Megan Nicholls Racing Preview – Kelso, Doncaster & Newbury

BetMGM ambassador Megan Nicholls gives her thoughts on the horse racing world, bringing her insightful opinions and first-rate knowledge exclusively to our blog every week.

This time the former jockey – now a celebrated TV pundit – previews action at Kelso, Doncaster, and Newbury.

But first, she has her say on the biggest story of the week…

A word on Constitution Hill

He will have obviously been disappointed in his gallop at Kempton this week, but Nico De Boinville eased him a long way from home.

Some have pointed out that he was a furlong behind - but he was heavily eased. It wasn't as though he was off the bridle and a furlong behind. Nico clearly wasn't happy with him and looked after him.

The concern is it is quite a quick turnaround. If it is a basic infection, a course of antibiotics can knock it on the head, clear it up, and he will hopefully be fine.

The only worry is missing a vital piece of work before Cheltenham, but Nicky Henderson will be doing everything he can with his team to get him to the Festival and in the best form possible.

If he is under the weather, then he understandably has every right not to run.

But he is in safe hands. Nicky will do whatever is best for the horse, and, to be honest, it is a mountain out of a molehill. If your horse isn't 100% right, it isn't 100% right. It's very simple.

It's almost a blessing the press and everyone else had seen this gallop at Kempton, because if this had happened at home and Nicky had come out and said he is scope dirty, then nobody would have believed it.

We have seen evidence the horse is not 100% himself and he will be back to his best very soon, hopefully.

Newbury 1.20 – Handicap Chase

This is a veterans’ race with plenty of very decent handicappers when in their prime.

Highland Hunter (4/1) is a legend - he stays very well, and the fact the ground is going to be very testing will massively be in his favour. He shows a pretty good attitude.

He has a big responsibility on Tuesday in that he will lead the procession of Keagan Kirkby's funeral, so it would be nice to see this horse winning.

He has a massive chance in this veterans’ race - if he returns to the National Trial form he displayed at Haydock last time, then he probably enjoys winning more than one or two of the others here.

Fortescue (5/1) is the horse that will put it up to him the most - he will enjoy being back on softer ground, and it's his first time in a veterans’ race. He also ran very well in a National Trial - a Welsh National Trial - and on the back of that, he's got a big chance with Harry Cobden on board.

Megan's Selection: Highland Hunter/Fortescue forecast

Kelso 1.42 – Handicap Hurdle

I have gone with The Kalooki Kid (3/1) - he's been nicely supported in the market. The Doncaster form with Jeriko Du Reponet is looking pretty strong, with Lump Sum and Fiercely Proud boosting that form by winning and finishing 2nd, respectively, at Kempton. The Kalooki Kid did not disgrace himself by any means in that.

It is a drop into a handicap - his handicap debut - and I think he has the strongest form coming into it of those who are unexposed.

Megan's Selection: The Kalooki Kid WIN

Newbury 1.55 – Greatwood Gold Cup

Highstakesplayer (9/2) is an interesting horse - he's three from three chasing. I thought he would improve from Kempton physically, and the fact he won on his return was really quite impressive. He's clearly a horse going in the right direction.

However, I just can't get my head around the fact that Sir Psycho (10/1) is the outsider of the field. He's a huge each-way price. He was in really good form after making a winning start to his racing career with Harry Derham. He's backed that up with a good second at Exeter and unseated very early at Sandown last time.

He doesn't mind the ground, and if he hadn't run and unseated at Sandown, he would be half the price. Highstakesplayer is the interesting one, but Sir Psycho is a massive each-way chance and way overpriced.

Megan's Selection: Sir Psycho EW

Kelso 2.17 – Novices' Hurdle

Jango Baie (9/4) is top of the market and is a Grade One winner after coming out on top in the Tolworth Hurdle on Boxing Day.

But, with the weight difference, I am going with Personal Ambition (7/2) here. He ran way too bad to be true at Sandown in December. He was a long way beaten into third.

However, his form from Warwick on his hurdling debut back in November with Jingko Blue is very good, and he really bounced back to form at Doncaster last time. I think this horse still has plenty to come.

We know Jango Baie is good - he's a Grade One winner already, though he didn't really have any excuses at Huntingdon last time when second to Handstands.

At the weights, I'm going with Personal Ambition.

Megan's Selection: Personal Ambition WIN

Doncaster 2.35 – Handicap Chase

Nube Negra (10/3) for me.

He has cheekpieces on for the first time and is back in a handicap, which is a big plus. This is a much weaker race than what he's been competing in recently.

The less rain for him, the better, but this drop in class and this type of race could just set up nicely for him, and he is the classiest animal in the race on his best day.

I don't think we have seen him at his best for a little while, but dropping down to this grade and the added headgear should really help him.

Megan's Selection: Nube Negra WIN

Kelso 2.50 – Morebattle Hurdle

I am going with Rewired (12/1), which is a really nice each-way price.

He's a really consistent horse who has improved further again this year. He travels well, he will be able to hold a really nice position, and he has won very well this year. He's a really solid option - he’s ground-versatile and you can't knock him for an awful lot.

He was pretty weak in the market at Taunton when he won, so even if he isn't massively supported, it doesn't bother me, and 12/1 is just a really nice and solid each-way price.

They will go at a nice even gallop, which will suit him, and this could be a massive day for jockey Luke Scott and trainers Dr Richard Newland and Jamie Insole.

Megan's Selection: Rewired WIN

Doncaster 3.10 - Mares' Novices' Hurdle

I am going for Gaye Legacy (5/1).

She is stepping up in grade, but she is one that has got proven stamina.

She won at Newbury last time - prior to that, she was in behind Kyntara at Aintree, who was an improving horse and her performance was fairly solid.

Interestingly, Charlotte Jones has gone to Doncaster to ride Lunar Discovery (2/1 fav) instead of going to Kelso to ride Bingo. So she clearly thinks Lunar Discovery is a really solid chance, and you can't knock her for what she's done so far.

The question is the stamina - she is stepping up in trip for the first time and that's why I have gone for Gaye Legacy. She's proven at the trip, and if there is a nice gallop on, you have no doubts about her staying.

Megan's Selection: Gaye Legacy WIN

Kelso 3.25 - Premier Listed Race

It is great to see the quality we have got on - ultimately, if you look through the card, we are probably a grade above listed level with the likes of Monbeg Genius (7/4), Aye Right (7/2), Minella Drama (8/1), and Thunder Rock (4/1).

If Thunder Rock - up in trip for the first time - stays, he can beat Monbeg Genius. They have taken the cheekpieces off him because of the step-up in trip. He's got similar form with Monbeg Genius in relation to Mahler Mission, who they both have competed against a couple of times. So they do link in quite well.

I think Thunder Rock looked outpaced around the sharp track at Musselburgh, and I think up in trip will really suit him.

I know Monbeg Genius as that unbelievable Ultima form, and he ran very well in the Hennessy last time.

But my pick is Thunder Rock - up in trip, he could be an improver.

Megan's Selection: Thunder Rock WIN

Doncaster 3.40- Grimthorpe Handicap Chase

I am going to go Java Point (8/1), mainly because I have seen the rain forecast and he is pretty ground-versatile.

He finished ahead of Certainly Red (9/1) at Sandown last time and it's pretty early days with this yard.

He is a strong traveller, nicely weighted, and the extended trip is not going to be an issue - he's got plenty going for him, really.

Some Scope (11/4) is unexposed compared to the rest of the field, but he's been a non-runner a couple of times on soft ground, and he won last time at Doncaster on good.

Though he's two from three chasing - and he could be the biggest improver in the field - the rain would be a concern for me. If it does go too soft, that would hinder his chances. So purely because of the ground and his versatility, I've gone with Java Point.

Megan's Selection: Java Point WIN