Newbury today

Newbury has passed an early morning inspection and has a strong card for a midweek meeting. There are some potentially smart prospects on view in the novice chase at 14.20 CET and the novice hurdle at 14.55. In the former event, ex-French Fago (Paul Nicholls/ Ruby Walsh), a Grade One runner-up at Auteuil last time, faces Colour Squadron (Philip Hobbs/ Tony McCoy), who was very unlucky on his chasing debut but was arguably the best of these over hurdles. The Queen´s Open Hearted (Nicky Henderson/ Barry Geraghty) and the lightly-raced James de Vassy (Nick Williams/ Daryl Jacob) add further spice to what could be an informative event. In the latter race three last-time-out winners, Ericht (Henderson/ Geraghty), Imperial Leader (Nigel and Sam Twiston-Davies) and Uxizandre (Alan King/ Robert Thornton) are all penalised 7 lbs, and we shall take a chance on Chiberta King (Andrew Balding/ Paddy Brennan), who was a smart stayer on the flat and was not disgraced on his two hurdles star ts in hot company. The mare´s novice hurdle at 16.00 should go to Violin Davis (Harry Fry/ Noel Fehily), a decent hurdler for Paul Nicholls, and a well-beaten third on very heavy ground on her chasing debut; she is however certain to stay the 3 mile trip, while most of her opponents have not yet raced over this far. The best betting race is the 3 mile handicap chase at 15.25; several last-time-out winners in the field, but they are all up in the weights as a result, and we go for Allthekingshorses (Hobbs/ Tom O´Brien), who seems well handicapped on his hurdles form.

On the all-weather, Limngfield sees the 10yo´s La Estrella (Don Cantillon/ Adam Kirby) and Right Stuff (Gary Moore/ George Baker) in opposition in the 2 mile claimer at 13.30. La Estrella, despite the name, a gelding, is gloing for his 24th win and 8th in succession here; he is known as a Southwell speciallist, but has good form on all the all-weather tracks, but at the weights there is very little between him and Right Stuff, another all-weather specialist. At Kempton, we like German-bred Querido in the mile handicap at 1715; he is very inconsistent, but certainly capable of winning off this rating and in fact took this race last year with a pound more.

Betting forecast:
1. Race: Seventh Sign - Captain Cardington - Trend Is My Friend
2. Race: Fago - Colour Squadron - James De Vassy
3. Race: Imperial Leader - Uxizandre - Ericht
4. Race: Monkerty Tunkerty - Thanks For Coming - Mountainous
5. Race: Violin Davis - Jackies Solitaire - Urgence d`Estruval
6. Race: Vieux Lion Rouge - Kalucci - Shipton
7. Race: Chapoturgeon - Rumbury Grey - Silver Story