Newbury and Doncaster today

Today´s two main meetings are at Newbury and Doncaster and the best races are all over fences. Great Gold Cup over 2 1/2 miles at 16.10 CET t Newbury is a handovap chase and looks very opn, with all 9 runners holding a chance. Top-weight Our Vic (David Pipe/ Danny Cook) found 3 1/2 miles on heavy ground too far last time, but is still a class act, while Can´t Buy Time (Jonjo O´Neill/ Tony McCoy) has not been seen since winning at Cheltenham at New Year. Battlecry (Nigel Twiston-Davies/ Paddy Brennan) has not won for 2 years, but has been placed numerous times and should certainly be in the money. Paul Nicholls´ two runners must be strongly considered- Big Fella Thanks (Barry Geraghty), who may neeed further, and in particular Pasco, the choice of Ruby Walsh. He always runs well here, and although his best form is all at shorter, he is still our selection.

There are also some classy performers in the veterans chase over 3 1/4 miles at 15.35, although some of them possibly have their best days behind them. This seems true of Gone to Lunch (Jeremy Scott/Tom Siddall), who was runner-up in the Scottish Grand National in 2008, but has showed little since and is still on a very high mark. We have no hesitation in preferring Trabolgan (Nicky Henderson/ Geraghty), who won the Hennessy over this CD back in 2005, but was then off the track for 3 years. However he has shaped promisingly on his two runs this season, and could be back in the winners enclosure again. Briery Fox (Henry Daly/ Mark Bradburne, who stays really well, looks the main danger off a good racing weight. Also at Newbury, Nicholls and Walsh can complete their usual Saturday double with Marc Aurele, part-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson, in the handicap hurdle at 17.45.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Acknowledgement - Coeur De Fou - Osric
2. Race: Trabolgan - Eric`S Charm - Knowhere
3. Race: Can`T Buy Time - Pasco - Battlecry
4. Race: Marc Aurele - Benfleet Boy - Nearby
5. Race: Be There In Five - Arkose - Aiteen Thirtythree
6. Race: Bormo - Wheels Up - Mister Wiseman
7. Race: Blue Monster - Rock On Ruby - Karasenir




Main event at Doncaster is the Grimthorpe handicap chase over 3 1/4 miles at 16.25, often a guide to the Grand National. Although Comply or Die misses the race (because the going is too fast), There should still be National clues here and we hope to see Cloudy Lane (Donald McCain/ Brian Harding) and German-bred Air Force One (Charlie Mann/ Paul Moloney) fight out the finish. A son of Lando, the latter will like the going, and another German-bred of Charlie Mann´ s Wendel (Peter Toole) also has a good chance in the 3 mile handicap hurdle at 15.20, even though he is coming off a break and has never run beyond 2 1/2 miles before. Otherwise we expect to see Alan King and Choc Thornton land a double here with Hurricane Milly in the valuable bumper at 17.00 and Junior in the beginners chase at 17.35.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Shadrack - Quick Live - Overturn
2. Race: According To Pete - Berwick Law - Spring Breeze
3. Race: Laskari - Pearlysteps - L`Eldorado
4. Race: Possol - Wogan - Gidam Gidam
5. Race: Hurricane Milly - Cucumber Run - Osmosia
6. Race: Junior - Silver Bay - Allterrain
7. Race: Doctor David - Pret A Thou - Folk Tune