3 minute read

Sam King returns with two tips from Newbury.

With Musselburgh and Doncaster falling due to the weather, Newbury is where we head for our two selections on Friday afternoon.

Paul Nicholls' Kandoo Kid has filled the runner-up spot on both his starts over fences thus far and he looks to hold excellent claims of going one better in the Coral Racing Club Handicap Chase at 2.25.

The unexposed seven-year-old bumped into the promising Nickle Back when a well-beaten second at Warwick on his chasing bow in October. The winner has scored again since and lines up in the Grade 2 earlier on the card, giving the form plenty of substance.

He seemingly learned plenty from that initial outing, jumping much more fluently when going down a neck over today's course and distance early last month. There's no doubt a 6lb higher mark will make life tougher, but the front pair were a staggering thirty-two lengths clear of a subsequent winner in third, and I'm fully expecting the Paul Nicholls-trained grey to get off the mark this time around.

Selection: Kandoo Kid – General 7/4

It could be a good day for Nicky Henderson at Newbury with plenty of fancied runners and I'm hopeful Hyland can defy some early morning market weakness in the Play Coral 'Racing-Super-Series' For Free Handicap Hurdle at 5.35.

The son of Turgeon has taken his form to new heights since returning from a 180-day break this season and will absolutely relish conditions at Newbury this afternoon. The form of his latest success at Cheltenham doesn't look the strongest on paper, however, there was a lot to like about the way he travelled that day before staying on nicely in the closing stages.

His sole effort at Newbury resulted in a decent second-place finish over course and distance back in March and a 6lb rise in the weights for his latest exertions may not be insurmountable.

Selection: Hyland – General 5/1