Newbury Winter Carnival Tips Day 1

Newbury's major meeting over jumps comes along this weekend with two days of action across Friday and Saturday at their Winter Carnival.

Friday's card runs from 12:10-15:35 and includes Grade 2 action via the John Francome Novices' Chase (13:50) and the Long Distance Hurdle (15:00).

We've assessed the action across the card on Friday at Newbury and picked out our best bets.

12:10 - Coral Get Closer To The Action 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (2m)

JERIKO DU REPONET ran out a convincing winner in his sole start between the flags in Ireland and, after being snapped up by top owner JP McManus, he now starts his career under Rules for Nicky Henderson with Nico de Boinville on board. This looks a suitable opportunity for him to start with a win.

Selection: Jeriko Du Reponet

12:40 - Coral Racing Club Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m½f)

Henderson has a strong hand in race two, with Persian Time (de Boinville) and Russian Ruler (James Bowen) both appearing as likely candidates to do well now sent chasing. The Venetia Williams-trained top-weight DJELO has race-fitness on his side after a winning chasing bow at Aintree last month, where did well to win after some of the jumps were left out due to low sun. He was well clear with the runner-up and the fourth has won easily since. With the stable in cracking form, there should be more to come.

Selection: Djelo

13:15 - 'Bet In-Race' With Coral Fillies' Juvenile Hurdle (Listed, 2m)

The Gordon Elliott-trained WODHOOH has made a perfect start to her career over hurdles and she display a really good attitude when getting up close home at Down Royal last time to make it 3-3 over timber (one race awarded in stewards' room). It will take a good effort to stop her and it's noted that Jack Kennedy travels for this lone ride on the card.

Selection: Wodhooh

13:50 - Coral John Francome Novices' Chase (Grade 2, 2m4f)

HERMES ALLEN looked extremely promising when winning the Challow over hurdles at this track in December and while he came up short afterwards at Cheltenham and Aintree, champion trainer Paul Nicholls will be hoping he can soon make his mark as a chaser. He won fresh last season, very easily, and soft going around here is a plus for him. Nickel Back (second choice) and Marble Sands are fit and have wins already over fences, should the likely favourite fail to fire.

Selection: Hermes Allen

14:25 - Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase (2m4f)

Frero Banbou represents the in-form Venetia Williams/Charlie Deutsch alliance and should be sharper for the comeback run at Aintree recently where he finished third. KANDOO KID has been second best on both chase starts thus far and should get his moment soon. The form of his runs at Warwick and here over C&D has been advertised subsequently and while Frero Banbou is starting to look well treated, he's got scope for climb up the ratings.

Selection: Kandoo Kid

15:00 - Coral Long Distance Hurdle (Grade 2, 3m)

Paisley Park and Marie's Rock are major contenders. The latter was denied in a cracking renewal of this 12 months ago by Champ. DASHEL DRASHER has a run behind him when third in this grade at Wetherby and Jeremy Scott's tenacious ten-year-old might fend off his two main market rivals to oblige.

Selection: Dashel Drasher

15:35 - Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap Hurdle (3m)

HOLY JOE SMOKE showed potential in three hurdles starts last season despite failing to win and he again ran well at Chepstow (2m3½f, good to soft) on his comeback when third. He shaped as though he'd come on for that run and if he stays this new trip he could see Dan and Harry Skelton on the scoresheet in the finale.

Selection: Holy Joe Smoke

Newbury Gold Cup Meeting Betting Tips

The Gold Cup Chase takes centre stage on day two of the Newbury Gold Cup Meeting and that is one of the seven races at the Berkshire track on Saturday.

Here are tips for all seven races on day two from Newbury, including the big race at 2.50.

11.55am – Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Listed - 2m½f)

Despite being very weak in the betting, BELLE OF ANNANDALE was extremely impressive when given a positive ride at Musselburgh last time, staying on strongly on the run-in to win comprehensively.

A non-stayer when tried over 2m4f at Hexham in September, the drop in trip worked a treat.

The form of that race has worked out well, with The Kalooki Kid (third) winning well at Musselburgh on Thursday, and Harry Cobden is an eye-catching jockey booking.

Selection: Belle Of Annandale

12.30pm – Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (2m6½f)

French-bred runners have a great record in this contest, winning six of the last 12 runnings, and Paul Nicholls' QUEL DESTIN has the profile of a horse who should relish these conditions.

The eight-year-old was in need of the run after an absence and a wind operation when down the field behind Boothill at Ascot in November.

First-time blinkers are now reached for and he can be expected to improve massively with the cobwebs blown away, while he is also running off a career-low mark.

Selection: Quel Destin

1.05pm – Novices' Hurdle (2m4½f)

Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls teamed up to win four races at Ascot last Saturday, and they could be set for another good day a week on.

Sporting the famous Big Buck's colours, EMAILANDY readily won a novices' hurdle at Plumpton over this trip on seasonal reappearance.

Wind surgery seems to have brought about massive improvement in form for the five-year-old, and he still has very low mileage on the clock.

Selection: Emailandy

1.40pm – Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)

UNCLE BERT was very strong in the betting for a 2m5f apprentice handicap at Cheltenham's November Meeting, but he fell at the fourth hurdle.

He was an impressive 12-length winner on seasonal reappearance in a Perth handicap in September and heavy ground was a valid excuse for his disappointing fourth in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow in October.

Nigel Twiston-Davies has got his season off to a flyer and this horse could be well ahead of the assessor.

Selection: Uncle Bert

2.15pm – Gerry Feilden Intermediate Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Nicky Henderson has won three of the last four runnings of this race and he has another warm favourite in the shape of the JP McManus-owned Under Control.

However, Ben Pauling's BAD has been rather frustrating and one feels there is a massive performance in his locker at some point.

Heavily backed for the Boodles at Cheltenham in March, he disappointed, but there was a lot to like about his seasonal reappearance, third at Ascot, and he's running off a very attractive mark.

Selection: Bad

2.50pm – Gold Cup Chase (3m2f)

John McConnell's Mahler Mission would be of huge interest if the yard didn't go on a 122-race losing streak, but a chance is taken on a fellow Irish raider to land the spoils.

STUMPTOWN was highly progressive over fences last season, landing back-to-back handicaps at Thurles and Sandown, before going down narrowly in the Kim Muir at Cheltenham.

He ran a respectable race in the Kerry National when last seen and should be competitive off his current rating.

Selection: Stumptown

3.25pm – Handicap Chase (2m½f)

Nigel Twiston-Davies is operating at a very healthy 23 per cent strike-rate this season, and MASTER CHEWY can land the lucky last for the stable.

The son of Walk In The Park failed to find the winners’ enclosure in his first nine career starts, but he came back from a break to win an Aintree handicap chase by 12 lengths on reappearance in October, and went close to following up at the same track 13 days later. Clearly in great health at present, he gets the nod.

Selection: Master Chewy