Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newbury

Leg 1 Selections: Call The Dawn, Ittack Blue 

This race should prove informative with a host of interesting participants. I do respect Nicky Henderson’s Jet Powered but there was a lot to like about the way CALL THE DAWN ran on his hurdles debut six weeks ago. Despite being sent off 20/1, he travelled and jumped fluently throughout and kept on well to finish a solid four-length second to Gin Coco. 

The winner probably had more in hand the margin indicated but it was a solid effort in defeat and the form was given a boost in the Greatwood Hurdle when Gin Coco finished second in that race. With more to come, and this track likely to suit, he is a solid choice to make the frame. ITTACK BLUE won an Irish point by a wide-margin on debut in May and has joined a top yard since. He could be a big player for the Skelton’s here. 

Leg 2 Selections: Soaring Glory, Aucunrisque

This should be a good race and I really like the top-weight SOARING GLORY here, who is the class act in the field and could be too good for these if able to translate his hurdles ability to this sphere, even with his big weight taken into account. I am quite shocked to see the bookmakers have him trading at double-figure odds as I would have had him a lot shorter based on most of his hurdles form, which is the best on offer. 

He won last year’s Betfair Hurdle at this course and ran a blinder when fifth in this year’s renewal of that race off top-weight, where he was in second until a bad mistake at the last hurdle cost him a top-three finish. The seven-year-old did, however, beat the high-class Bravemansgame on his only previous start on good ground and while he’s been absent for 288 days, his record fresh reads 111, so his fitness shouldn’t be an issue and he is overpriced. 

With Chris Gordon continuing in a rich vein of form, I can’t resist a second choice in the form of AUCUNRISQUE, who has made giant strides this year. He has won five of his last six starts, including a Grade Two over hurdles and showed a good attitude to win on his chase debut last month. This race is a lot more competitive but he jumps well, has pace and will put a lot of pressure on the remainder of the field in that aspect if adopting his usual front-running tactics. I think he’s a better horse than Datsalrightgino and could prove hard to pass if allowed to get into his usual rhythm with conditions ideal at a course that should play to his strengths. 

Leg 3 Selections: Egbert, Heezer Geezer 

EGBERT shaped well in a couple of bumpers when making the frame, including when narrowly denied by School Days Over, who ran well when second in a red-hot bumper race at Cheltenham next time. His jumping was very good for a hurdle debutante at Warwick earlier this month and kept on strongly to only be beaten a length into third. 

He wasn’t helped by that last hurdle being omitted but Alan King’s charge showcased a lot of ability in defeat that day and should prove even more effective over this longer distance. The winner from that race has let the form down since but this five-year-old has lots more to come and has to enter calculations in this wide-open race. 

HEEZER GEEZER won his only start in bumpers very comfortably at Doncaster and was a close-up second on his hurdles debut last month. The form of that race has worked out strongly, as the third and fourth finished first and second in a warm-looking race at Warwick next time. Dan Skelton’s team remains in good form, so with improvement forthcoming, this five-year-old should firmly be in the mix here. 

Leg 4 Selections: Stage Star 

The Paul Nicholls-trained STAGE STAR should prove a tough nut to crack here and his price reflects his chances. He won a Grade 1 (weak race) over hurdles here and while he disappointed on his final two starts over hurdles, he made the perfect start to his chase career when easily brushing aside the useful West Cork at Warwick. This six-year-old looked back to his very best that day and he’s entitled to come forward from that seasonal return too, so while his opponents have to be respected, he can continue his rise through the novice chase ranks and land this Grade Two event and, in the process, take his unbeaten record at this course to three wins. 

Leg 5 Selections: Beakstown, Caribean Boy

The form of the Old Roan Chase is working out week after week and this is a good opportunity for BEAKSTOWN to maintain that trend who finished fourth in that race at Aintree. The second and third have both won since, including Ga Law who claimed the Paddy Power Gold Cup at Cheltenham on his next start off a mark of 142. This surely means Dan Skelton’s charge is still really well-treated off 137 here plus he gets weight from all five rivals. He’s down in class, his trainer is in red-hot form and he brings the best piece of form this season so far to the table, so he could be up to the task ahead here. CARIBEAN BOY is the other one I like here too, who is handicapped to have a day in the outcome given he’s a Grade Two winner at this course over fences.

Leg 6 Selections: Paisley Park 

I fancy PAISLEY PARK to roll back the years and add another high-profile victory to his incredible CV. The ten-year-old won the Cleeve Hurdle for the third consecutive year at Cheltenham back in January and then finished third in the Stayers’ Hurdle at the Festival, a race he had previously won in 2019 and finished third in that race last year. The good ground will be fine and Emma Lavelle has reported to have him tip-top shape ahead of his return. Dashel Drasher is unproven over three miles, Tea Clipper has plenty to find on the form and Proschema is rated six pounds lower than this admirable performer, so he’s the one I want to side with here.