13:30 Newbury

The Betfair Serial Winners Fund Handicap Hurdle has a competitive look to it, but the vote goes to the David Pipe-trained AMERICAN SNIPER (best price 7/1), who should be suited to the return to this longer distance.

This six-year-old hadn’t won since completing a double in late 2022, but resumed winning ways at a big price when collecting a valuable pot at Cheltenham’s November meeting, in which he gave 7Ib and a beating to the progressive White Rhino.

That form has been positively advertised, with the second winning next time out at the same venue prior to making the frame at Huntingdon when last spotted off a mark of 129. Based on that rival, David Pipe’s charge looks well handicapped off 128.

He could only manage fourth at Taunton when last seen having been sent off favourite, but the drop-in trip to 2m3f backfired, as it couldn’t allow him to bring his stamina into play, and this trip will suit him better from an unchanged mark.

His knowledge of this course is also a bonus, as his only previous start here resulted in a fine runner-up effort to Ben Pauling’s Twig when beaten by only one length. In essence, it was a cracking effort in defeat considering the fact that he was conceding 9Ib to the winner.

The winner is now rated 140+ over fences and gained his last win over hurdles off 135, so again, the selection is well treated off 128. He handles soft ground effectively, so as long as the ground isn’t heavy, he must enter calculations.

American Sniper - 1pt

14:40 Newbury

Further down the card, we have the Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase, which will feature the first and second from last season’s Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, Editeur Du Gite, and former Tingle Creek winner Edwardstone. However, both of them ran poorly last time, likewise Funambule Sivola, while Boothill took a heavy fall over Christmas.

With this in mind, I’m drawn to the claims of Joe Tizzard’s AMARILLO SKY (best price 9/1), who looks a touch overpriced. The eight-year-old is actually unbeaten in all completed starts over fences at this course, and although he hasn’t been seen since finishing fourth in last year’s Clarence House, he has a good record when fresh.

In his first run at this course over fences, he was set to win but fell at the third last fence when in front and was still going well. However, he made amends back over the same course and distance when faced with soft-to-heavy ground, beating Shakem’uparry by 10 lengths. He jumped beautifully throughout, and the second has subsequently strengthened the form.

He ran a good race next time, finishing fifth in the Grand Annual at the Cheltenham Festival, a place behind Editeur Du Gite, and despite failing to beat a rival home in a Grade 1 at Aintree a month later, he made a winning seasonal reappearance the following season. In that victory, he conceded 9Ib to Cheltenham course specialist Fugitif, who is now rated in the 150s and finished third in Clarence House Chase when last spotted.

Richard Hobson’s horse also won a December Gold Cup, as well as hitting the frame in two editions of the Paddy Power Gold Cup and also when second in the Plate at the Cheltenham Festival. I therefore believe Amarillo Sky’s defeat of him is worth a significant upgrade, to say the least. He then backed up that win with a 14-length win from the front, returning to this course and distance, in which he conceded a lot of weight to the remainder.

His only start since was when he finished fourth in the Clarence House Chase behind Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone, but it was reported that he finished lame, yet he was only a couple of lengths behind dual Champion Chase winner Energumene. He’s the only runner lacking a run, but he’s a very good horse when at his best, especially at this venue, and handles any ground.

This has probably been the main focus for a while, and his best form does entitle him to be extremely competitive, even with him having plenty to find with the best versions of Editeur Du Gite and Edwardstone.

His record at this track is what has really attracted me to him. If Alan King’s charge is back to his best, he is undoubtedly the likeliest winner, but at the odds, Joe Tizzard’s charge is the value.