Old guard take centre stage at Newbury

After last weeks action packed weekend with the Dublin racing festival, this weeks racing was a little tame, but none the less we had some olde favourites on show at Newbury.

We start with the first at Newbury and the 2m novice hurdle, this went the way of the short priced favourite in Chantry House. He was always in touch being just off the leaders, before Barry Geraghty made his move on him with 3 left to jump. He cruised upsides the long time leader Manvers Cross at the last before being pushed clear to go on and win easily. It was an impressive performance and he’s now as short as 8/1 for the Supreme and Ballymore at Cheltenham, he'd have to have a chance in either of them but I feel he may find one too good. It was also a nice performance from Manvers Cross in 2nd, he will definitely be getting off the mark in the near future. 

Next was the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, which saw the return of Altior after losing his unbeaten record over obstacles. He was obviously sent off a short priced favourite, he raced along in 3rd behind the leader Dynamite Dollars, who took over the lead after Bun Doran fell at the water jump. He was nudged along after the 3rd from home and for a second it looked like he could be in trouble, he responded to Nico De Boinville and took the lead over the last. Quickly putting the race to bed with an impressive turn of foot, going on to beat Sceau Royal by 3 1/4 lengths. Was good to see Altior back to winning ways and for me he is the biggest danger to Defi Du Seuil in the Champion Chase. I also thought that Dynamite Dollars ran a cracker of a race and didn’t look out of place after having over a year off the track, not sure where Paul will place him next but with race fitness back on his side I’d be surprised if he’s not going even closer. 

The Denman Chase was up next and the return of another old favourite in Native River, he too went off a short priced favourite for this race. Due to the injury of Richard Johnson he had Jonjo O’Neill Jr on his back. You wouldn’t of known any different though, as he ran his normal race, bowling along out in front and jumping for fun. He stayed on well from the 2nd out when he was asked and went on to beat Secret Inevestor by 2 3/4 lengths. It was a solid performance from Native River, but nothing else was really expected. All roads now lead to the Gold Cup where for me he has a solid each way chance, then after that a potential shot at the Grand National. 

(Native River flying a fence on his was to victory, Credit Francesca Altoft.)

The Betfair Hurdle was the next race on the card and this saw 24 runners go to post, with the Willie Mullins trained Ciel De Neige going off the 13/2 favourite. The race kicked off with a false start, meaning we had the have a standing start which didn’t help Not So Sleepy, who got hampered and for me lost his race there. Never Adapt was pulled up after the first hurdle and returned lame in her hind leg. Highly Prized led for most of the race till he saw his lead taken by Lightly Squeeze 2 from home. It was at the last the race took another twist when Lightly Squeeze fell at the last, bringing down Mack The Man and the strongly travelling Harambe. All the while keeping out of harms way was the strongly travelling Pic D’orhy, who took up the lead inside the final furlong to just beat Ciel De Neige. I thought it was a really good performance from the winner and the runner up, there was talk about the Champion Hurdle for Pic D’orhy but I feel that would be a step to far. As for Ciel De Neige I wouldn’t be surprised to see him pop up in one of the handicap hurdles at the festival in a few weeks time. 

Away from Newbury at Warwick, we had the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novices Chase, Torpillo led from flag fall, he was going alright before making a mistake at the 6th fence before seeing his lead taken over by Rouge Vif with 3 to jump. He himself jumped well throughout the race and easily saw off the challenge of the favourite Nube Negra, with the eventual winning distance of 7 lengths. It was a good performance from him and he’s clearly a contender for the Arkle, but for me only in terms of an each way bet, as I feel there is a few that are better than him. 

During the week there was a nice little double across the cards for Nicky Henderson, with Buzz winning going on to win, he made hard work of it, tracking the leader and led at the omitted last hurdle. He managed to eventually beat Glory and Fortune who went off favourite by a neck who isn’t a bad yardstick himself.

Meanwhile at Huntington we saw Shiskin going up in trip in the Sidney Banks Novice Hurdle, Hang In There took the field of 5 along at a steady pace, before being headed by Shiskin and Shan Blue and then falling at the 2nd last. Those 2 pulled away from the 3rd, but Shan Blue was no match for Shiskin who won easily by 7 lengths. He couldn’t of done it any easier and after the race Nicky confirmed that he will be heading for the Supreme come March.

Thanks for taking the time to read this weeks post, hopefully weather permitting  we’ll have the Ascot Chase meeting and the return of Tiger Roll to cover. 

A special thanks to Fran for allowing me to use her photos throughout my blog, you can find more of her work here:

Fran: 

twitter; @FrancescaJane_x

Website; www.francescaaltoft.co.uk