This weekend we will see one of the highlights of the Jump season so far, Betfair Super Saturday regularly showcases some of racing’s biggest names alongside the stars of the future. The £155,000 Betfair Hurdle [3.35], now the richest race of its type in the UK, boasts a prestigious roll of honour dating back to 1963 with recent winners including Zarkandar, My Tent Or Yours and Ballyandy.
Betfair Super Saturday also features the Grade 2 Betfair Denman Chase [2.25], a notable trial for the Cheltenham Gold Cup, a race which saw steeple-chasing legends Kauto Star and Denman both going on from Newbury to win the sport’s flagship race five weeks later.
With 70% of last years winners heading on to Cheltenham, Betfair Super Saturday is a great chance to see the stars in action before they head to the Festival.
Going -- Good to soft, Soft in places.
Weather -- Light rain forecast throughout the day with a maximum temperature of 9C.
13:15 -- The Read Paul Nicholls Exclusively at Betfair Novices' Hurdle.
[Class 3 2m ½f]
Our opening event is a novice hurdle and this has attracted a field of 10 runners. Nicky Henderson had 6 entries before the final declarations and relies on top weight WHATSWRONGWITHYOU [WON Evens F] as well as GRAPEVINE [4th 14/1] so will interesting to see how they fare in the betting.
AIR NAVIGATOR [Unseated] comes here with good form in bumpers and will also be interesting to see how he takes to hurdling.
13:50 -- The Betfair Cash Out Handicap Hurdle.
[Class 2 3m]
A good staying test over 3m and of the eight declared we like the chance of Alan King's 2nd horse TALKISCHEAP [WON 11/1] who has a couple of wins over shorter and could be interesting stepping up in trip. King also has BASTIEN who is ridden by a 7lb claimer so is also of interest but away from them the bottom one BOOK OF GOLD [3rd 9/1] might be good to place here off a low weight as long as all eight stand their ground.
14:25 -- The Betfair Denman Steeple Chase.
[Grade 2 3m]
Just a field of three here, but all are decent and should be competitive enough with last years winner NATIVE RIVER [WON 8/11F] the likely favourite but hasn't been seen since last years Gold Cup so could be vulnerable to either CLOUDY DREAM or SAPHIR DU RHEU. Should be a good race to watch I'll probably side with the Paul Nicholls inmate as the likely outsider of three here.
15:00 -- The Betfair Exchange Steeple Chase (registered as the Game Spirit).
[Grade 2 2m ½f]
Another field of three here too, the return of ALTIOR [WON 1/3F] is exciting although his trainer says he's not 100% and is therefore vulnerable to the only other realistic winner of this race in POLITOLOGUE who is race fit and proven at this level having won the Tingle Creek and Desert Orchid chase over Christmas. The other runner is VALDEZ and is easily overlooked here unless the other two fall having been absent from the track since Oct 2014.
Enjoyable race, Altior ran out a comfortable winner again and will have enhanced his position in the Champion Chase betting.
15:35 -- The Betfair Hurdle.
[Grade 3 2m ½f]
The feature contest this afternoon is a handicap worth over £88k to the winner and has attracted a field of 24 runners where top weight is HIGH BRIDGE [17th 12/1] who will have the assistance of Alex Ferguson claiming 7lb. The yard is in form, has won well recently and is still available at 20/1 so attractive in the win/place markets.
Others at big prices include MOON RACER [11th 25/1] who was a bumper winner at the festival and started well in novice company before being outclassed in Champion Hurdle but comes back after a wind operation and at 33/1 might be worth a small bet. Nicky Henderson is strong in this event and his LOUGH DERG SPIRIT [6th 20/1] is capable of a big run at 20/1 too.
16:10 -- The Betfair Each Way Edge Novices' Limited Handicap Steeple Chase.
[Class 3 3m]
Interesting and competitive affair now, with THREE WAYS and INDY FIVE [WON 7/1] the value against the field. Both have wins this season, both have in form trainers so 12/1 each looks good. The favourite might be REIGNING SUPREME [LAY - lost 2nd 5/2] who unseated over Xmas and might be vulnerable even though this is a track that he's won at twice over hurdles doesn't have the chase experience so will be a LAY today.
16:40 -- The Best Odds Guaranteed at Betfair Bumper.
[Listed 2m ½f]
A listed bumper event rounds off our day at Newbury and of the twelve only two are yet to win, so finding the winner is difficult though they will all probably make decent hurdles and chasers in time. Saw ACEY MILAN [WON 11/2] win last time and will look to that one again plus MOONLIGHTER [] where Lizzie Kelly can get a good tune out of this one.
Have a great day, I sure did, several nice priced winners, great to see Altior cruise to win as he did, and the Lay also got beat so win, win, win. Makes a nice change.
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