Today's Tote Placepot Tips for Newbury

Leg 1 Selections: Artistic Choice, Inneston

In leg 1, ARTISTIC CHOICE has won two of his five starts over hurdles and ran very well to split two higher-rated horses than himself when last spotted. He is well-treated off 115 and Harry Cobden maintains the ride too. He went close twice on soft/heavy ground on the Flat, so conditions will be of no concern and he holds a much stronger chance than his odds imply here. 

Gary Moore has INNESTON in the field, who was marginally denied on handicap debut at Sandown and that form has substance. He has only been given a two week rest but his connections wouldn’t turn him out so quickly unless he was A1 and he hasn’t finished improving as of yet either. He could go well in the opener. 

Leg 2 Selections: Espoir De Guye, Numitor, Riders Onthe Storm

ESPOIR DE GUYE would have needed his latest run here on stable debut in the Greatwood Gold Cup and has proven himself to be more effective on a softer surface, which he gets in this race. He is five pounds below his last winning mark and also drops in grade. Paul Nicholls’ charge makes plenty of appeal. 

NUMITOR has only been out of the top three once in all completed starts over fences and has a good record on soft ground as well. He went close off top-weight from a five pounds higher mark at Haydock last April and has placed in both previous visits here over fences. He is high on the shortlist, as is RIDERS ONTHE STORM, who would have outstanding claims if able to repeat his Aintree defeat of Hitman and Ga Law, which is the best form on offer. 

Leg 3 Selections: Ruby Island, Moviddy

I really like the chance for RUBY ISLAND in leg 3 here. She pushed the undefeated Credrojava to within half-a-length at Aintree and would have won in another couple of yards, as she rattled home from miles back to be nearest the finish. She then contested a strong Listed event at Cheltenham and remarkably, despite racing keenly, her strong finishing effort was firmly in evidence, as she took fourth behind Queens Gamble. 

Her trainer sends her on a long round trip of 450 miles to contest this huge-runner Grade 2 contest and she is his only runner on the card, which is noteworthy, plus Jamie Hamilton has his only ride on the card as well. She would have won last time in another stride at Ayr and this course should play to her strengths. With softer ground holding no concerns, she should, at the very least, be competitive. MOVIDDY was unlucky last time and is considered for a stable who do well in this race. 

Leg 4 Selections: Love Is Golden, Angel’s Dream

It was hard not to be impressed with the way LOVE IS GOLDEN absolutely bolted up over track and trip on his hurdles debut and shaped very well when third at Doncaster last month under a penalty. Gary Moore’s charge is strongly fancied to get back on track in leg 4. 

If for some reason he doesn’t deliver the goods, stablemate ANGEL’S DREAM could make a winning hurdles debut. It is interesting to see Jamie Moore ride him instead of the former, who displayed some good form in France, and has already been well found in the betting. These two are the ones to focus on here. 

Leg 5 Selections: Summer Brise, Push The Button, Gentleman Jacques  

This valuable bumper has attracted a huge field and is very competitive to say the least as most of these have yet to have even run, which makes it a difficult race to solve. That said, SUMMER BRISE has a fantastic pedigree, given she is a half-sister to the high-class Vroum Vroum Mag and could go well on debut for Nicholls and Cobden. GENTLEMAN JACQUES shaped well on debut at Warwick last month and is included with more to offer. 

PUSH THE BUTTON stuck to the task valiantly when a keeping-on third at Huntingdon in January having looked outpaced mid-race and is sure to have learnt a lot from that experience as well. Harry Skelton is an interesting jockey booking for the stable and this horse might just be overpriced for leg 5. 

Leg 6 Selections: Another Crick, Destined To Shine

Noel Williams has a good strike-rate at this course and his ANOTHER CRICK, who has course form, is a shout to make the frame. He has won over track and trip off just a two pounds lower mark and was only beaten half-a-length when second last time. He should be thereabouts.

DESTINED TO SHINE found the ground too quick when fourth last time and will be in his element back on a softer surface here. His form figures on soft or worse in this sphere reads 312U22135212 and Kerry Lee’s charge has an excellent chance of at least making the frame. 

Tote Trifecta Picks:

• Ruby Island (any order)
• Aubis Walk (any order)
• Moviddy (any order)
• Royale Dance (any order)