1335 Newbury - Sportingbet.com Long Distance Hurdle

Lough Derg is sure to ensure that this is run at a good pace but David Pipe's gelding is hard to back with any confidence having been well beaten at Ascot last week and it is hard to get away from BIG BUCK'S, who is taken to win this before going on to better things, with the main danger rated as Duc De Regniere.

Nicky Henderson's gelding did not progress as much as may have been anticipated over hurdles last term but showed a decent level of form early on in the season, including when winning this event 12 months ago.

The seven-year-old comes from a yard that could not be in better heart at present and, having won well on his chasing debut on his reappearance at the beginning of the month, he has to be of interest back over hurdles.

Peter Bowen's Souffleur ran better than expected when chasing home According To Pete at Haydock last week and he has to be considered but this looks tougher especially after just a six day break.

Alan King's Blazing Bailey was not at his best when last seen when a well held fourth behind Tazbar at Cheltenham in April but has claims on the pick of his form. However, both Blazing Bailey and Duc De Regniere are strictly held by the selection on running last season and Big Buck's has an obvious chance of making a winning return.

The six-year-old failed to take to fences last season but showed much improved form back over hurdles with four wins including in the World Hurdle at Cheltenham and the Liverpool Hurdle at Aintree and he will take all the beating if anywhere near his best.

1350 Newcastle - Wbx.com Fighting Fifth Hurdle

The rising star of the two-mile brigade SOLWHIT can win again, seeing off Binocular in the process. Charles Byrnes' gelding showed an impressive turn of foot at Punchestown last time out, putting Muirhead and Hurricane Fly firmly in their place.

His overall form stacks up well having beaten the Champion Hurdle winner Punjabi in May, and with any rain in his favour he looks a cracking bet. The obvious danger is Binocular. He was third in the Champion Hurdle so has a little to find on a form line through Punjabi, however there is an argument to say that he met his stablemate at his peak whereas Punjabi may have been slightly over the top at Punchestown.

He has a good record fresh but his turn of foot is seen to best effect on good ground and he probably wouldn't want too much rain as he takes on a race-fit rival. Al Eile is a hero at Aintree but he is likely to be found out here over two miles, Blue Bajan was abject at Wincanton last time out but the form has been franked, whilst Supreme Novices' starlet Go Native was well-held at Down Royal last time out and on a form line through Hurricane Fly he needs to improve by about a stone.

2007 Champion Hurdle winner Sublimity has been the subject of good reports from the yard, however Robbie Hennessy's gelding has a little to prove these days when taking on top-notch opposition (as he does here). Won In The Dark completes the line-up but whilst he is closely matched with Sublimity on their run last December, Sabrina Harty's gelding has many lengths to find with Solwhit on their Punchestown running. A fascinating clash, but one of the better recent renewals can go the way of Solwhit.

1405 Newbury - Sportingbet.com Handicap Chase

Moon Over Miami deserves to get his head in front following some decent placed efforts but Charlie Mann's gelding is again likely to find at least one too good with a better bet looking to be AU COURANT, who gets the vote over Mount Oscar.

Colin Tizzard's gelding won well when taking a beginners' chase at Fontwell recently but an 8lb rise for that success looks harsh and he may have to settle for minor honours behind the selection. Henrietta Knight's Calgary Bay did not progress as may have been anticipated last term and it may be that first time up is the time to be with him but he is hard to back with confidence.

Tom Taaffe's Finger Onthe Pulse is better than he showed behind Monet's Garden at Aintree last month and has slipped to a fair mark so he cannot be discounted, while it is to be hoped that the Paul Nicholls-trained Pasco is none the worse for his fall three out at Kempton last time and he has to be considered.

Or Bleu could be of interest on his reappearance but he is strictly held by Au Courant on running at Kempton in April and, with Nicky Henderson's team in great form, he can confirm that form and win again.

1440 Newbury - Hennessy Gold Cup

A high class renewal of a contest steeped in National Hunt racing history can see DENMAN further etch his name into the annals, while Killyglen and What A Friend rate as big dangers, and from out of the handicap former winner State Of Play can make a bold bid to regain the crown.

Paul Nicholls has been bullish about the wellbeing of Denman, who landed this in 2007 by 11 lengths and carrying top weight, when rated 161. Now 13lbs higher, and coming here off the back of low, health-affected season last time, his task looks even greater on paper. However, if his trainer is to be believed, he is better now than at any time last season, when the form book shows that our below-par hero still beat all but the great Kauto Star stone dead in the Cheltenham Gold Cup.

That was a superb effort in its own right, while he was also still going well enough around an unsuitable Aintree when tipping up next time, and you write him off at your peril.

Ruby Walsh has chosen him over stablemate What A Friend, who has been beaten only once in four outings over fences. He has more of the profile of a Hennessy winner, given that he is just six-years-old and a second season chaser, while he stays well and acts with cut.

Killyglen is interesting. He returned over 2m 4f at Carlisle, a trip too short for him, but previous wins against Chief Dan George and Shining Gale over similar trips to this marked him out as a leading novice last season. He has earned his current mark of 154 and with a nice racing weight and conditions to suit he rates a big danger.

1515 Newbury - Sportingbet.com Intermediate Hurdle

With Nicky Henderson's team in such good from there is bound to be popular of support for Fairyland but he has found two too good in both starts this term and may again have to settle for minor honours with preference for SHAMARI, who gets the vote over Nampour.

The Philip Hobbs-trained gelding won well when successful at Aintree last month and he has to be respected but an 8lb rise for that success leaves him with a tough task to follow up and he may have to settle for a place at best. Dani's Girl has won each of her last two starts but she too has gone up 8lbs for her most recent success and looks best watched now. Alan King's Silk Hall should come on for his reappearance fourth behind Starluck at Cheltenham last month but needs to, while Know The Law represents the in-from stable of Nicky Henderson but he has harshly gone up 3lbs since his most recent start at Stratford in June. Trafalgar Road won well enough at Haydock earlier this month and a 5lb rise for that is perfectly fair so he cannot be discounted but preference is for Shamari. Unplaced in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle when last seen, the Paul Nicholls-trained gelding looks well treated for his reappearance in this handicap and, with ground conditions to suit, he looks worth backing.

1525 Newcastle - Wbxtriplecrown.com Rehearsal Handicap Chase

ACCORDING TO JOHN is the pick in this affair with Coe and Toby Jug others to make appeal on the formbook.

Nicky Richards' inmate was tried in pretty hot company at the back end of last term but the fast ground was likely to have been against him. That has facilitated a drop down the weights and having crept in off just 10st2lb this afternoon, he looks potentially very well treated.

Coe stays this trip with few issues. He could have been better suited by more give underfoot though his yard have shown signs of a return to form. Toby Jug has been a credit to new connections though the value of his Cheltenham form is suspect as the race had just three runners and the winner has been turned over since.

Beat The Boys won over three miles at Chepstow though disappointed in the Badger Ales at Wincanton. Zitenka was something of a surprise at 16/1 at Wetherby last time out but there was no fluke about that victory.

Chief Dan George has always been held in high regard by his stable and is one to note in the market. Nozic has traditionally run well in the earlier part of the season and is effectively just 1lb higher than his last winning mark.

The Last Derby took the United House Gold Cup at Ascot at mega odds. He made his racefitness count on that day and the handicapper has put him up 10lb for that success. Golden Flight was a top grade chaser in France so this is actually a drop in class in relation to some of his other exploits.

Horner Woods steps up in trip and as with all Jessica Harrington raiders, has to be treated with the utmost respect. A fiendishly competitive event in which According To John seems to have most positives in his favour.