Betfair sponsors a top-class card at Newbury on Saturday which includes two Group 2 events.
Testing conditions will be the order of the day, but no problems are anticipated if the forecast proves correct.
Betfair sponsors a top-class card at Newbury (Pic – Newbury Racing)
The first of the features at the Berkshire track is the Gr2 Betfair Denman Chase (16h05).
Five go to the 3-mile start with the enigmatic Shishkin heading the betting. Brillant on his day however, the ten-year-old refused to jump away on his penultimate start.
Last time out in the King George at Kempton he ran a much-improved race to lead approaching the second last before unseating Nico de Boinville.
That was unfortunate, and the Nicky Henderson trained runner is at least 8lbs well in here. With a clear round of jumping, this course winner should prove hard to beat.
Protektorat from the Skelton stable should follow him home.
A more competitive contest follows at 16h40, the Gr2 Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase. Run over an extended 2-miles all five runners are not without a chance.
Favourite Edwardstone was disappointing last time out at Kempton behind Banbridge and has not won since December 2022.
Boothill won his first two starts this season in good style before falling in a Gr2 handicap at Kempon late last year.
He was still in with a chance on that occasion, but the winner of the race Editeur Du Gite won convincingly and is selected to go in again.
From the in-form Gary Moore stable, Editeur Du Gite is a course and distance winner and can be hard to catch once in front. Additionally, his last win was franked with the third placed Elixir De Nutz then defeating Jonbon in the Clarence House at Cheltenham last month.
