The Channel 4 cameras head to Newbury on Saturday for an excellent day’s racing with plenty of intriguing contests
Everything in place for Smad to win Hennessy
The feature race at Newbury this weekend is the Hennessy Gold Cup.
Smad Place – currently priced at 13/2 – looks a tempting selection and ran a very respectable fifth in the race last year when highly-fancied.
He returns this year off the same mark and there are plenty of reasons to think that he should go even better this year.
His trainer, Alan King, believes it was a mistake to run last year without the benefit of a prep race, but that is of no concern this year given the horse has already won at Kempton earlier this month.
That day saw an impressive eight-length success, and for that reason he is taken to come out victorious on Saturday.
Another horse who could be in contention tomorrow is If In Doubt – priced at 7/1 – who, with only six chase starts could be a potential improver although one major concern is his jumping.
He ran a respectable fifth at the Cheltenham Festival in the RSA Chase – a race that has provided many winners of the Hennessy Gold Cup in the past.
A final horse to consider is The Young Master at 10/1 who comes into the race off only 10-10 when taking into account his jockeys claim.
At just a six years old he could still be ahead of his handicap mark.
Side with Thistlecrack in the 2.25
Newbury also plays host to the Long Distance Hurdle on Saturday which sees the return of 2015 World Hurdle winner Cole Harden.
Currently priced at 9/4, he has obvious claims in this race after his World Hurdle win which came after having a breathing operation.
He has had a similar operation this summer and his trainer Warren Greatrex will be hoping that it has a similar effect on Saturday.
Cole Harden’s form ties in closely with favourite Whisper – priced at 7/4 – after they each won one of their two races against one another last season
It was Whisper who came out on top on the most recent occasion in the Liverpool Hurdle and he is sure to come close on Saturday.
One to watch however is Thistlecrack, priced at 3/1, who seems very unexposed over hurdles and in particular over this trip.
Thistlecrack scored at Aintree in April by 13 lengths with plenty of good rivals behind him before coming second at Punchestown with a very impressive performance where he was unlucky not to win after being impeded early in the home straight.
In receipt of 4lbs from the two market leaders he is sure to go close, while his trainer Colin Tizzard is also in very good form and will be sure to have his horse primed for this task.
Si C’etait Vrai worth backing on British debut in 1.15
Newbury’s 1.15 sees 17 runners go to post and will take some winning.
Priced at 8/1, Si C’etait Vrai could be the one worth backing on his British debut where will be having his first run for trainer Neil Mulholland.
His Irish form certainly produced some very good displays with a close second to Djakadam at a disadvantage of 11lbs.
Si C’etait Vrai runs off a mark of 132 on Saturday which is 5lbs below his hurdle rating and shows just how well handicapped he could be.
His main competition could come from La Vaticane, priced at 6/1, who holds every chance on Saturday after a solid reappearance at Cheltenham earlier this month.
She should improve with the step up in trip on Saturday when considering her chase wins in France.
