Sport

Weekend Betting Tips: Bertie Boru on track for success at Newbury

Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the odds for the weekend's races

SATURDAY

NEWBURY

1-20 BET365.COM HANDICAP CHASE – 2 M 6 F 110YDS

Bertie Boru is a proven mudlark and he did well to win on his seasonal reappearance. The form of the race is beginning to work out as King Edmund has come out and been placed twice since and Anquetta was travelling ever so sweetly at Cheltenham last week when coming to grief. Bertie Boru and Anquetta pulled some sixteen lengths clear of their rivals in that aforementioned race indicating that the form would be quite useful and he has to be high on any shortlist this afternoon with Richard Johnson riding him for the first time.

Listen Boy was good enough to also win on his seasonal reappearance at Uttoxeter. He is a progressive sort that is improving with each race. This is his toughest race to date but he has shown in the past that he handles deteriorating ground and he has to be a massive threat to the selection.

Victor Dartnall won this race a few years ago with the talented Exmoor Ranger. He does well with his limited amount of runners at this level so the presence of Tolkein’s Tango is respected. The six year old son of Beneficial may have more to offer and has live place claims. Bertie Boru represents a yard enjoying rich vein of form at present and it would not be the biggest of shocks to see him follow up that recent win.

NEWCASTLE

2-05 STANJAMES.COM FIGHTING FIFTH HURDLE (GRADE 1) – 2 MILES

Arctic Fire was no match for the talented Little King Robin at Down Royal last month, but he was certainly not given a hard time by Ruby Walsh when it was obvious that they had lost all chance of winning. He should find things a lot more to his liking here now that he is fully race fit he can go close to giving Willie Mullins a first ever win in this race. Paul Townend has ridden the five year old before and the combination commands plenty of respect in a small field.

Irving was well fancied on his seasonal reappearance and he was just about to throw down what looked to be a serious winning challenge when he took a really bad fall at Wincanton. If he has recovered fully from that then his form at flat tracks cannot be ignored and he is a very obvious danger to the Mullins runner.

Nick Schofield has won on him three times before and he will be keen to restore his partner’s confidence following that most recent incident. Aurore D’estruval is the only lady in the line-up. As a result she receives all of the allowances that she is entitled to and she will certainly have no issue with the likely soft ground. John Quinn is not having the best of seasons though and that slightly tempers enthusiasm for her. Willie Mullins meanwhile is firing on all cylinders and Arctic Fire may never have a better opportunity to score at the highest level.

NEWBURY

3-00 HENNESSY GOLD CUP CHASE (GRADE 3 HANDICAP) – 3 M 2 F 110YDS

Rocky Creek bids to atone for a narrow defeat in this race last year when he was foiled by the re-opposing Triolo D’Alene. He had to concede four pounds to his rival on that occasion but he has a handy swing in the weights today and that in itself can help him reverse the form.

Rocky Creek made a pleasing seasonal reappearance at Down Royal where he chased home Road To Riches. He should come on in leaps and bounds for that run and with the stable in good form he has to be high on any shortlist. He still has relatively few miles on the clock and has recorded ten placings from twelve career starts including four wins. Sam Twiston-Davies ought to know much more about his partner this afternoon and the combination should prove difficult to beat.

Fingal Bay managed to win a listed handicap off top-weight at the Cheltenham Festival but there was literally a length covering the front five home on that occasion. He goes well fresh and has won on his last three seasonal reappearances. This is by far his toughest assignment but the yard are convinced that this is the race for him and Richard Johnson knows him inside out. He looks sure to be in the mix and may well provide the sternest opposition to the selection.

Monbeg Dude does nothing but stay. This stamina test will suit this admirable nine year old down to a tee and he will be staying on when others have cried enough. He looks a decent each way value and can make the frame. Paul Nicholls has won this race three times since 2003 and it would be of little surprise to see Rocky Creek in the winner’s enclosure at the end.