Enjoy a nice Holly-day at Newbury on Saturday.
HOLLY HARTINGO (2.45) lines up in the Grade 2 EBF BetVictor NH Mares’ Novice Hurdle and she looks the right type for this race run to support racingtohelpukraine.uk. After finishing runner-up in the second of her two Irish point-to-point starts, she made a winning hurdles debut over 2m5f at Ludlow.
Alastair Ralph’s mare showed a willing attitude that day just before Christmas and she had little trouble doubling her tally at Huntingdon three weeks later. Her handicap debut, following a two-month break, could be viewed as disappointing but the drop to 2m in a four-runner Hereford contest was never going to suit her.
This race will show her in a much-better light. Have 2pts each-way at 17-2 with most bookies paying out on five places and Sky Bet stretching to six. Newbury also hosts the veterans’ chase final for conditional jockeys’ and flying grey VALADOM (2.10) looks overpriced.
He loves to blast off in front on decent ground and he made them all go in this race 12 months ago when only headed on the run-in. His form this season hasn’t been particularly promising but he’s been kept exclusively to right-handed tracks.
He’s much better going this way round and the drying conditions are just what he wants. Have 1pt each-way at 16-1, with one of the bookies paying out on four places.
Earlier on the card, RAINYDAY WOMAN (1.35) will also like the ground. This smart bumper mare rattled up a hat-trick of hurdles wins in December before running miles below par at Lingfield behind Cheltenham Festival winner Love Envoi.
That might have been one run too many in a fairly short period and the heavy ground was also against her. She looks nicely treated for her handicap debut and this good-looking mare has the potential to keep improving. Have 1pt to win at 9-1.
Ayr’s Scottish National card looks particularly tricky so it may pay to head to Wales instead. WALKINTHEWOODS (2.17) lines up in the first division of the novices’ handicap hurdle and he looks more than capable of taking a race like this.
He looked in need of a step up to this 2m3f trip when runner-up to well-weighted Petty Cash over 2m at Ffos Las in February. It wasn’t the 2m5f distance that beat him at Hereford later that month when the race probably came a bit soon. Have 1pt to win at 15-2.
