to be decent over fences aswell getting the grips of things late on in the season to land the Grade One Manifesto Chase at the Grand National meeting.

Now being fitter and stronger for his opening run this looks an easier target dropping back to a Class 2 Handicap.

The first of the feature contests on the day is the Grade Two Berkshire Novices Chase and Champ for Nicky Henderson should not be beat.

The seven year old gelding had four runs last season winning three of them and only getting beat in a thriller at the Cheltenham festival in the Ballymore Novices Hurdle.

Champ started his season at Newbury in a 15 runner Class 2 Handicap Hurdle where he looked a class above the field that included some smart runners.

He went back to Newbury for his first taste of Grade One company and stayed on the best to take the Challow Novices Hurdle and be primed for a crack at the Ballymore at the festival.

He could only manage a narrow second to Irish raider City Island who stayed on better up the hill to take the spoils but it was still a highly credible run from Henderson's horses.

He finished off his season in superb style by picking up his second Grade One over hurdles in the Doom Bar Sefton Novices Hurdle at the Grand National meeting.

Champ was bought to be a chaser over three miles and on his debut over fences he was very impressive again again Newbury seeing off a decent field of runners showing plenty of temperament over the bigger obstacles.

The big race of the day is the Grade Two Long Distance Cup over three miles and it sees the welcome return of last seasons superstar Paisley Park.

He landed the first Grade One of his career and the first back type win for his yard at Ascot in December when winning the JLT Hurdle.

From there he went for a prep run before the Cheltenham festival, winning the Grade Two Cleeve Hurdle over course and distance and then brought the house down in March when landing the big winner of the week for punters in the Grade One Stayers Hurdle.

This horse was one of the stories of the season last term and if reappearing like he was in his last campaign he could have another special season.

The final runner of the afternoon is One For The Team in the Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle and in the Class 2 event and this five year old looks a huge improver.

The Nick Williams trained five year old has shown promise on all three of his hurdles start with his best effort coming on his seasonal debut last time out.

He was a nice second to a horse that has massively boosted the form by hosing up yesterday and with a handy claimer on board he should be in the mix.