ITV Saturday Newcastle And Newbury Preview

The Class 2 Handicap Chase over 2m6f looks a competitive affair but the horse that takes the eye for us is Killer Clown for Emma Lavelle.

The seven year old progressively got better last term when taken over the bigger obstacles, having shown glimpses of form over hurdles the season before.

Having unseated his rider on chase debut, he then went to Uttoxeter and finished a good sixth of 18 in a handicap chase showing that he jumped fairly well.

Next time out he stepped up again to finish third behind Alnadam at Sandown, but then reversed the form with that horse when winning at Kempton on Boxing Day in a tough Limited Handicap Chase.

Up 15lb for that win he finished a length second at Newbury over 2m4f in the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase, which was arguably a career best run.

He finished the season off with another credible third in a Handicap Chase at Sandown off a mark of 141.

Back this term looking to step up to graded company in the Old Roan Chase he was outclassed into sixth, looking to need the run.

He should be much fitter for that event and back into a handicap off a mark of 138, which is the same as his second in the Greatwood Gold Cup, he should go well.

The first race of the afternoon from Newcastle is the 2m7f Limited Handicap Chase and Valleres, although giving weight away, looks the class above this field.

The six year old was a decent hurdler last term, with two wins and three seconds from his five runs and this term has been sent chasing.

Making his chase debut at Newbury at the start of November he was a good third behind two improving types and if improving for that run he looks much the better horse in this event on ratings not to go close.

Phillip Hobbs has bounced back to form this season in a big way and in this Handicap Hurdle he looks to have a huge chance with Masters Legacy.

The six year old son of Getaway was a smart hurdler at the start of his career with two wins and a place but at the back end of last term slightly lost his way like many of Hobbs' horses.

With the yard in form at the start of October, Masters Legacy got back to winning ways at Chepstow on seasonal debut when coming from the clouds to win a nice handicap hurdle off 132.

Only 2lb higher for his run on Saturday and stepping up in trip which will suit off the back of his debut run, he looks a big player at 11/2.

A really nice event on the Newcastle card is the Listed Handicap Chase over 2m7f and at the prices Spiritofthegames for Dan Skelton looks a big player.

The nine year old is not getting any younger but has now dropped down to a very feasible mark which has seen him get involved in much better races than this in the past.

Still racing consistently last season over both hurdles and fences, this term he has ran better than his, finishing fourth in a Pertemps qualifier and then finished ninth of 19 in the Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase.

That sets some decent form with this years renewal being very strong and now being 3lb lower than that run, he could go close.

Each way contender.

A race that has turned out some superb winners in the past is sure to do so again is the Listed Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury and we fancy Soaring Glory.

The 11/10 favourite although giving weight away looks tough to beat if running to the same level as his recent form at Ascot.

Frequently seen last term, he beat Bravemansgame on seasonal debut before finishing a narrow second behind the talented Dusart over course and distance.

Pitched into a weak event he took the only fall of his career, but bounced back at Ascot when third behind the superstar My Drogo.

Given a few months off, he returned in the Betfair Hurdle off a mark of 133 and made a mockery of his mark to win the event by three lengths.

This then saw him sent into the Grade One Supreme Novices' Hurdle and ultimately he was outclassed by the Irish runners into fourth.

Not seen until March, he returned over hurdles again this term at Ascot in the Listed London Handicap Hurdle and in a great renewal he took the event in taking style.

That form sets the standard in the race.

The feature event of the afternoon at Newbury is the Grade Three Ladbrokes Trophy and we have two each way selections for the 21 runner event.

The first horse that takes the eye in the prestigious race is the Willie Mullins trained Ontheropes, who at 6/1 offers big value for the thriving yard.

The seven year old son of Presenting looks to have been a hard horse to train over the years, but Mullins seems to have found the key to getting him right and looks a big contender in this event.

In November 2020 he was seen finishing a four lengths second at Fairyhouse behind the Superstar Monkfish, but was not seen again until this term.

Sporting the colours of Cheveley Park Stud, He returned in October in the Munster National Handicap Chase over three miles off a mark of 141 where he won going away.

The Ladbrokes has been the big aim since that event and with Mullins targeting the event with other nice horses in the past, he is certainly not without a big each way squeak.

Fiddlerontheroof is the second selection and he burst onto the novice hurdle scene two seasons ago with an impressive win in the Grade One Tolworth at Sandown on deep ground.

He looked severely outpaced in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle after that and could only manage 11th, but after a break he returned to the track as a chaser in October.

Starting in a tight three runner field, he ran well enough for his first outing with If The Cap Fits running out the winner. His next start yielded his first chase win when taking out a Beginners Chase at Exeter and after that, he finished second in three Grade Two races over fences.

Beaten by Caribean Boy at Newbury over 2.5 miles and then Allart over the same trip at Ascot, Fiddlerontheroof was sent off favourite both times and found one too good on each occasion.

Moved up in trip to three miles, he again only contested in a small field. Coming second this time to Next Destination, but overall it was an improved runIt was another second for the Bridesmaid last at the Cheltenham festival in the Grade One Brown Advisory Novices' Chase, this time giving a career best performance to only be beaten by Monkfish.

He finished off last term at Aintree in the Mildmay Novices' Chase and having been burnt out throughout the season he could only manage third, a long way behind the winner.

Back for another season this term, this time going into open company, he made a very impressive seasonal return in the Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Listed Chase, seeing off the likes of Silver Hallmark and Espoir De Romay.

He is certain to come on for that run and has always looked to be better over a decent trip and he gets that in this race, especially racing off a nice mark.

Big each way player.

The feature race from Newcastle on Saturday is the Grade One Fighting Fifth Hurdle and last year's winner Epatante looks tough to beat if fully tuned up for it.

The JP McManus owned superstar has been seen 10 times since coming to England under the Seven Barrows handler and has gone on to land six of her races, including three Grade One events.

Two seasons ago the British raider started off in the Gerry Feilden Intermediate Hurdle at Newbury and then on her final start before Cheltenham landing the Grade One Christmas Hurdle at Kempton on Boxing Day.

This set her up perfectly for the Champion Hurdle when going off favourite and under a cool ride by Barry Geraghty went on to land the prestigious event with ease.

She was the mare to beat in the two mile hurdling division heading into last season and cemented that thought on seasonal debut when landing the Grade One Fighting Fifth, never coming off the Bridle.

However, from there her season went downhill, being dethroned by Silver Streak in the Grade One Christmas Hurdle and then being well beaten into third in her title defence of the Champion Hurdle.

She was last seen in the Punchestown Champion Hurdle, again finishing third behind Honeysuckle and Sharjah.

The seven year old this season is looking to get back to the top of the division and she was recently seen in a team of five at Newbury for some much-needed work on turf which he has been tricky to do at home due to the dry autumn.

Primed for a big run.

The final pick of the afternoon is the Sam Thomas trained Grey Diamond who looks a potential improver off the back of his seasonal debut.

The seven year old last term was a consistent type that started to get more competitive towards the back end of the season when winning a good handicap chase off a mark of 128 at Sandown and then backed that up at Aintree in the Grade Three Red Rum Handicap Chase when a close fifth of 18.

Making his seasonal debut this term off a mark of 133 he finished a valiant third behind Amoola Gold and Monsieur Lecoq and that form has since been franked.

Off 1lb lower Grey Diamond is huge player in this event, with race fitness now on his side.