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Megan Nicholls Racing Preview: Fighting Fifth Hurdle & Newbury Gold Cup Day Tips

SATURDAY RACING TIPS

11.53 Newcastle – Juvenile Hurdle

There has been so much talk about Lavender Hill Mob.

The Gredley Family and James Owen have had a great start to the year, they look like they have a couple of exciting horses and a couple of exciting juveniles.

Now, this horse has been bigged-up plenty. The talk is that he could be the best of the juveniles that they [the Gredley Family] have and we’ve seen a couple of impressive ones already, so it’s very interesting.

This is a nice race at Newcastle, we could see a couple of smart juveniles here and I definitely think both of these horses are of note. I think Lavender Hill Mob will end up as the short-price favourite with plenty of talk about him, as I say. However, keep an eye on Viyanni if he’s a sensible price, he could be worth a little look.

Megan’s Tip: Lavender Hill Mob WIN

13.54 Newbury – Handicap Hurdle

Impose Toi is returning after nearly a year off the track.

His jumping is going to have to be much slicker, he let himself down in the Lanzarote due to some pretty messy jumps. He just wasn’t fluid and kept losing momentum but he returns here in a competitive race.

Inthewaterside is a horse that my dad has always thought a lot of. He has had a wind operation since we last saw him but he’s definitely improved and strengthened up over the summer.

He is an absolute monster and I think he is going to take all the beating.

Ultimately, he’s going to be a much better chaser but he’s the talented horse in the field and I still think there’s plenty of improvement to come from him despite returning over hurdles so I am going Inthewaterside here.

Impose Toi could be the biggest danger – he’s a talented horse but his jumping is going to have to be better this season.

Megan’s Tip: Inthewaterside WIN

14.10 Newcastle – BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle

It’s a real shame that, and I don’t know how this has happened, but Newcastle has got good ground. It’s absolutely crazy but I’m pleased to see there have been a good few horses declared – and the ones that we wanted as well.

How everywhere else is battling for heavy ground and Newcastle is good is beyond me but anyway…

I just can’t see Sir Gino getting beat here. He looks pretty exceptional, he’s done very little wrong and he is a gorgeous, big horse. I think he will have filled out into his frame over the summer so I am really looking forward to seeing him back on the track.

We saw him do a racecourse gallop at Newbury recently with his stablemate Constitution Hill. Ignore everything about his stablemate and just watch Sir Gino for himself, he looked great. He moved and travelled exceptionally well and it is great to see him back in top form.

I think that he’ll take all the beating and he could just be an absolute freak, to be honest.

The market has the top three correct. Sir Gino comes home in front, I’m not sure which way round Brentford Hope and Mystical Power will finish but they will be the one, two, three.

Megan’s Tip: Sir Gino WIN

14.25 Newbury – Gerry Feilden Hurdle

Jeriko Du Reponet didn’t have the ideal return to the track. Obviously, he returned chasing and Nicky (Henderson) reported that the start of the race was delayed because Jeriko was being pretty tricky in the prelims. It wasn’t an ideal start back and that puts me off him.

I know he showed plenty of ability last year but that does put me off him after switching back to hurdles.

I have two horses I like here. I think Queens Gamble can run really well - if the ground does manage to dry out a little bit. She is very talented and with this type of track, a nice strong, even gallop will suit her. She’s a mare that has proven to have plenty of ability and I’m looking forward to have her back this season.

At a bigger price each way, I like Salver, who was a very talented juvenile. He was third in the Triumph which I thought was a huge run. He's a strong stayer at two miles, but he will enjoy the ground being on the slower side.

He’s very consistent, he’s tough and I can see him running into a place. He’s my each-way pick.

Megan’s Tip: Queens Gamble WIN; Salver E/W

15.00 Newbury – Gold Cup

I am going to go Victtorino here. Venetia Williams is flying now, the horses are in great form. She had a huge weekend last week and Victtorino looks as if he’s been set out for this as a plan.

He is one pound above his last winning mark, but he goes very well fresh and, provided he stays in the extended three miles, then I think he will run a big race. He has enough cruising speed to be able to hold a nice position and that’s pretty essential here.

Newbury is not as stiff as Ascot and he saw the three miles there out well so, on a flatter track, the slightly extended distance shouldn’t be an issue, I don’t think. He’s got a big chance and, as I say, I think this has very much been the aim.

He won first time out last year and I think he could go very close to doing exactly the same this time around.

Megan’s Tip: Victtorino to win

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Odds correct at time of publication but subject to fluctuation

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