Newbury: Hennessy meeting continues

today is the second day of Newbury´s Hennessy meeting and once again a novice chase with only 4 runners is the most interesting event - this time over 2 1/2 miles at 14.35 CET. Nicky Henderson has 2 runners here, with Bobs Worth (Barry Geraghty) his main contender; he is making his debut over fences here but was a very smart novice hurdler last season and has won his last 5 races.

The one to beat is Cue Card (Colin and Joe Tizzard), champion bumper 2 years ago, a top hurdler last year, and already a winner over fences. However he fell at Cheltenham last time and has to give the Henderson duo 7 lbs, so Bobs Worth is preferred. Paul Nicholls does not have a runner in that race, but otherwise he and Henderson look set to dominate proceedings once again. We particularly like the hurdling debutants Ranjaan at 13.00 and Broomfield at 16.50, both trained by Nicholls and partnered by Ruby Walsh. The handicap chase over 2 miles 1 furlong at 16.15 is a very open race, in which all 7 runners have a chance, including the two German-breds Passato (Jo Davis/ Richard Johnson) and Moon over Miami (Charlie Mann/ Noel Fehily); however we just have a tiny preference for top-weight Oh Crick (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) who ran better than the placings suggest in a much hotter race at Cheltenham.

Nicky Henderson sends just one runner north to Doncaster, Eradicate (David Bass) in the novice chase at 14.25, and he can continue the stable´s fine run here, with only two inferior rivals to beat. We also like German-bred Quicuyo (James Ewart/ Nick Scholfield) in the 2 mile 3 furlongs handicap chase here at 15.35; the brother to Quijano should be able to concede weight all round in this company. Ewart can also score at Musselburgh with the consistent Allow Me (Brian Hughes), who has been in the money all career starts aad can finally get his head in front in the maiden hurdle at 14.50.