Horse Racing Betting Tips: Morning looks best bet on a tough afternoon
AFTER last week’s rain it seems extraordinary they are watering at Newbury to maintain the current going described as good to soft, good in places.
I suppose it should come as no real surprise after the dry winter and this afternoon’s field sizes have held up well considering.
Champion trainer Nicky Henderson is always to be respected on his own patch and his patience with MORNING VICAR can surely be rewarded in the opening Be Wiser Insurance Novices’ Hurdle (1.45pm).
We have only seen the exciting six-year- old twice this season but he was impressive winning at Ludlow last month having got a little stuck in the mud here on his hurdling bow back in November.
The step up in trip and better ground seemed to help him last time and I expect him to step forward again this afternoon.
His biggest danger looks to be David Pipe’s Remastered who is another with a bright future.
The step up in trip is likely to help him too, but this will be the quickest ground he has encountered, and he will do well to beat Morning Vicar.
The distance looks to be a worry for a few in the Mortgage Branch Novices’ Handicap Chase (4.00pm) with plenty, including topweight Larry, being stepped up to the best part of three miles for the first time.
Kings Walk looks dangerously well-handicapped at the foot of the weights and the additional distance is likely to help him a fair bit too.
However, I love HURRICANE DYLAN’s attitude and he could well put them to the sword from the front here.
He sees this trip out well and was a good winner at Leicester last month when allowed to dictate affairs.
You can put a line through his Taunton reversal last time as he was squeezed up when mounting a challenge and can step forward again here.
The best race of the day looks like the Be Wiser Insurance Handicap Hurdle (4.30pm) with Sunshade heading the weights for Henderson in the colours of the Queen.
She hasn’t been seen on a racecourse for a year but has had her wind operated on and certainly is an exciting prospect.
Nube Negra carries joint top-weight and even though he may still be well-handicapped, he has just become a little disappointing.
The Skeltons showed last week that they are red-hot when it comes to landing handicaps like this, so he is one to keep an eye on if the money comes.
That said, I’m going to take a chance on Alan King’s WILLIAM H BONNEY who will find this easier than last month’s Betfair Hurdle.
He has been a regular in that race over the last three seasons but seems at his best in slightly smaller fields on better ground.
Those are the conditions he gets this afternoon and with his stable in such good form, he will do for me off what looks a more than fair mark.
POINTERS FRIDAY
Morning Vicar 1.45pm Newbury
Hurricane Dylan 4.00pm Newbury
William H Bonney 4.30pm Newbury