Newbury‘s three-day Hennessy meeting kicks-off with a terrific seven-race card and a field of six going to post for the opening Novices’ Hurdle over an extended two miles. Emma Lavelle’s See the World is a fascinating runner on his hurdles, despite greenness, and is best watched on his first run for over 200 days. Harry Fry won the corresponding race last year with Jollyallan and is represented with recent Wetherby scorer Charmix and whilst he is respected under Noe Fehily preference lies instead with Modus (12.30) under Barry Geraghty.
The selection made a winning debut for new trainer Paul Nicholls in impressive style over two and a half miles at Taunton but shouldn’t be unsuited by the drop back to two miles and can make it 2/2 over hurdles en-route to a likely tilt at the spring festivals. The son of Motivator is 16/1 with BetVictor for both the Supreme and Neptune Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival but likely to shorten with a convincing win this afternoon.
Wuff (1.00) can complete a quick-fire double for Team Ditcheat in the Amateur Riders’ Handicap Chase over the extended three miles. The selection makes his debut for the Nicholls stable after previously being with Tom George and was progressive last term in his first campaign over fences, including an excellent second behind The Skyfarmer over course and distance in March. Leading amateur jockey Will Biddick is booked in the plate and can guide the gelding to a first success over fences at the likely expense of Linda Jewell’s Itoldyou, who was a runner-up in the corresponding race last year but needs to improve from a 7lb higher mark.
Harry Fry’s Unowhatimeanharry is officially a stone well in after bolting-up in a conditional jockey’s race at Cheltenham’s Open Meeting and must go close with Noel Fehily replacing teenager Liam McKenna in the saddle for the handicap hurdle over two and a half miles but a chance is taken on Oliver Sherwood’s Robinsson (1.35) at a likely double figure price. The well-bred son of Robin Des Champs wasn’t beaten far in a competitive Novices’ Hurdle last time out at Towcester and looks potentially well-treated from a mark of 120.
Seven go to post for the G2 Novices’ Chases and Un Temps Pour Tout (2.10) a tentative selection for the team of David Pipe and Tom Scudamore in one of the hottest looking Novices’ Chases of the season. The selection should be strip fitter for a recent debut over fences at the Open Meeting and should have conditions to suit. Rebecca Curtis’ Beast of Burden would be a confident selection should the heavens open overnight, whilst Dan Skelton’s Value at Risk looks the type to relish the larger obstacles but should improve for the run.
Ned Stark, 14/1 with BetVictor for Saturday’s Hennessy Gold Cup, won the corresponding handicap chase on the card and Harry Fry will have similar aspirations for Nitrogen (2.45) making his debut over fences in the Novices’ Handicap Chase over two and three quarter miles. The selection, a point-to-point winner in his native Ireland, showed glimpses of promise in over timber last term but is bred to thrive over fences, a half-brother to three-time Gold Cup winner Best Mate no less, and is a confident selection to make a winning debut over fences.
Brothers Dan and Harry Skelton remain in good form and Ch’tibello (3.15) can give weight and a beating to his six rivals in the feature Gerry Fielden Handicap Hurdle. The selection makes his debut handicapping from a mark of 137 but his two previous runs under rules behind Francis of Assisi and Altior at Fakenham and Ascot respectively suggest he is potentially ahead of the handicapper.
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