Newbury and Newcastle Racing Tips
It's a major Saturday afternoon of jumps racing in Britain with the Grade 1 BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle at Newcastle and Newbury hosting the prestigious Gold Cup.
Both venues boast top-class action and our expert has picked out three to follow in key races at Newcastle and Newbury on Saturday afternoon.
Newcastle
12:15 - Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow Handicap Chase
MAGHLAAK made a winning debut over fences at Southwell over this trip just over a fortnight ago. The Mark Walford inmate had recently joined this stable from Adrian Keatley and he left plenty room for improvement with his jumping, but used his flat-speed to good effect late on to win from fellow newcomer As The Fella Says from the Nicky Henderson yard. With improvement at the obstacles, this Muhaarar gelding has a great chance from only 3lb higher.
Selection: Maghlaak @ SP
14:00 - BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle
What a captivating Grade 1 is in store. Will Constitution Hill get back to his brilliant best or can The New Lion establish his credentials as the coming star in the two-mile hurdles division? It could be that neither wins, as Willie Mullins targets this race with ANZADAM. The Donnellys have lost State Man for the season, but this could be a fine supersub. The Authorized gelding is 4-4 over hurdles and laced with potential and his trained skipper the Morgiana Hurdle last weekend to come here. Dan Skelton's Cheltenham Festival winner The New Lion is a major player, but Anzadam could issue him a blow.
Selection: Anzadam @ 2/1
15:15 - BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase
Classy performers Hang In There and Cruz Control are among the field for the Rehearsal at Newcastle, while Deafening Silence returns to action with scope for better but so, too, has JASMIN DE GRUGY for the Anthony Honeyball team. The JP McManus-owned six-year-old has figures of 21111132 since March 2024, including a couple of wins over fences last season at Southwell and Newbury - the latter over this trip.
He signed off with a good second in the Pat Taaffe Handicap Chase at the Punchestown Festival behind fellow UK raider Bill Baxter, who was well-handicapped. Jasmin De Grugy won on seasonal comeback last season and, rated just 2lb higher than in Ireland, has scope to repeat the trick here.
Selection: Jasmin De Grugy @ 9/2
Newbury
12:30 - Sir Peter O'Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase
HUNTER LEGEND wasn't given the hardest time at Cheltenham on his comeback in the November Gold Cup and was beaten a little more than eight lengths in the end. Venetia Williams' charge should be much sharper for that run a fortnight ago and, stepping back up in trip, now promises to suit with two of his four successes over fences achieved at this sort of trip. Any rain will help and a mark of 128 is very reasonable.
Selection: Hunter Legend @ 9/2
13:05 - Novices' Hurdle
Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy are enjoying a superb spell lately and BURNCOURT BOY is fancied to deliver for them in this novices' event. The Irish point winner was easy to back on his Rules/stable bow at Carlisle (2m4f, soft) this month and shaped as though in need of the run. He was only beaten around five lengths and the horse that finished just in front of him, Get On George, scored next time at Wetherby. Burncourt Boy is a potential improver now.
Selection: Burncourt Boy @ 15/2
14:55 - Gold Cup Handicap Chase
One of the winter highlights of the jumps season in Britain, this contest remains one of the most prestigious handicaps in the land. Nicky Henderson is represented by HYLAND and James Bowen's partner could go well. He showed lots of promise last season, winning twice and finishing second to The Jukebox Man in a Grade 1 novice at Kempton before also filling the runner-up spot in the Ladbrokes Trophy over 3m there in February. He didn't get home in the Grand National and was let down by his jumping on comeback at Cheltenham last month, though he ran a solid race and will be sharper for it. He's 8lb better off with the re-opposing winner Three Card Brag now and Hyland should be suited by this track, while his trainer is in red-hot form with a 29 per cent strike-rate of late.
Selection: Hyland @ 9/1
Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation
