Simon Holt best bets for Newbury on Saturday

Recommended bets:

1pt win Moving In Style in 2.25 Newbury at 7/1

2pts win One For Rosie in 1.50 Newbury at 5/1

1pt win Mine's A Pint in 1.15 Newbury at 9/2

THE Betway Mandarin Handicap Chase run at Newbury on Saturday has been seriously downgraded since the days when it was won by the likes of Night Nurse, Ten Plus, Party Politics and Jodami and, off the lightest weight, MOVING IN STYLE can outstay his rivals in what is sure to be a stern stamina test.

The Robert Walford-trained gelding, formerly with Neil Mulholland for whom he went up 16lb in the ratings last season following victories at Wetherby and Sedgefield, showed the benefit of his Exeter reappearance when chasing home useful veteran Perfect Candidate over three miles and four furlongs at Haydock last month.

While unable to reel back the winner in the closing stages, I liked the way Sam Twiston Davies's mount stuck to the task and he looks well up to winning off his current mark.

As a hurdler, Moving In Style also got better with experience winning his last two starts before being switched to chasing.

Likely favourite Copperhead is progressive and made a successful step up to this sort of trip at Wincanton last time, but the going was good that day and he's now 9lb higher.

Cobolobo has gone up 7lb for winning a small race at Haydock but is another who should stay while the returning Strong Pursuit, off the course since pulling up here last March, is fairly handicapped despite top weight and has run better on other occasions at Newbury.

Earlier, Twiston-Davies's mount ONE FOR ROSIE is fancied to make a winning reappearance in the Betway Heed Your Hunch Handicap Hurdle.

This gorgeous grey has an excellent record when fresh in his light career having won his bumper first time out in 2017, a novice hurdle on his jumping debut at Carlisle in November, '18 and another novice hurdle (at Warwick) last season after a two-month break.

One For Rosie's form looks strong as, after beating Falco Blitz at Warwick, he failed by a short head to hold off Thursday's Wincanton winner Third Wind under top weight in the EBF Final at Sandown and then dead-heated for third with the smart Angels Breath behind Reserve Tank and Brewin'upastorm in a Grade One at Aintree.

For one still so lightly raced, it will be surprising if he cannot rate much higher and take a handicap such as this off his current mark before going onto better things.

In the two-mile Betway Handicap Chase, MINE'S A PINT looks interesting dropping back in trip for his seasonal debut.

Tom Bellamy's mount took well to the larger obstacles last season, winning on his chase debut at Plumpton (2m4f) and then finishing third and second at Wincanton over the same distance, on the latter occasion travelling well but not finding as much as the winner Poker School.

The quality of his form is nothing to get too excited about but two miles on soft ground (seemed to handle it at Fontwell on one occasion) could prove ideal and he receives weight all round in a modest race for the course.

Preview posted 1525 on 27/12/19

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