Holiday Time But - Racing Never Sleeps

ALL VIEWS ARE MY OWN

I am on holiday this week (well, I am in Cambodia between the Japan Cup and the Hong Kong International meeting as its cheaper than flying to and fro), so please excuse a massively truncated article with no chit chat (some will be cheering that fact), and a reduced number of races dissected as there just has to be a cheap bar calling my name somewhere in Siem Reap as I attempt to recover from temple overload?

Saturday Racing

Newbury 1.15pm

This looks an intriguing contest with two of the more impressive novice winners so far this season going into battle for the £8169 first prize. The New Lion did impress when seeing off the well-regarded Belliano at Chepstow, but he is a fraction of odds on here and the value may be with Califet En Vol. The Nicky Henderson team are beginning to click into top-gear recently, and the five-year-old gelding won as he pleased at Kempton and if he can cruise to the front two or three out, then he may ask questions of the favourite that I am hoping he cannot answer.

Newbury 2.25pm

An ultra-competitive handicap that could go the way of almost any of the 13 runners, but however hard I look, I keep coming back to top-weight Salver. The Moore’s are no fools which makes it all the more surprising to me that they allow the four-year-old to run here carrying 12 stone. The first home of the Brits in the Triumph Hurdle at Cheltenham last March, he had won his previous four races over hurdles with ease, but the handicapper took a dim view of his Festival third and put him up a massive 15lbs for his last (unsuccessful) run. I admit to being surprised to see him sent handicapping as I had hoped for more lofty targets, but he is only a youngster, and I wonder if his shrewd yard feel he still has more to come as he matures and strengthens?

Newcastle 12.28pm

Selecting a horse who has unseated and fallen on his last two starts may not look like the most sensible move, but Artic Row may be worth another chance this afternoon for the Alexander stable ahead of the 12.28pm, though I would have been happier were this over three miles. His trainer obviously feels differently after the seven-year-old looked all set to go close in a Class Three handicap at Ayr last time out before coming down two out, dashing the hope of favourite backers who has sent him off a 6/4 shot. Dropped in class off the same mark this afternoon a clear round would see him in the mix at the very least, and if other punters don’t spot the same thing, we could get a half decent price as well.  

Newcastle 1.03pm

Skyjack Hijack has done little wrong running up a quick five-timer, culminating in a 26-length romp at Exeter last time out where he took the scalp of the well-regarded Captain Bellamy in the process. He will need to take another step forward if he wants to take care of the interesting Evaluation, but his experience edge could see him get that rival making mistakes early on, which may be all he needs to make it six on the bounce for owner Alan Baxter who must be delighted so far with his six-year-old son of Jet Away who has been a revelation recently and may have even more to offer.

Sean’s Suggestions:

Artic Row each way 12.28pm Newcastle Saturday