Steve Ryder runs through the key races on 8th February and names his best bets for the day.
14:25 Newbury
There is jumps racing at Newbury, Warwick, Uttoxeter and Naas on Saturday 8th February while Wolverhampton and Newcastle stage all-weather meetings this evening.
Today’s Best Bets from Steve Ryder
The removal of headgear and application of a first-time tongue tie has to be a concern for backers of Bravemansgame and I prefer the chances of his stablemate HITMAN (best priced at 4/1).
The Paul Nicholls trained nine-year-old has often had his attitude in a finish brought into question but he is in a field full of horses with question marks surrounding stamina and well-being that it may fall into his lap.
Hitman has shown his best form at Newbury in his career with form figures of 1322 with both of his runner-up efforts coming in this race. He was second behind Shishkin last year and has also been runner-up on both of his starts so far this season at Aintree and Ascot. It is difficult to see him not involved in the finish of this race.
15:35 Newbury
The market is favouring the chances of in-form rivals but I am willing to take a chance on OUR CHAMP (best priced at 28/1) who has been given a poor ride on his previous two runs. The Chris Gordon trained seven-year-old was given a prominent ride when victorious by a nose at Ascot in November off a mark of 131 but has been asked to make the running at too stronger pace on his previous two starts.
Over this course and distance on his penultimate start, Our Champ forced the pace with Ballee (finished last beaten 52 lengths) and Excelero (finished 9th beaten 14 lengths) where he fared best finishing 3rd beaten only five lengths by the reopposing Navajo Indy. He was forced into similar tactics at Ascot last time when he faded into 5th late on but interestingly Rex Dingle is now back on board who rode him to victory at Plumpton in March. Hopefully he is ridden with more restraint in this race and I will be disappointed if he isn’t in the first six at the end of the race.
16:50 Naas
Big Interest beat ITS ON THE LINE (best priced at 5/6) on their respective reappearance runs at Down Royal but I would expect the latter to reverse form with regular rider Derek O’Connor back on board. The eight-year-old won four of his five starts last season including this race before being beaten less than a length at the Cheltenham festival.
Its On The Line finished a never nearer 2nd on his reappearance under Maxine O’Sullivan but he is now reunited with Derek O’Connor who has ridden him to five victories. He is expected to reverse form with Big Interest under a more prominent ride.
