01 March 2024 , 17:33
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BENSON gets the vote to repeat his heroics of 12 months ago when he engages with 17 rivals for the bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (2.50) at Kelsop.
The Sandy Thomson nine-year-old finished with a wet sail to beat Colonel Mustard by a couple of lengths in 2023. And a 5lb higher mark for his title defence may not be enough to Beat Hollow’s son from going in again.
Fourth at Carlisle in October on his chasing debut, Benson then took the same placing back over hurdles at Aintree 16 days before Christmas. Staying over timber, my selection hit the jackpot over two and a half miles at Musselburgh on New Year’s Day before a keeping-on fourth back over the minimum distance in the Scottish County Hurdle at the East Lothian venue last time.
A searching gallop should make for a decent test at the trip and Ryan Mania will again play his hand late as the combination seek to scoop the pot for the second year running.
HIGHSTAKESPLAYER is fancied to scoop the £56,950 winner’s pot on offer for the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (1.55) at Newbury today.
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The Tom Lacey-trained eight-year-old won his first two starts over fences, both at Hereford in the first half of last season, before being sidelined for 458 days.
My selection finally made his return to the fray at Kempton Park last month, when Highstakesplayer defended his unbeaten record over the larger obstacles with a half-length call from Iconic Muddle.
That success came over three miles but Stan Sheppard’s mount has the speed to cope with the step back to two and a half here and a 3lb rise looks within range.
Tom Lacey trains Newsboy's BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase pick Highstakesplayer. (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images)Newbury’s card begins with the Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Veterans' Handicap Chase (1.20), in which it’s worth keeping an eye on last year’s winner, CYCLOP .
David Dennis’s 13-year-old hasn’t excelled on his last three outings, having made the frame with decent efforts on his first three outings of the campaign.
But the British Horseracing Authority number cruncher has dropped Cyclop to a mark of 125 - 5lb beneath the rating from which he captured this race 12 months ago.
At Doncaster, SOME SCOPE has plenty going for him in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (3.40).
After a first win over fences at Catterick Bridge in November, Gavin Sheean’s partner scored by seven and a half lengths over three miles at Doncaster at the end of January - and there is plenty more where that came from.
Charlotte Jones and LUNAR DISCOVERY are expected to prove a potent combination in the Listed Tips For Every Race At raceday-ready.com Mares' Novices' Hurdle (3.10).
Two wins at Hexham combined with seconds at Haydock Park and Carlisle make the Jimmy Moffatt trainee the clubhouse leader in terms of form, and a first try at three miles should trigger another personal best.
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After a return-to-form third over course and distance on his most recent outing, MALYSTIC looks capable of exploiting a drop in the weights when he locks horns with six opponents for the Free Digital Racecard At raceday-ready.com Handicap Chase (2.35).
On Kelso’s Morebattle Hurdle undercard, Jonjo O’Neill’s Monbeg Genius warms up for the Grand National in the Listed bet365 Premier Chase (3.25), but preference is for AYE RIGHT .
Now trained in tandem by Harriet Graham and Gary Rutherford, the 11-year-old shows no signs of slowing down and a reproduction of his second to Sam Brown in a veterans’ chase at Warwick seven weeks ago will put him in the mix.
O’Neill may have better luck with ITSO FURY in the bet465 Handicap Hurdle (1.42), while PERSONAL AMBITION gets the nod for the Grade 2 bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (2.17).