Sunday’s ITV Racing Tips – Preview & Betting Tips of 7 Live Races Including the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury

Newbury

1:50 Betfair Weighed-In Podcast Weekly Handicap Hurdle

Mint Condition is also engaged in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Wincanton at Haydock on Saturday but, even under 11 st 12lb, merits serious consideration if redirected here. However, further down the weights, it may be worth chancing Silent Assistant from the in-form stable of Emma Lavelle. The lightly-raced  7-year-old was possibly too keen for his own good when turned over, at odds-on, at Doncaster last time, but his previous second to Castle Robin at Cheltenham reads well enough and he remains attractively weighted.

Selection: Silent Assistant (16/1 with Paddy Power)

 

2:25 Betfair Denman Chase

Trainer Paul Nicholls sets punters a poser by saddling both Clan Des Obeaux and Secret Investor. The former – who, alongside Lostintranslation, is the joint-highest rated horse in the field –  is hot favourite, but the latter has little to find with his stable companion at today’s weights and could represent value at the odds on offer. Secret Investor appeared to find 3 miles 2 furlongs stretching his stamina in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury in November, but boasts solid form at just short of 3 miles. It’s worth remembering that he was only beaten 2¾ lengths by Native River in this race last year, when officially 19lb ‘wrong’ at the weights.

Selection: Secret Investor (10/1 with William Hill)

 

3:00 Betfair Game Spirit Chase

All eyes, no doubt, will be on the returning Champ, winner of the RSA Insurance Novices’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival last year and a leading fancy for the Cheltenham Gold Cup this time around. However, Nicky Henderson’s 9-year-old returns from a 347-day break, so preference, on this occasion, is for Sceau Royal who, notwithstanding a fall at Kempton last time, has looked at least as good as ever this season. He deserves a shot at redemption.

Selection: Sceau Royal (4/1 with Betfred)

3:35 Betfair Hurdle

Remarkably, five favourites, including one co-favourite, have won the Betfair Hurdle in the last 10 years. However, the other winners in that period were returned at 33/1 (twice), 20/1, 16/1 and 12/1, so we shouldn’t be fooled into thinking that this is a straightforward puzzle to solve. That said, Nigel Twiston-Davies has saddled three of the last 10 winners and his representative this year, Guard Your Dreams, appears to have plenty going for him. The 5-year-old Fame And Glory gelding was well backed when winning at Sandown last month and, while he’s 7lb higher in the weights in a better race here, he remains open to further progress after just four starts over hurdles.

Selection: Guard Your Dreams (16/1 NRNB with Bet365)

 

Market Rasen

2:05 Ballymore Sidney Banks Novices’ Hurdle

A disappointing turnout for a contest worth £17,500 in guaranteed prize monet and it’s frankly hard to see beyond Minella Drama, who is favoured by race conditions and was only just touched off in a Grade Two event at Haydock last month. The front pair pulled well clear on that occasion and it’s the best single piece of form on offer here.

Selection: Minella Drama (11/8 with William Hill)

 

3:15 MansionBet’s Faller Insurance Handicap Hurdle

Little to separate the three market leaders, Gipsy De Choisel, Mick Maestro and Ajero, or least as far as the odds on offer are concerned but, if wind surgery has done the trick, Langer Dan might just be capable of beating them all. He hardly set the world alight on two starts earlier this season, but his earlier form – including when sixth in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival last year – is pretty smart and he is starting to look well handicapped. His 111-day absence is an obvious cause for concern but, at double-figure odds, he looks worth chancing.

Selection: Langer Dan (10/1 with Bet365)

 

Navan

2:47 Ladbrokes Ireland Boyne Hurdle

Dual Grand National hero Tiger Roll sprang a suprise when easily winning this race, on disadvantageous terms, in 2019 but, following a lacklustre reappearance at Cheltenham in November, it’s hard to know what to expect from the diminutive 11-year-old this time around. By contrast, Beacon Edge, in the same ownership as Tiger Roll, has been a model of consistency in recent starts. Noel Meade’s 7-year-old was beaten favourite at Naas last time, but had previously been beaten just three-quarters of a length by Honeysuckle in the Grade One Hatton’s Grace Hurdle  at Fairyhouse; stepping back up in distance is almost certainly in his favour.

Selection: Beacon Edge (7/1 with Bet365)

 

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