The Daily Star’s top tipster expects a talented handicap hurdler trained by Ben Pauling to enjoy the heavy ground at Newbury on Saturday
LANESBOROUGH (3.20) can make merry in the mud at Newbury in the William Hill Handicap Hurdle today.
Plenty of rain has hit the Berkshire track so handling testing ground will be key, and Ben Pauling’s talented seven-year-old ticks that box.
He may have found conditions a bit quick when disappointing last time in the Lanzarote Hurdle and his previous romp at Doncaster is a better indication of his ability.
He thrashed Williethebuilder by eight and a half lengths that day and the runner-up is now rated 15lb higher after winning his next two.
The handicapper whacked Lanesborough with a 14lb rise but he still has scope for better and he’s a thorough stayer at this 2m½f trip, so should relish what will be no doubt be a stiff test.
Up-and-comers Let It Rain , Un Sens A La Vie and All In You all have the right profile for this race, while Milldam loves the mud and at 20-1 he looks the each-way value.
HAITI COULEURS (2.10) can keep his Cheltenham Gold Cup bid on track by winning today’s William Hill Denman Chase at Newbury.
After a blip in the Betfair Chase, Rebecca Curtis’s stable star – a 10-1 shot for Gold Cup glory – looked better than ever when powering to victory in the Welsh National under a massive weight.
His task has been made easier by the absence of Jango Baie and his main danger is now L’Homme Presse , but there has to be a worry that this comes too soon after that rival’s fine effort in the Cotswold Chase.
Sean Bowen will look to make this a proper stamina test and he should get the job done.
The best punting opportunity today looks to be BELOW THE RADAR (1.35, nap) in the William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle.
The progressive A Pai De Nom will be a warm order, but this three-mile test is going to be a slog and that could play into the hands of the selection.
The heavy-ground winner tackles this trip for the first time but has looked a real grinder over shorter distances.
This could be just what he needs to break his losing streak after running his best race in a while when second in a big field at Haydock last time.
The Newbury card kicks off with the William Hill Racing Epic Boosts Novices’ Hurdle in which a case can be made for Kadastral , but SOBER GLORY (1.00) is fancied to come out on top.
He was very impressive when romping to a 13-length win over course and distance last time and could be a bit special.
Arkle favourite Lulamba heads the market for the William Hill Game Spirit Chase but it could pay to side with the more streetwise SAINT SEGAL (2.45) on this occasion. He’s been a big improver this season dropped to two miles, twice chasing home fairytale improver Thistle Ask when conceding lumps of weight, and winning his other two starts.
He stays further and this trip on testing ground should be right up his street.
The ITV cameras are also at Warwick, where likely hotpot JUBILEE ALPHA (1.15) is hard to oppose at the weights in the Oddschecker Warwick Mares’ Hurdle, while MIRABAD (1.50) is an interesting proposition in the Bet Smarter With Oddschecker Kingmaker Novices’ Chase.
He’s the big outsider of three but gets weight from his more fancied rivals and could get away on the front if Steel Ally doesn’t take him on for the lead.
The old boys do battle in the Unibet Middle Distance Series Veterans’ Handicap Chase and GUARD YOUR DREAMS (2.25) gets the vote to come out on top.
Jason Heavey’s tips NEWBURY 1.00 Sober Glory 1.35 Below The Radar (nap) 2.10 Haiti Couleurs 2.45 Saint Segal 3.20 Lanesborough 3.55 Knight Of Allen (nb) 4.30 Risky Obsession
WARWICK 12.40 Piping Rock 1.15 Jubilee Alpha 1.50 Mirabad 2.25 Guard Your Dreams 3.00 Good Girl Kathleen 3.35 Le Yacht 4.10 Fingle Bridge 4.45 Popton Point
LINGFIELD PARK 12.35 Mister Moet 1.10 Filly Foden 1.45 Francesi 2.20 Galileo Charm 2.55 Monsieur Kodi 3.30 Lazzar 4.05 Muy Muy Loco 4.40 Knight Of Magic
SOUTHWELL 5.30 Himself 6.00 Brazilian Rose 6.30 Charles Darnay 7.00 Hackney Diamonds 7.30 Storm Star 8.00 Calabrian Soldato 8.30 Brazilian Belle