Tag Archive for: Newbury

The Big Bite digs deep to secure Greatwood Gold

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The Big Bite rolled back the years to edge his way to BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase glory at Newbury.

Third in the race behind Umbrigado in 2021, he was without a victory since his debut for trainer Henry Oliver in November 2020 and was sent off the 12-1 outsider in first-time cheekpieces for a contest which delivered a thrilling finish.

The new headgear seemed to spark some life into the 10-year-old who moved up to challenge long-time leader Gemirande as the field exited the back straight.

A good jump at the third last saw the veteran move to the front and it briefly looked like Jonathan Burke was going to quickly sail clear of the field.

But Gemirande proved a tough nut to crack and Venetia Williams’ game seven-year-old was giving The Big Bite plenty to think about all the way up the Newbury home straight – still only a head in arrears as the pair flashed past the winning post.

“We were delighted with him,” said Oliver.

“The owners have been superb and incredibly patient because he isn’t a horse who runs every week. He is quite a light-framed horse and he doesn’t take a lot of racing.

“He didn’t stay three miles at the start of the season and then we ran him over two and a half on deep ground at Chepstow which wasn’t for him.

“He had some tidy form last year – he was second, beaten a length, behind a horse who was second in a Champion Chase (Funambule Sivola) and he is more of a spring ground type horse these days.

“Johnny Burke gave him a lovely ride and he had dropped to a nice mark.”

On the impact of the cheekpieces, he added: “To be fair, he just needed sharpening up because he was quirky here two years ago, looking around and being the (son of) Scorpion that he is. I think he is genuine when he puts his mind on the job and they just help put his mind on the job.

“He was quite sharp when I tried them on him Thursday and I thought that’s going to help him keep his mind on the job. Johnny had suggested them at the end of last year and we decided to save them for a day like today.”

The victory brought up a half-century of winners for the successful rider Burke, who can look forward to partnering the likes of Love Envoi and Queens Gamble at the Cheltenham Festival later this month.

Under Control has Newbury covered in stylish winning debut

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Bigger things can be expected from Under Control having made a winning debut for Nicky Henderson at Newbury.

A winner at Fontainebleau in her only previous start, the four-year-old was sent off 5-4 favourite for her UK bow in the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle.

Her victory was one half of a double on the day for Henderson and jockey Nico de Boinville – who also landed the concluding Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle with Spring Note (5-2).

Owned by JP McManus, Under Control travelled with real enthusiasm throughout before putting the race to bed with minimal fuss, De Boinville motionless in the saddle as she delivered a four-and-a-half-length verdict.

The master of Seven Barrows was quick to to rule out an appearance in the Ryanair Mares’ Novice Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but admitted Aintree’s Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle is a possibility.

“I was delighted with her, it was an impressive performance,” said Henderson.

“She’s only had one run in her life and I didn’t know what to expect. She’s not a great big filly and we haven’t had her very long. Her jumping needed a bit of educating, but she’s very straight and I thought she was good today. It was a very nice debut.

“She jumped beautifully. We actually schooled her this morning before we went to the races – Nico came and gave her a pop in the indoor school because it has taken her a bit of time to get the hang of it and it did her good actually.

Under Control ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville wins the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse
Under Control ridden by jockey Nico de Boinville wins the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle at Newbury Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

“She’s not going to go to Cheltenham, but it’s not to say we won’t think about Aintree – mainly because hopefully all the good Irish horses will stay at home and go to Punchestown!

“I’m not saying she’s a superstar because she has got a very long way to go, but it was a very pleasing debut.”

A trip to Merseyside is also on the cards for Ben Pauling’s Twig (4-9 favourite) who dropped back in both grade and trip to record victory in the BetVictor Proud Sponsors Of Newbury Juvenile Hurdle.

“In my eyes he is definitely a three-miler, but the River Don was a really rough race – he was among the thick of it the whole way,” explained Pauling.

“He’s a horse that doesn’t overly love the hustle and bustle of a race like that and he needs to be treated with kid gloves a little bit.

“I was delighted to see him back on track and also see Doncaster hadn’t left a mark. He did it nicely, American Sniper set us a good target and there was going to be no hiding place – I thought Beau (Morgan, jockey) gave him a lovely ride and produced him to win nicely.

“He will probably go to Aintree – whether he runs in the three-mile handicap or the three mile novice (Sefton Novices’ Hurdle) I don’t know yet, but Aintree will probably be his target.”

Emitom made a successful start to life in the care of Alan King in the Play Pick 6 At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle.

Emitom ridden by jockey Tom Cannon on their way to winning the Play Pick 6 at Betvictor Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) at Newbury Racecourse
Emitom ridden by jockey Tom Cannon on their way to winning the Play Pick 6 at Betvictor Handicap Hurdle (Qualifier) at Newbury Racecourse (John Walton/PA)

Runner-up in the Sefton and winner of the Rendlesham Hurdle when trained by Warren Greatrex, he had somewhat lost his way of late. But a change of scenery appears to have worked the oracle and the nine-year-old rolled back the years in style to oblige at 100-30 in the hands of Tom Cannon.

“I was delighted today,” said King. “All we have done is give him a change of scenery and freshen him up.

“I thought coming to the races today he would either win or pull up and nothing in between, but he seems to have enjoyed himself.

“There’s no plans, all we’re going to do is go home and regroup – I’m not going to get excited or overface him. It’s great today, but let’s not get carried away.”

There was also a double on the card for jockey Ben Ffrench Davis who took the opening A-Plan Insurance Supporting West Berkshire Mencap Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle aboard Sashenka (4-1) before adding the West Berkshire Mencap Handicap Chase on William de Best-Turner’s Calgary Tiger (13-8 joint favourite).

Hobbs anticipating Great test for Zanza at Newbury

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Philip Hobbs feels his “staggering” stable stalwart Zanza has plenty on his plate in his bid for a sixth victory at Newbury in Saturday’s BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup.

The nine-year-old has been beaten only once in six previous appearances at the Berkshire circuit and that was when sixth in the 2020 Betfair Hurdle.

He ran away with a handicap chase at Newbury in November, but few gave him much of a chance in last month’s Grade Two Denman Chase, in which he powered seven lengths clear of the high-class Hitman.

Hobbs said: “That win was obviously fantastic and we were very lucky in a way that it happened in an ITV race, with Tom O’Brien riding as well. It was all great.”

The Minehead handler is looking forward to sending Zanza back to his favourite track this weekend, but feels a 15lb hike in the weights, coupled with a drop in distance, will make life difficult.

“He is also in the Premier Chase at Kelso on Saturday, but Newbury is his first preference and that was always the plan,” Hobbs added.

“He is a staggering horse, in that his form at Newbury is so much better than elsewhere.

“Unfortunately now, though, for winning the Denman, which obviously the handicapper didn’t think he would, he has paid the penalty and gone up a hell of a lot, and actually two and a half (miles) is on the short side as well. I think this time, it might be a little less easy than it has been before.

“They have altered the ground to good and have taken out the good to firm in places. As far as Zanza is concerned, fast ground is not an issue anyway. The biggest issue now is his new handicap mark.”

Paint The Dream in action at Newbury
Paint The Dream in action at Newbury (Alan Crowhurst/PA)

Zanza is one two horses set to carry the welter burden of 12st along with last year’s winner Paint The Dream.

Fergal O’Brien’s charge reverts to handicap company after finishing a well-beaten third behind Pic D’Orhy in the Grade Two Silviniaco Conti Chase at Kempton in January.

O’Brien said of his three-time course winner: “He’s in great form and we’re very happy with him. Fingers crossed he can do it again.

“It’s a slighter harder task than last year, but he’ll be doing his best.

“He loves the place and he’ll love the ground, so we’re looking forward to it.”

The Tom Lacey-trained Sebastopol makes his first appearance since springing a surprise in a Grade Two novice event at Newbury in November, while Chris Gordon’s Lord Baddesley – another previous Newbury winner – bids to follow up an impressive recent verdict at Plumpton.

Gordon said: “He jumped beautifully at Plumpton and has grown up a lot this year. He’s got a few more races under his belt and I was really thrilled with him at Plumpton.

“If we can just progress a little bit more, hopefully we’ve got a great chance.

“He’s got a good racing weight (10st 2lb), although I’m not sure the jockey (Tom Cannon) would agree as I think it’s the lightest he’s done for a while – he could be pretty hungry on Saturday!”

Espoir De Guye (Paul Nicholls), The Big Bite (Henry Oliver) and Gemirande (Venetia Williams) complete the septet.

Postmark stamps likely Boodles ticket in Newbury victory

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Milton Harris will give Postmark one more run before a crack at the Boodles Juvenile Handicap Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, after a cosy victory at Newbury on Sunday.

The four-year-old, who is part-owned by former West Ham and Bournemouth manager Harry Redknapp, was a useful handicapper on the Flat – including winning in the Racing League under Frankie Dettori – yet was a little disappointing on his hurdling bow when seventh of nine at Kempton over Christmas.

However, Mitch Bastyan’s mount proved a different proposition on his second attempt, drawing away after the last in the Bloomfields Horseboxes Presents The Raceline Professional Maiden Hurdle to beat three rivals by five and a half lengths and upwards, the good to firm ground putting him in a better light.

Speaking from St Moritz, Harris said of his 11-8 favourite: “He is a nice horse and I expected him to win today. He just didn’t like that ground last time at Kempton.

“I know the race cut up a bit, but the second horse (Up For Appeal) might be a nice horse.

“He is only a four-year-old. We just might look at giving him another quick run and consider then going for the Boodles. We have to have three runs before going there. I think he is a nice horse.”

Few horses in training are as consistent as Mortlach and he rewarded owners Richard Hames and Doug Pocock with a seventh success since April last year, taking the Stewart Wright Memorial Novices’ Handicap Chase by four and three-quarter lengths under Paddy Brennan.

The 11-10 favourite had finished runner-up on four occasions – including in the Grade Two Rising Stars Novices’ Chase at Wincanton – and was third in both the John Francome and the Kauto Star, since last scoring at Kelso in October.

Fergal O’Brien is not ruling Mortlach out of the Cheltenham Festival
Fergal O’Brien is not ruling Mortlach out of the Cheltenham Festival (David Davies/PA)

Trainer Fergal O’Brien feels there is still an outside possibility the eight-year-old will line up in either the Sporting Life Arkle Trophy or the Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham.

He said: “I’m just delighted for Mortlach. He has been a good servant.

“When he runs in these big races, like he did at Christmas, he’s always trying his best and if Paddy feels he can’t win, then he kind of looks after him.

“He’s been so consistent – he turns up every week and he’s had plenty of races and he’s done us proud.

“He loves racing and he’s very straightforward. He spends most of his time in his field, eating what little grass is there.

“We might probably head to Kempton next Saturday with him. Two miles is probably short for him, so we’ll see him better over two and a half.

“You’d be a brave man to presume he won’t go to Cheltenham, especially where Paddy is concerned.

“Last year the Turners cut up and you just never say never. That’s why he has got those entries. You just don’t know who will turn up. We are having such a dry spell, you just never know.”

Favourite-backers were also on cloud nine when Cloud Dancer justified his 6-4 odds in taking the Bloomfields Horseboxes Presents The Raceline Professional Junior “National Hunt” Hurdle under Niall Houlihan.

The Gary Moore-trained runner, making his hurdling debut, stayed on well after the last in the extended two-mile heat to score by five and a half lengths.

Flying Nun (7-2 favourite) put two lacklustre runs at Hereford behind her to plunder the three-mile Byerley Stud Mares’ Handicap Hurdle for Emma Lavelle, while there was a walkover for Dalamoi in the novices’ Limited Handicap Chase when sole rival Quick Draw was withdrawn because of the quick ground.

Family Business (9-4) was far from fluent on the first circuit of the Kevin & Karen Waller’s 60th Birthday Handicap Chase, yet warmed to the task when pulled out down the back straight by Gavin Sheehan.

The Richard Hobson-trained six-year-old soon had his two opponents in trouble turning for home and went on to score by eight lengths.

No Cheltenham, but Keighley excited at what the future holds for Shinji

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Shinji, who showed plenty of promise when finishing third in a Newbury bumper on Saturday, will bypass the championship event at Cheltenham.

The Kingston Hill gelding, owned by Louise Jones, gave Flat trainer Roget Varian his first success in the National Hunt code with an eyecatching nine-length success at Fakenham in November.

He subsequently joined Martin Keighley and under Sam Twiston-Davies was only beaten two and a half lengths by Aslukgoes at Newbury.

“I was thrilled with Shinji,” said Keighley.

“Sam said he must have some engine to pull as hard as he did. He said he basically ran away with him until he eventually settled in front.

“If he’d have settled from the start, he would probably have won. He is a most exciting horse.”

However, his Condicote-based handler is not keen to run him at the Cheltenham Festival, as he lacks experience.

“He had one run for Roger Varian and he won impressively that day, but he didn’t really beat much. Aidan Coleman still said he did it well, though.

“I think it is too much to ask for a four-year-old to run in a Champion Bumper. He would go to Aintree, I’d say.

“He will make an exciting hurdler for next season. We have schooled him and he jumps well, so we’re looking forward to him.

“He will get further. He is a real strong stayer – he must be to pull as hard as he did (at Newbury) and still hit the line so well.”

Keighley has his string in great heart, and Prairie Diamond was the yard’s fifth winner in the last fortnight when scoring on his debut in the bumper at Hereford on Wednesday.

“They are in really good form at the moment. I’m really pleased with Prairie Diamond,” added the handler.

“He is a big baby, but he came in late. I still own three-quarters of him, so I will have to sell the rest of him now.”

Aslukgoes could be Aintree-bound for rookie trainer Brookhouse

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Aslukgoes has rookie Newmarket trainer Ben Brookhouse dreaming of a championship National Hunt Flat race after he took the Betfair Racing Only Better Podcast Bumper at Newbury.

The five-year-old won two bumpers for Ian Williams last summer when Ben was his assistant and he made it a hat-trick with a convincing success under Jack Quinlan.

Brookhouse – whose father, Roger, owns the 8-1 winner – is unlikely to head to the Champion Bumper at Cheltenham, and may instead wait for Aintree.

Asluckgoes/Newbury
Aslukgoes and Jack Quinlan after landing the Betfair Racing Only Better Podcast Bumper at Newbury (Simon Milham/PA)a

“This lad can run in five bumpers, including a championship bumper,” he said.

“We are planning to take full advantage of that to give him as much education as possible before he goes hurdling and the more racing he is getting, the more relaxed he is getting.

“There is even the possibility he could go to Punchestown, as the rules are different over there.

“We had this horse at Ian’s and he put in all the groundwork with him and he taught me how to deal with him.

“Cheltenham’s great, but I’ve got a nice team of horses and this is only my first year and these horses have got to last me, so I wouldn’t have thought he will go there. Aintree would quite possibly be up his street.”

The well-worn ‘back the outsider of three’ idiom paid off when 13-2 shot Coeur Serein upset the form book in the Best Odds On The Betfair Exchange Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase.

Continuing the good form of the Jonjo O’Neill stable, the nine-year-old relished the good ground and drew clear of Unanswered Prayers after jumping upsides at the last of the 18 fences in the extended two-mile-seven-furlong event.

Paul Nicholls saddled subsequent King George VI Chase winner Bravemansgame to win this contest last term, but his odds-on favourite this time, McFabulous, was never travelling and pulled up on the final circuit.

After Coeur Serein’s nine-length success under his son, Jonjo O’Neill Jr, the winning trainer quipped: “He’ll go to the King George and he’ll win it easier – I’ve already fooled the owner up until now!”

The Andy Ralph-owned gelding, who had finished eighth in a Doncaster handicap last time, could head to the Cheltenham Festival next.

O’Neill added: “He loves the ground. He only runs well on good ground. We honestly thought with McFabulous, we’d run for place money and for third you’d get three grand. It’s better than schooling at home.

“He might go for the three-miler, the Ultima, as he might get in now. We’ll see how he is after this.”

On a memorable afternoon for Chris Gordon, Annual Invictus (6-1) took the Betfair Multiples Offer Every Saturday Handicap Hurdle.

It was a family affair for the yard, as his son, 7lb claimer Freddie Gordon, scored by three lengths after kicking for home early in the three-mile contest, sparking a double on the afternoon for his father, who would go on to take the Betfair Hurdle with Aucunrisque.

The young rider, who is based with Paul Nicholls, could be pushed towards the amateur title next season after riding his seventh winner of the season.

Annual Invictus and Freddie Gordon power clear to score
Annual Invictus and Freddie Gordon power clear to score (Tim Goode/PA)

The winning trainer said: “I wouldn’t be putting him on a horse if I didn’t think he was capable of it.

“We had a blip in December and January and we shut up for three weeks.

“Sadly, Unanswered Prayers bled in the first race and that is what a lot of mine were doing early, so it is still lingering around.

“I will try to keep him in the easiest company I can.

“He is a very good horse on his day, but once or twice he has really thrown it in, so he’s got a character in there.

“I might just look for a little chase and see where we are. I might chop and change with him.”

Love Is Golden and Niall Houlihan (left) took the novice hurdle
Love Is Golden and Niall Houlihan (left) took the novice hurdle (Tim Goode/PA)

Love Is Golden (11-1) has been a fairly useful handicapper on the Flat and started to translate that good form to hurdles.

The Golden Horn five-year-old produced a slick round of jumping to claim the Daily Tips On betting.betfair.com Novices’ Hurdle under Niall Houlihan, scoring by six lengths from Holetown Hero.

Assistant trainer Josh Moore said: “Whether it is the strongest race, I wouldn’t be sure. But he has jumped very well, which what I was pleased about.

“He was off a reasonable rating on the Flat and has taken to hurdles well.

“I don’t know where we will go next. He would be very versatile on ground. It is quick, dead ground, but if it gets softer it wouldn’t be much of a problem. Spring ground would be to his liking.

“We will find out in the future – we’ll run him and try it.

“Niall has had a good time of things of late. I said to him the other day, ‘you’d fall out of the window and you’d go up at the minute!’. He’s in good form.”

Aucunrisque is Betfair Hurdle hero for Chris Gordon

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Aucunrisque foiled an ante-post gamble on Filey Bay in the Betfair Hurdle to give Chris Gordon a red-letter day at Newbury.

Gordon has had his string in red-hot form in recent weeks and had already celebrated a winner earlier on the card when Annual Invictus scored under his son, Freddie.

Gordon fielded two in Europe’s richest handicap hurdle, with Highway One O Two also running. But it was Aucunrisque who was always to the head of affairs under Nick Scholfield.

The winning jockey had spent most of the last year on the sidelines but looked far from rusty on the 9-1 shot.

He did appear a sitting duck, however, as Donagh Meyler loomed up on Filey Bay- but a mistake two out gave the initiative back to Aucunrisque.

The pair pulled 11 lengths clear of Teddy Blue and Yorksea, the Gary Moore pair in third and fourth, but it was Aucunrisque who was a length in front at the line.

Gordon said of the winner, who spent the first half of the season novice chasing: “We’ll go for the Grand Annual with him now.

“He is a wonderful, tough, consistent horse. He gives me no issues. Like the other horse (in the race). They are wonderful, easy horses to train. This one is so consistent. It just makes life so much easier when they are straightforward, which he is. Let’s have a little crack at the Grand Annual and see how we go.”

Aucunrisque leads the packing field in the Betfair Hurdle
Aucunrisque leads the packing field in the Betfair Hurdle (Tim Goode/PA)

He went on: “He is owned by the guv’nor (Julian Head, Goodwin Racing), who sponsors half my yard, so it is fantastic, so I will probably take him into the bar and try to sell him another horse. He has fallen for that too many times.

“This race meant a lot to me growing up. It was the old Schweppes Hurdle. I just always remember that Ryan Price thing (trained four of the first five winners). I always thought ‘those clever trainers’ – and I must hasten to add I’ve proved the whole philosophy wrong – those shrewd trainers won it and now I have. I thought my other horse would win, so I’ve proved that completely wrong.

“I went to Josh Gifford’s when I was 14 years old on work experience from my school. Because I was such a delinquent at school, they used to send me off on special escapades. So they sent me to Josh’s. That Ryan Price/Josh Gifford (was the jockey on all of Price’s winners) thing means it is a very important race to me,

“This ranks right up there on memorable days, especially with my son winning the earlier race. It is a special day, a really special day.”

He added: “We were going to go for the Lightning Chase at Doncaster, but I thought if I get lucky and go and win it, he might go up a couple of pounds. So I thought let’s have a go at a proper race and it has worked out.”

He quipped: “I told Nick to tuck in and let them make it, and burst through at the second-last. Maybe if he’d have done that, he might have won by 10 lengths!”

Zanza records landmark success for PhIlip Hobbs in Denman Chase

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Course specialist Zanza provided Philip Hobbs with his 3,000th winner in the Betfair Denman Chase.

Hobbs went the whole of January without a winner as he edged closer to the landmark figure – and it was apt that a stable stalwart like Zanza would provide him with it.

The nine-year-old has only won seven races under rules, with the last five of them now all being at Newbury.

The 16-1 chance was ridden by Tom O’Brien, who since the retirement of Richard Johnson has been stable jockey for Hobbs and his delight was evident as he raised his arm aloft on crossing the line seven lengths ahead of 9-4 favourite Hitman.

For Hobbs, trainer of the likes of Rooster Booster, Monkerhostin, Flagship Uberalles, Menorah, Captain Chris and Defi De Seuil, it was undoubtedly special to have such a winner in a Grade Two event.

He said: “It is extraordinary how this horse is so much better here than anywhere else. I’ve never had a horse to that extent. He’d only ever been beaten once here, which was in the Betfair Hurdle and he was only beaten about three lengths in that.

“I didn’t anticipate that – not on his previous form.

“The obvious race to come for is the handicap in three weeks’ time, but I don’t know what the handicapper will do after that.

“Cheltenham is possible, so supplementing I suppose has to be an option.”

On Johnson White, who has been with the yard for just under 30 years, coming onto the licence, he added: “It has been in the pipeline for some time – he has been with us a very long time and obviously he is a big part of the set-up.

“I think, maybe, if it has to be done, it has to be done sooner rather than later.

“He has got some people who will bring some horses to the table as well.

“The 3,000 has been a bit slow coming in the last few weeks, but we got there eventually.

“It has taken us a long while to do it.”

Asked about the big-race winners over the years, Hobbs said: “Rooster Booster was extraordinary, because he went 18 months without being beaten. He was the highest-rated hurdler in the country at the time. And more recently, Defi Du Seuil won seven Grade Ones.”

Asked about the lack of winners in recent times and whether he was still enjoying training, he said: “I still very much enjoy it. I’m going to be around for a long time.

“Early in my career, we had very few horses and not many winners, either. We have had a very good period in between. It has been a bit slow recently, but hopefully Johnson will bring more to the table.

“I’m a little emotional. It has been a long time, so I suppose that’s right – but not very emotional!

“I’m not thinking of drawing stumps in the slightest. I shall still be there very much as well.”

Hobbs’ wife, Sarah, said: “We have found it difficult as we’ve had about 12 seconds in the last two weeks. We have had 32 seconds and 21 winners, so it has been a nightmare.

“He doesn’t get emotional, but this has been quite difficult, because it has been 2,999 for so long. Everything you try to do, it gets worse.”

Greaneteen purposely ‘a tiny bit short’ ahead of Game Spirit spin

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Greaneteen will tune up for the Queen Mother Champion Chase when lining up in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.

The Paul Nicholls-trained nine-year-old was beaten two lengths into fourth in the Cheltenham Festival day two feature in 2021, but missed out last year through a setback.

He returned to record his third Grade One success in the Celebration Chase later that spring and was in rude health once again in his seasonal reappearance when making all to take the Haldon Gold Cup.

However, the champion trainer believes Greaneteen ran flat when subsequently second to Edwardstone in defence of his Tingle Creek crown in December and is keen to stress he has left plenty to work on ahead of his Newbury outing, with bigger things to come for Harry Cobden’s mount later in the season.

He said: “He won the Haldon Gold Cup and was then second in the Tingle Creek.

“He loves good ground and we always keep him for the spring. Last year we made the mistake of running him over Christmas at Kempton on soft ground but this was always going to be his prep for the Champion Chase as I’d worked out several of the others were going different places.

“This is a nice race for him but I have left plenty to work on from now until March, as opposed to when he ran in the Haldon Gold Cup. He was ready for his life that day and it was a fantastic performance off his mark and he won nicely.

Jockey Harry Cobden (left) and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) celebrate after Greaneteen wins the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter
Jockey Harry Cobden (left) and trainer Paul Nicholls (right) celebrate after Greaneteen wins the Betway Haldon Gold Cup at Exeter (David Davies/PA)

“I think he ran a bit flat in the Tingle Creek. Whether that was because I had him ready for the Haldon Gold Cup early, rather than use it as a stepping stone and him improve into the Tingle Creek, he may just have been a bit flat.

“So, we’ve left him a tiny little bit short on purpose, he goes well fresh and obviously we are hoping this will set him up for the Champion Chase and the Celebration.”

Venetia Williams’ Funambule Sivola edged out Sceau Royal to win this 12 months ago before going on to finish second to Energumene in the Champion Chase, but has failed to hit those heights this term and could not get involved in the rearranged Clarence House Chase recently.

In contrast, Joe Tizzard’s Elixir De Nutz left behind a disappointing start to the campaign at Ascot to go close at Doncaster before registering an impressive success at Wincanton last time.

“When he was second at Doncaster we pulled well clear of the third horse and that was a super run, then he put in a good performance at Wincanton over two and a half (miles),” jockey Brendan Powell told Talksport 2.

“He’s probably got a little bit to find on ratings, but there is no reason why he shouldn’t be bang there. He loves it over two miles and Newbury should suit him, so hopefully he can get into a nice rhythm. He stays the two miles really well, so hopefully we will be picking up some prize-money.”

Another horse arriving in peak condition who has been given the chance to test the waters at graded level is Peter Niven’s Malystic.

The nine-year-old has thrived in handicap company the last twice and having reached a career high rating, is reported to be thriving ahead of his hat-trick bid amongst elite company.

“He’s come out of his race a couple of weeks ago really well,” said Niven.

“He’s obviously very high in the handicap and we are short of races really. There is another handicap at Doncaster at the start of March, but he seems so well and I thought if he’s going to have a go in a graded race, this might be right one.

“Obviously Paul’s horse is very good, but you could say there’s question marks about everyone else. I don’t envisage beating Greaneteen, but anything can happen in a horse race as we all know.

“I don’t know what the ground is like, I keep hearing varied reports and if I go down there and it’s very quick, we’ll turn round and bring him home again. But hopefully it is fine.”

Fergal O’Brien’s consistent performer Mortlach completes the quintet heading to post.

Nicholls backing Hitman for Denman redemption

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Hitman has the opportunity to put his King George disappointment behind him when he lines up in the Betfair Denman Chase at Newbury.

A head second in the Old Roan at Aintree on his seasonal bow, the Paul Nicholls-trained seven-year-old went on to record an impressive 11-length success in a Haydock graduation chase before pulling up in Kempton’s Christmas showpiece on Boxing Day.

However, the champion trainer is willing to put a line through that performance and is backing the Falco gelding to bounce back in a Grade Two contest he holds a fine record in.

Hitman during a visit to Paul Nicholls' Manor Farm Stables
Hitman during a visit to Paul Nicholls’ Manor Farm Stables (David Davies/PA)

The Ditcheat handler has won this twice in the last four years, with both Clan Des Obeaux (2019) and Secret Investor (2021) finding the scoresheet, while the likes of Kauto Star, Denman himself and Silviniaco Conti also feature on the roll of honour for Nicholls.

“It’s been a very good race for us and has always been a very good race on the way to Cheltenham,” said Nicholls.

“Kauto Star won it, Denman won it, all sorts of good horses have won it. Secret Investor beat Clan Des Obeaux one year and Clan went on to win at Aintree.

“It’s a good race, I love winning it, obviously with it being named after Denman.

“Hitman was very fancied in the King George on soft ground. He got a little bit behind then made a really bad mistake which took him out of the race, you can basically put a line through that run.

“He loves good ground, he won at Newbury on decent ground two years ago.

“He’s in good shape and it will tell us if he gets the three miles well, then we can run him over a trip and if he doesn’t then he could end up in the Ryanair.

“He’s very very well and I think he’s got a great chance.”

The Tizzard family are another operation with a fine record in this contest thanks to three-time winner Native River, while Eldorado Allen added to the Venn Farm tally 12 months ago.

That was the nine-year-old’s first try over three miles, but the defending champion has matured into the distance this season to such an extent that Joe Tizzard has reached for a pair of cheekpieces.

Eldorado Allen ridden by jockey Brendan Powell goes on to win the Betfair Denman Chase during Betfair Super Saturday at Newbury in 2022
Eldorado Allen ridden by jockey Brendan Powell goes on to win the Betfair Denman Chase during Betfair Super Saturday at Newbury in 2022 (Steven Paston/PA)

“He rarely runs a bad race,” his pilot Brendan Powell told TalkSPORT 2. “I believe he is highest rated on Saturday and after the King George at Kempton, myself and Joe just came to the conclusion to try a bit of headgear on him.

“He’s declared in cheekpieces on Saturday, just to probably make my life a little easier. Last season he was winning a Haldon Gold Cup over two miles, but he made hard work of the King George from a long way out at Kempton and you definitely can’t question his stamina now.

“When we ran in the Denman last year over three miles on good ground I wasn’t convinced he was an out-and-out stayer, but the way he ran at Haydock (Betfair Chase) in soft ground behind Protektorat, it seems stamina is his thing now, so a pair of cheekpieces should hopefully make my life easier and it would be nice to see him get his head in front again.”

Kim Bailey’s Does He Know has seen his Cheltenham victory in November franked since and his handler believes the eight-year-old deserves his chance to test himself in graded company.

He said: “It was a tough race for him (at Cheltenham), it took a lot out of him and we’ve given him plenty of time to come back.

“The plan was to either come here or go to Haydock next weekend and when we looked at the declarations, we felt he was better off running off almost level weights than being the top-end of the handicap, so he deserves his chance to run in a graded race like this and good luck to him.

“Out of this and the Cotswold Chase, this is always the weaker of the two because it falls closer to Cheltenham. I just hope he behaves because the last time he went to Newbury he behaved very badly – he went through the wing in the Challow Hurdle if you remember.

“He seems in a good place and we’re really happy with him, now it’s simply a question of how he behaves.”

Kalashnikov ridden by jockey Jack Quinlan on the way to winning the Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in 2019
Kalashnikov ridden by jockey Jack Quinlan on the way to winning the Devenish Manifesto Novices’ Chase at Aintree in 2019 (Nigel French/PA)

Wetherby’s Rowland Meyrick form will be put to the test when the third Fanion D’Estruval represents Venetia Williams at a venue he has tasted success at in the past, while Kalashnikov faded into sixth on that occasion when making his comeback from a long absence, but Amy Murphy’s stable stalwart is another with some of his finest hours in Berkshire.

“He’s in good form,” said Murphy. “It looks a very good race on paper, but we know he likes Newbury so we thought we would take our chance.

“You would have to think that Newbury is one of his favourite tracks, so hopefully it is worth us being there.

“He had a good blow at Wetherby, so we very much hope he has taken a step forward from that.”

Anthony Honeyball’s Sam Brown and the Philip Hobbs-trained Zanza complete the seven-strong field.