Newbury Racing Saturday: Expert Betting Tips

The last of two days' brilliant racing at Newbury, this is a chance to see some future superstars running in some competitive contests at the weekend.

Saturday's card runs from 13:20-16:40 and includes top handicap action via the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (13:55) plus a quality veteran's handicap chase (13:20).

We've assessed the action across the card on Saturday at Newbury and picked out our best bets.

13:20 - Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Veterans' Handicap Chase (3m2f)

Last year's winner Cyclop is back down to a very dangerous mark if he can recapture his form, but MUSICAL SLAVE could take some beating. Philip Hobbs & Johnson White's runner is now 2lb below his last winning mark when successful in a similar race to this at Exeter last February, and he took a step back in the right direction when an eyecatching fourth at Ludlow in December.

Selection: Musical Slave

13:55 - BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m4f)

Formerly with Paul Nicholls, SIR PSYCHO won on debut for Harry Derham when comfortably scoring at Ascot in November. The form of that race has worked out extremely well with the five horses in behind him all winning subsequently, and he is only 5lb higher in the weights now. He departed at the first fence at Sandown when last seen in January but is well worth keeping onside.

Selection: Sir Psycho

14:25 - Download The BetVictor App Novices' Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Successful at Monksgrange between the flags last March, FLORENCETHEMACHINE got off the mark at the third time of asking under rules when scoring at Exeter for trainer Paul Nicholls in January. The Malinas mare made all in testing conditions on the day and stuck to her task well, staying on strongly to the line over 2m½f. An opening handicap mark of 111 looks rather lenient and she's already proven in the mud so a bold bid from the front is expected again.

Selection: Florencethemachine

15:00 - Make Your Best Bet At BetVictor Handicap Hurdle (2m½f)

Trainer Harry Derham could have a nice Saturday if things go to plan, and another of his runners with a solid chance is BRENTFORD HOPE, with Paul O'Brien doing the steering. This well bred seven-year-old son of Camelot was rated as high as 107 on the Flat, so was certainly a very classy operator, and finished second to dual Group 1 winner Victor Ludorum at Chantilly in July 2021. He has won three of his five starts over hurdles for the Derham yard, trouncing the field over course and distance off 122 in November before finishing third here in the Gerry Feilden when last seen. Brentford Hope is a leading player here.

Selection: Brentford Hope

15:32 - BetVictor Non-Runner-No-Bet At Cheltenham Seniors' Handicap Hurdle (2m4½f)

ZOFFEE wasn't without support on his debut for the Olly Murphy yard at Taunton in January and he looked amiss from the word go, but if he can produce anything close to his best in this contest, he will take all the beating. Fourth in the 2022 Cesarewitch and second in the Chester Cup last year, he was a classy stayer on the Flat and he won over hurdles as a juvenile. A mark of 117 is very exploitable and although he wouldn't want the ground to go bottomless, he is one to watch in the betting.

Selection: Zoffee

16:05 - Bet Racing In Running At BetVictor Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (2m7½f)

Paul Nicholls' Makin'yourmindup needed every yard when scoring over course and distance three weeks ago, and a 3lb rise makes life tougher for him. He might struggle to give 8lb to Dan Skelton's HITCHING JACKING, who admittedly didn't seem to see out this sort of trip when disappointing at Perth last April and at Huntingdon on his seasonal reappearance in November. Hitching Jacking certainly looked like he needed this trip when plugging on into third at Doncaster when last seen though, and he still has few miles on the clock.

Selection: Hitching Jacking

16:40 - Stewart Wright Memorial Mares' Open National Hunt Flat Race (2m½f)

It's another play on a Harry Derham-trained runner in the finale as JASMINE BLISS holds very strong credentials in the hands of Paul O'Brien. The Blue Bresil mare built on an encouraging fourth at Ludlow on debut in November when running out a nice winner on her second start at Wetherby in January, well backed in the process. The reopposing Wednesday Addams takes her on 4lb better off at the weights but it might not be enough to reverse the form.

Selection: Jasmine Bliss