Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Newbury & Newcastle Tips
SATURDAY RACING TIPS
Newbury 1.40 – 2m4f Handicap Hurdle
French Ship (3/1 fav) looks a massive improver and he can take this out for an in-form team.
I can see this horse proving much better than a handicapper given how well he won last time at Cheltenham. Given that, he looks to have found a nice opportunity to continue his progress and the fact connections have booked Harry Cobden probably speaks volumes of his chances.
Each-way, keep an eye on Dargiannini (14/1).
He’s overpriced for me and I thought he won well at Uttoxeter, so can be expected to run a good race again. He’s a solid campaigner and connections think a fair amount of him.
Megan’s Tip: French Ship WIN; Dargianni EW
Newcastle 2.00 – BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle
I’m saying loyal here and I fancy Constitution Hill (11/8 fav) to win the BetMGM Fighting Fifth.
He’s had plenty of time to get over what happened in the spring and I wonder if the run at Punchestown was as much of him getting over the falls at Aintree and Cheltenham as much as anything else.
Connections have said how much schooling they’ve done with him to make sure his jumping is back to its best. If it is and the engine is still there, he’s still the one to beat in this division for me.
The New Lion (6/4) is clearly very talented but he needs to step up from the level of form he showed as a novice. I don’t think stepping back to two miles will be an issue but he does need to prove he’s got the speed for the trip as well.
I think we’d all love to see Constitution Hill back to his best and hopefully he shows it on Saturday.
Megan’s Tip: Constitution Hill WIN
Newbury 2.15 – Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle
I’m quite sweet on Viyanni (4/1) in this.
He’s a horse connections fancied to go well in last year’s Boodles before he had a bit of a setback and this has been the target for quite some time.
He went exceptionally well at a recent Newbury gallop and he gets lumps of weight from some of his rivals. Paul O’Brien wont do this weight very often which shows the hopes the team have in him going very close.
He’s got a massive chance and as I said, I’m pretty sweet on his chances.
Megan’s Tip: Viyanni Win
Newbury 2.55 – Coral Gold Cup
This is always one of the great races of the season and BetMGM have been very generous in paying out six places.
I thought Resplendent Grey (6/1) would be favourite over Myretown (4/1 fav) so the fact he’s not only increases my confidence.
They are two very talented horses but Resplendent Grey has the fitness edge and he ran a cracker over an inadequate trip at Carlisle last time out.
He’s a horse I have quite high hopes of being one who will be running in better company than this down the line and he looks the ideal type of horse for this contest.
Of those at bigger prices, I don’t mind Inch House (12/1), who has snuck in at the bottom of the weights.
He ran nicely on his return at Cheltenham and we know he likes Newbury. I thought the Cheltenham run was a perfect sighter for this and he showed the fire still burns bright, so I could see him being smuggled into it and picking a few off late at a nice price.
Megan’s Tip: Resplendent Grey WIN; Inch House EW
Newbury 3.35 – 2m Handicap Chase
Etalon (11/2) has a big chance here.
He’s top-weight but I think the fact he’s running off a big weight in a lower grade of race is what he wants. He ran very nicely at Fontwell over a trip that probably stretched his stamina and I think that form could end up working out quite well down the line.
Dan Skelton in handicaps is never a bad way to go and this race looks really well-suited to his runner.
Megan’s Tip: Etalon WIN
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
