Newbury Saturday Preview - 30/11/19

The first race of the day sets the tone for the whole meeting with a Listed Mares Novices Hurdle contest over three miles and we are siding with Silver Forever for Paul Nicholls.

This five year old was a smart bumper horse not coming outside the top three on all four of her starts but now hurdling she has come on a huge amount.

She is unbeaten over hurdles this season with a nice win at Chepstow on her first start over flights and latest when taking on Floressa at Newbury and winning, she meets the mare again today in what is set to be a cracker.

The Grade Two John Francome Novices Chase is one of the feature contests on the Newbury card and this contest over 2 mile 7 furlongs sees some superb horses go to post.

Reserve Tank for trainer Colin Tizzard is a highly impressive recruit for the yard now novice chasing but last season showed clear ability when landing a Grade One over hurdles.

He has had only two starts over fences, finishing a weak second of three runners on his seasonal debut which looked like a prep run as he then took the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices Chase at Wincanton.

That sets the form in this contest and he looked a staying type off the back of his last run.

The Class 2 race up next sees an improving field of runners go to post and the horse that takes the eye is the Philip Hobbs trained Westend Story.

This eight year old could turn out to be a superstar horse with the form line he holds when finishing fourth last season behind Defi Du Seuil, Topofthegame and Black Op at Exeter.

He has only raced once since then in October which was a come back run to set him up nicely and get him fitter for this contest.

Another Class Two Handicap follows and Star Of Lanka for trainer Warren Greatrex looks a huge price at 14/1 to take the spoils off the back of his seasonal debut.

This five year old was up and down last year winning at Hereford in December but when upped in grade massively struggled to keep up with leaders.

He made his seasonal debut at the start of November finishing second on heavy ground with the gelding coming on for that race he looks a huge price.

The Intermediate Hurdle over two miles on Saturday sees the return of the very likeable Epatante who looked a serious prospect last season when winning both her starts over hurdles before unfortunately flopping at the Cheltenham festival.

The Nicky Henderson trained mare won nicely at Kempton before romping the field at Exeter to put her favourite for the Grade Two Mares Hurdle.

It was said that she was not quite right before that race having her flu jab just weeks before the meeting with the Equine Flu saga still in the air and it obviously unsettled her.

Now back for a fresh new season she can get back to her best and currently at 9/2 she looks a huge price for this race she is capable of winning.

The feature race on the Saturday at Newbury is the Grade Three Ladbrokes Trophy and with 24 going to post we fancy two big selections.

The first is the Emma Lavelle trained De Rasher Counter and this seven year old gelding looks to be a big improver for a inform yard.

De Rasher Counter made his seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter finishing sixth of 11 runners that was more used as a prep run to blow away the cob webs and it certainly did that.

The gelding should be much fitter and stronger for that run and he has an added advantage on some of the field having been a course winner last season.

The step up in trip will be welcome for Emma Lavelle's runner with three miles previously proving to be a really steady stamina test for him.

Secondly at a bigger price is The Conditional for trainer David Bridgwater who has started the season off in really healthy form.

This contest is a huge step up to contests he has been racing in previously but from what he has already done this season he looks like a horse to improve for his runs.

The seven year old made his seasonal bow at Worcester in a weak event finishing third of six runners that was used as a prep run to get him fitter.

He then went to Cheltenham for jumps racing HQ's October meeting and stepped up a huge amount to take the Class 2 Handicap Chase with that form being franked since.

The gelding went on to beat West Approach for Colin Tizzard and during the November meeting that horse went on to land a competitive race that boosts The Conditional.

The final race of the afternoon is the Ladbrokes Handicap Chase and in this Class 2 event over two miles No Comment for Phillip Hobbs looks overpriced.

The eight year old ran to a fair standard over fences last season with his stand out run coming at the Cheltenham festival when finishing fifth of 23 runners in the Kim Muir.

He made his seasonal debut at Hereford and finished a modest third in an average event but should be stronger for that run and poses a big each way threat.