Racing

Newbury betting tips: Shishkin should enhance Cheltenham credentials

Steven Dowler has gone close in his last couple of tipping previews and this time is hoping to go all the way in Wednesday’s Boosted £7,000 Place 6 at Newbury. One horse in particular, Shishkin, has caught his eye who he suspects will put in a big performance with an eye on the Supreme at Cheltenham. If you agree with his picks, then get involved with his Syndicate.

 

12.45 – Mares Novices’ Hurdle

Quite a tricky mares race to start the card with soft conditions looking likely.

Despite unseating rider on her hurdles debut, URBAN ARTIST showed the best form of these in bumpers improving with each start. She finished fourth of 15 at Cheltenham on just her second outing, beaten just a couple of lengths (was gaining on runner-up Floressa quickly, who is a classy mare) before completing a double which included a smooth success in a listed race back at Cheltenham on soft to heavy ground. The soft ground here will play to her strengths and Hughie Morrison’s stable are finding plenty of winners so his smart 5yo mare has a fine each-way chance.

WHO WHAT WHEN won on her debut here when defying her huge odds at 40/1 before successful in a listed event next time, showing that was no fluke. She was far from disgraced when 10th of 20 in a grade two at Aintree before finishing a solid fourth behind Urban Artist at Cheltenham two starts ago. Today’s race is much easier than the race she contested on her hurdles debut at this track last time behind impressive winner Mister Coffey and we know she has plenty of ability, course form and handles soft ground so she is entitled to go very well now upped in trip.

Finally, conditions have now gone in favour for GETAWAY TOTHEROCK who was fourth on hurdles debut in a class 2 on soft ground before comfortably beating an odds-on favourite by 10 lengths last time. I think this 7-year-old mare will improve again and looks a solid choice to reach the frame.

Selections: URBAN ARTIST, WHO WHAT WHEN, GETAWAY TOTHEROCK

 

13.15 – Novices’ Hurdle

I do think Shakem Up’arry will run a huge race again having chased home Mister Coffey here last time but Nicky Henderson will know where he stands with that horse with his promising 6-year-old SHISHKIN.

Shishkin is already a general 25/1 chance for the Supreme at the Cheltenham festival, despite falling at the first on his hurdles debut last time. It is quite clear Shishkin is held in high regard by connections and he was impressive in his sole bumper last year despite racing keenly.

Shishkin will have learnt from his early exit last time and it’s hard to not see him involved at the business end here because he is going to need to win this well if he is to enhance his strongly supported Cheltenham festival credentials.

Selections: SHISHKIN

 

13.45 – Novices’ Handicap Chase

Hopefully Shishkin does the business which leads us onto the feature race of the day, which is a small but select field.

First of all, I am overlooking Champagne Platinum, who I think is overrated and jumped terribly last time and even failed to get past Garo De Juilley, which won’t be good enough form at all here. I really like Nicky Henderson’s other runner PRECIOUS CARGO who was smart over hurdles with his only defeat coming in the grade one Tolworth hurdle.

Although he made a couple of mistakes, Precious Cargo could do no more than win by a wide-margin on his chasing debut on heavy ground and he won’t mind if more rain arrives here. He’s a very big horse, who has yet to fill his frame and I can see him becoming a 150+ rated horse. There is much more improvement to come from this lightly raced 7-year-old, who should love these fences and is the one to beat.

I am also going to select MOONLIGHTER, who isn’t the most natural of jumpers having already unseated his rider in two of his three starts over fences. However, there is no doubting his ability as Moonlighter would have most likely beaten Litterale Ci on chase debut but for blundering and unseating rider three out and that form would be good enough here as the first and second are now rated 140+ horses.

Soft ground will be no problem and Tom Scudamore couldn’t have been a better jockey booking as he will give his Moonlighter full assistance at every fence.

Selections: PRECIOUS CARGO, MOONLIGHTER

 

14.20 – Handicap Hurdle

I’m very keen on MR CHUA here representing the Scudamore combination. He’s been in my notebook since connections pulled him out of a hot race to run on the flat recently instead and he ran well to finish third behind two short priced horses beaten just a length. He’s finished third on all starts to date and will find this easier than when running well behind Goshen and Thyme White at Sandown, who both look above average. Mr Chua gets lumps of weight from the opposition being the only 4yo and he handles soft ground and I think he has every chance of winning this.

The Jonjo O’Neill combination have a good chance with GENERATION CAP. His last two runs over hurdles would be good enough for this race as he was a fair third behind Silver Hallmark and Mcfabulous at Chepstow over this trip not beaten far and travelled well last time (looked likely winner) before not staying the extra distance. The drop back in trip will suit off the same mark 117 and that gives him major claims.

PRESENT OF DUBAI come back from a break to win decisively last time on heavy ground against fair opposition and although he’s 8LB higher here, he must have a good chance of following up as he’s lightly raced and could take another step forward with conditions to suit.

Selections: MR CHUA, GENERATION CAP, PRESENT FROM DUBAI

 

14.50 – Handicap Hurdle

I am sure conditions will be no problem for EDDIEMAURICE who has good form on soft to heavy ground. He is a good chaser, who ran well when last seen at this track off 1LB lower mark in a class 3 event over fences when second before winning a class 2 back in March off the same mark.

This reliable 9yo was third last time out at Kempton off this mark on soft to heavy ground and this race represents a drop down in class. I love this horse’s attitude as he never runs a bad race and ticks a lot of boxes for this race so Eddiemaurice must have a good chance of taking advantage of this mark at this level with the promising Jack Tudor taking off 7 pounds.

I would also give a chance to the Alan King trained 5yo NEBUCHADNEZZAR who has yet to win a race but has enough ability to pop up in a race of this nature. He disappointed over a longer trip last time but the return to 2 miles will suit as he’s really consistent over the trip and chased home a 140+ rated horse two runs ago. A repeat of that performance would be enough to see him off the mark here.

Selections: EDDIEMAURICE, NEBUCHADNEZZAR

 

15.25 – Handicap Chase

We conclude the day with a competitive handicap chase and I like INDY FIVE, who had his jumping issues but was in the process of at least finishing third or second last time out here off this mark until getting hampered and falling at the last fence having jumped well prior to that incident.

Indy Five handles underfoot conditions well and has already won over C&D off this mark 122. Gavin Sheehan will likely ride him forward again and with a bit more luck in-running, this 10yo has a chance of making amends.

Philip Hobbs continues to have his team in from and top weight SHAMBURU SHUJAA was the best of these over hurdles, beating the 150 rated Tobefair in a class 2 at Chepstow off a mark 129.

He would have needed his chase debut last time and Ben Jones takes off 5LB which actually leaves him below his last winning mark. This 7-year-old is sure to have left his chasing debut behind him and he looks set to be thereabouts as he was the best of these over hurdles.

Selections: INDY FIVE, SAMBURU SHUJAA