N.H. racing at Newbury and Newcastle

At last a full programme from the U.K. today, wth two jumps meetings and also two flat meetings on the all-weather. Not surprisingly there are some large fields at Newbury and Newcastle today, and the going at both tracks is reportedly good to soft.

Perhaps the most interesting horse on view is Nicky Henderson´s giant Mad Max (Tony McCoy), who runs in the 2 mile 3 furlongs novice hurdle at 14.55 CET at Newbury. This huge horse, one of the biggest in training, is still unbeaten after winning both his bumpers here, and was odds-on when making a winning debut over hurdles before Christmas at Ascot. This race is no walkover, as the other penalised runners, Cockney Trucker (Philip Hobbs/ Richard Johnson), Shoreacres (Brendan Powell/ Keith Renwick) and Teddy´s reflection (Henrietta Knight/ Dominic Elsworth) hae also shown above-average ability. It could be yet another proftable day for Hemderson, who also saddles a promising newcomer in Optimus Maximus (McCoy) in the opening 4yo hurdle and also two runners with chances in the novice chase at 14.20: French Opera (Marcus Foley) and Shabadti (Sam Waley-Cohen); the one they have to beat is Philip Hobs´ CD winner Planet of Sound (Johnson).

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Mount Helicon - Optimus Maximus - Art Exhibition
2.Race: Planet Of Sound - French Opera - Shatabdi
3.Race: Mad Max - Cockney Trucker - Shoreacres
4.Race: Night Safe - Tarotino - Master Somerville
5.Race: Russian Flag - Honour`S Dream - Kikos
6.Race: Jaunty Flight - Arctic Magic - Pyleigh Lady
7.Race: Zazamix - Lidar - Swell Fellow



At Newcastle, the best race is the beginners chase over 3 miles at 14.00. Nine de Sivola (Ferdy Murphy/ Graham Lee) is the class act, having been runner-up four times running in good handicaps, but he ran badly last time out and seems to have an aversion to winning. Both Hockenheim (Howatd Johnson/ Denis O´Regan) and Bold Ransom (Keith and James Reveley) will test him today. However the former fares, his team should take the following novice hurdle over 3 miles with the promising On Raglan Road, runner-up to te smart Junior last time out. He holds Grizebeck (Nicky Richards/ Davy Condon) - who had won his 4 previous races, 3 of them on the flat - on that form, and Sphinx (Edwin Tuer/ Keith Mercer), who made a decent but berlated hurdles debut recently, can follow him home.

Betting forecast:
1.Race: Naturally Inspired - Stormy Waters - Lemon Drizzle
2.Race: Nine De Sivola - Hockenheim - Bold Ransom
3.Race: On Raglan Road - Grizebeck - Border Reiver
4.Race: The Whisperer - Stagecoach Opal - Silver By Nature
5.Race: Dark Gentleman - Kirkside Pleasure - Admiral Savannah
6.Race: Nelliedonethat - Mistral De La Cour - Storm Surge
7.Race: Penny Queen - Sure Josie Sure - Zoenicibel