Our star daily duo of Rory Delargy and David Massey are back with a look ahead to Wednesday's racing.
Racing betting tips: Wednesday January 14
1pt win Top Target in the 14:05 Newbury at 10/3 (General, min 3/1)
0.5pts e.w Kayf Dancer in the 14:40 Newbury at 25/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5 Bet365, min 20/1)
*NEWBURY FACES A PRECAUTIONARY INSPECTION AT 10AM
14:05 Newbury – Class 4 (0-120) Handicap Chase 2m7f91y
TOP TARGET was just behind winner Silver Thorn, and a dozen lengths ahead of the eventual runner-up, when falling at the last in a handicap chase at Doncaster last month, and looks more than capable of making amends having been nudged up 3lb for that fine effort. Prior to Doncaster, he had shaped really well in finishing third on his chase bow at Wetherby over a 2m3f trip that he found too sharp, and this wide-margin point winner has quickly developed into a better chaser than hurdler.
Kim Bailey and Mat Nicholls remain in good form with four runners since the New Year yielding two wins and they are taken to continue that good run in a race likely to be run at a solid gallop, with the likes of Buckna, Muskoka and Sheldon expected to stride on early.
14:40 Newbury – Class 4 (0-120) Handicap Hurdle 3m57y
KAYF DANCER needs to bounce back from a disappointing effort when first tried at a staying trip over hurdles last time, but he looks fairly treated given the promise he showed as a novice last season, and his stable has an excellent record at Newbury. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White have had eight winners from just 16 runners at Newbury in the past 12 months and their horses are always of significant interest here, so it may pay to forgive Kayf Dancer a rather underwhelming effort at Chepstow last month when ridden by 7lb claimer Jack Stenhouse. That was too bad to be true considering Kayf Dancer was beaten only 7½ lengths by The New Lion in a maiden hurdle there last season.
Kayf Dancer hails from the family of late-developing staying hurdler Dedigout and has shaped like a stayer since his time in bumpers. It’s possible he’s simply gone the wrong way after a positive start, but the positives from last season are too strong to abandon him on the back of just one poor run.
15:50 Newbury – Class 4 (0-120) Conditional Jockeys’ H’cap Hurdle 2m69y
Premier gets a useful 13lb WFA allowance in this handicap hurdle and the progressive juvenile is expected to make it count having won a handicap hurdle at Taunton last time from the promising Appleshaw. It’s not that easy for juveniles to beat their elders in handicaps as they tend to be less mature and in need of the allowances, but some more precocious types can buck that trend, and Premier has already shown himself in that category by beating his elders at Taunton. He probably won’t want the ground to deteriorate much, but the official description suggests it will be ideal and he won with a little up his sleeve last time, giving plenty of encouragement that he can defy an 8lb rise, which is offset by Will Featherstone’s 6lb claim.
Preview posted at 09:40 GMT on 14/01/26
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