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Newcastle National Hunt Tips
The National Hunt season being in full swing means weekend after weekend of top quality racing and it’s no different on Saturday. Newcastle hosts one of two premier meetings on the day and there’s a seven-race card to look forward to.
The Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle (14:10) is the big race of the day and Sir Gino and Mystical Power are set to slug it out, while the Rehearsal Chase (15:20) provides some thoroughly competitive handicap action.
Here we take a look at all seven races on the card and pick out a strong fancy for each, including a Willie Mullins runner in the big race of the day.
11:53 - Paul Ferguson's Jumpers To Follow 'Introductory' Juvenile Hurdle (2m)
James Owen is making a name for himself and has proven to be a very effective trainer across both codes. Juvenile hurdlers are something of a speciality for him with that in mind and Lavender Hill Mob is set to make his first start over hurdles here. This three-year-old won a handicap over 1m2f at Goodwood on the Flat in May and wasn’t disgraced when finishing fourth in a 1m3f Listed race at the same track after that. His profile is exactly what you would be looking for in an ex-Flat recruit and Nico de Boinville has been booked for the ride.
12:28 - Living North Handicap Chase (2m4f)
Shadows In The Sky earned a first chase success when getting the better of Backbyjet at Hexham in May and that rival is in opposition again here. It was a career best effort from Chris Grant’s eight-year-old when winning again at Hexham last time out and a 5lb rise seems pretty fair on the evidence of that cosy success, which came by a margin of almost five lengths. Another big run can’t be ruled out here and his 5lb rise is offset by William Maggs’ 5lb claim.
13:03 - Weatherbys nhstallions.co.uk 'The French Furze' Novices' Hurdle (2m6f)
Lucinda Russell’s Evaluation is an impeccably bred horse and it’s very interesting that the six-year-old has been switched to hurdles. This gelding is by the excellent Flat sire Dubawi and out of Ascot Gold Cup winner Estimate. He made a solid start to life over hurdles when winning nicely at Ayr earlier this month and, having won at up to two miles on the Flat, should have no issue with the step up in trip here.
13:35 - BetMGM Handicap Chase (3m6f)
Three of the seven runners in this race managed to win last time out and six-year-old Breakdance Kid looks like the least exposed of the three. Stuart Coltherd’s six-year-old has a fair record over fences and won nicely at Kelso when last seen. He had plenty in hand that day and a 7lb rise doesn’t look unreasonable. It would be no surprise if he was to go close once again here and deserves a chance now trying a marathon trip.
14:10 - BetMGM Fighting Fifth Hurdle (Grade 1, 2m)
Newcastle’s best race of the season is the Fighting Fifth Hurdle and Nicky Henderson, who runs Sir Gino, has won five of the last 10 renewals. His horses have often needed the run first time out, however, soWillie Mullins’ Mystical Power could be the one to side with as a result. This horse has the perfect pedigree, being by Galileo and out of Annie Power, and was amongst the cream of the crop in novice hurdles last term. It would take some performance from four-year-old Sir Gino to get the better of Mystical Power here.
14:45 - BetMGM EBF 'National Hunt' Maiden Hurdle (2m)
This looks like a very open maiden and Brian Ellison’s runner Blackwater Lilly appears to be an interesting proposition. She progressed with each start in bumpers and was only beaten by a length when second at Uttoxeter in July. Even closer at Kelso when last seen, she was narrowly denied, finishing second once again. Her profile suggests she’s likely to step forward again here and this looks like a good starting point.
15:20 - BetMGM Rehearsal Handicap Chase (2m7½f)
Venetia Williams is one to follow at the moment, after having a 77/1 across the card treble last weekend and Frero Banbou could provide her with a third winner of this race in the last nine years. He was rated 142 at his peak, but his current mark of 127 looks particularly appealing. The nine year-old was well beaten over the National fences at Aintree earlier this month but is entitled to improve for the run and a 3lb drop in the weights won’t go amiss either.