With Willoughby Court now a non-runner, Juge Et Parti is Simon Holt's best bet on this afternoon's Newbury card.
Recommended bets: Newbury, Friday
In the closing Ladbrokes Handicap Hurdle at Newbury, the Nicky Henderson-trained Dragon D'Estruval could easily be a blot on the handicap as he boasts some decent French form and hacked up on his only British start so far at Ffos Las last May.
However, the five-year-old had very little to beat that day and, in anticipation of him being under-priced based on what he has achieved so far, I would rather take a chance with the lightly-weighted JUGE ET PARTI.
This Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained grey failed to win in four starts last season but his second to Sir Will at Uttoxeter last December suggests he can take advantage of his current mark as the first and third (Florrie Knox) in that race have gone up 17lb and 10lb respectively.
A subsequent failure at Hereford should be ignored on the basis that Juge Et Parti posted another good effort in defeat when second to previous winner Solstice Star (a horse thrown in on his old form) at Chepstow nine days ago when the pair finished 14 lengths clear of the third - he's 8lb well-in on the back of that run.
Others of interest are the formerly smart Aux Ptit Soins who returns from a long absence for Dan Skelton, course and distance second Bobo Mac and Vive Le Roi who has performed remarkably well since winning a selling hurdle at Stratford in September and made the progressive First Assignment pull out all the stops at Cheltenham last time.
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