Saturday 11th February 2017

The meeting at Newbury takes centre stage this afternoon, highlights being the Betfair Hurdle, Denman Chase & The Game Spirit Chase.

I’ll start with the Betfair Hurdle, not the best of renewals in recent years but it will still take some winning.

Ballyandy looks well handicapped, Clyne arguably holds the best form, his 2^nd to The New One last time out only beaten 1 length looks very good on paper. Movewiththetimes, would be my other fancy, he’s totally unexposed.

I think the winner will come from one of the above three. It’s not original and the bookies have the market spot on. Priced at 4-1, 6-1 & 13-2 respectively, a profit can be made providing one of them comes home in gold placed position. Reverse tricasts and combination forecasts could be worth a punt.

My Gold Cup EW antepost bet runs today in the form of Native River, he lines up in the Denman Chase at 2:25. Native River was ever so impressive when winning the Coral Welsh National under top weight. Native River gallops and stays all day long and I’m sure he’ll run a massive race at Cheltenham. I personally think he’s the one to beat over Thistlecrack.

Today’s trip of 3 miles will likely be on the sharp side for Native River but with the ground on the soft side it should be a decent enough stamina test. Bristol De Mai is the obvious danger, he would have a good few pounds to find with the selection, however todays trip would give him a chance of bridging that gap.

At even money, I must be with Native River who will hopefully take this in good style and cement his Gold Cup chances.

In the Game Spirit at 3:00, it’s very hard to oppose Alitor who should win today on route to taking the Arkle Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.