Newbury and Doncaster

One of the most interesting German-breds now running in British N.H. races is Lyvius (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) who runs in the opening 4yo hurdle at 14.50 at Newbury today. Bred by Ittlingen, he is by Paolini out of a Monsun mare and won at Hamburg and Baden-Baden last year when trained by Peter Schiergen. He won his first race for Henderson at Kelso in good style and is regarded as the stable´s main hope for the Triumph Hurdle a fortnight today. He faces no easy task however, as there are two other winners in the field, and they all have to give 7 lbs to some useful types, notably Gottany O´s (Donald McCain/ Jason Maguire), who is almost certainly much better than his form suggests. Another German-bred who can score here is Double Handful (Lawney Hill/ Geraghty), who has finally found his form and can complete a hat-trick in the handicap hurdle at 17.00. We also like No Loose Change (Paul Nicholls/ Daryl Jacob) here at 16.30, although this handicap chase looks wide open.

Doncaster´s card also opens with a novice hurdle with a hot favourite from the Henderson stable - Fourth Estate (David Bass), who is still unbeaten. He may possibly remain so, but we are hoping for a better effort this time from one-time smart flat handicapper Smokey Oakey (Mark Tompkins/ Peter Carberry). Alan King and Wayne Hutchinson can land a double here with LIdar at 16.05 and Tante Sissi 16.40, both likely to start at short odds, while the final handicap chase at 17.50 should lie between Time Out (James Ewart/ Brian Hughes), going for a four-timer, and Wessex King (Henry Daly/ Jake Greenall).