Liam Firkin picks out one each-way bet for Thursday's horse racing action at Newbury.
TIP 1: NON STOP – 0.5 Pts EW
Best odds of 14/1 at bet365, William Hill, Paddy Power, Sky Bet and a range of other bookmakers at the time of posting.
12:42 Newbury – OLBG Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Hurdle | Class 3 | 2m½f
NON STOP looks an interesting contender at Newbury and one who could easily outrun his current odds if bouncing back to his best over hurdles.
The seven-year-old returns from a 241-day absence for Joe Tizzard, with William Featherstone taking a useful 6lb off his back. He gets in carrying just 11st 2lb off an official mark of 112, which gives him a workable starting point if ready to roll on his seasonal return.
His recent figures do not tell the whole story. Having won nicely over hurdles at Wincanton in December, he later tackled the larger obstacles, finishing third on two occasions at Plumpton and Stratford. Those efforts were not spectacular, but they showed enough to suggest there is still ability there, and today’s return to the smaller obstacles looks a positive move.
Conditions should also suit. He’s a previous winner on good to soft ground and has a decent record around this sort of trip. The 2m½f distance is well within his comfort zone, so there should not be any excuses on that front.
There is, of course, a slight question mark over the fitness side of things after such a lengthy break, and this is a competitive 16-runner handicap. However, Joe Tizzard’s stable has been in excellent form with a strike rate of 37% at present.
