The horse racing broadcaster has four selections on offer from Saturday’s Newbury card, including a tempting each-way bet in the big-field handicap.
Eight races are on ITV this Saturday, split between Newbury and Warwick, with the best bets all appearing to come at the Berkshire track.
We begin with SOBER GLORY 8/15 (13:00 Newbury), who looks to have too many guns for his rivals in Newbury’s opener. He beat Kadastral by 12 lengths earlier in the season and is only 4lb worse off here. He does have to give a significant amount of weight away to Nicky Henderson’s hurdling debutant Fantasy World, but that is partly due to weight‑for‑age, and the older horses should have a better chance physically of coping with the gruelling conditions.
Sober Glory won the bumper on this card last season with the likes of Act of Innocence behind him and is 2/2 at the track. He also holds an optimistic entry in the Supreme. However, it will be interesting to see whether connections try to squeeze in another run before Cheltenham, as a fifth hurdles start would make him eligible for the handicaps there.
The very deep ground could bring out the best in KYNTARA 6/1 (each-way) (13:35 Newbury) in the 3m½f handicap hurdle. He was worn down by Emitom in this race two years ago off a 1lb lower mark before finishing 2nd in the Pertemps Final at the Festival.
He has never been the most fluent jumper, so it was little surprise he failed to take to chasing. This will be the first time since returning to hurdles that he has genuinely favourable ground.
The progressive A Pai De Nom will have supporters, but trying this trip for the first time—and having had a wind operation early in his career—are both concerns. It could instead be the stable’s other runner, Tranquil Sea, who poses the bigger threat. He will enjoy the return to a more galloping track and may even need his mark to rise a few pounds to have a realistic chance in the Pertemps Final, for which he qualified by chasing home current ante‑post favourite C’Est Different at Market Rasen in November.
Kyntara is preferred, but because he has placed far more often than he has won recently, an each‑way approach is sensible.
Connections’ decision to bypass the Dublin Racing Festival with HAITI COULEURS 4/5 (14:10 Newbury) looks a sound one, as he has a straightforward task in the Denman Chase. His only realistic opponent, L’Homme Presse, comes from a yard still without a winner in 2026 and has had a tendency to hit flat spots mid‑race.
Haiti Couleurs should be able to dominate throughout and looks a stronger odds‑on proposition than Lulamba, who lines up in the Game Spirit at 14:45. Lulamba is clearly a novice of great potential, but he faces more experienced rivals on the deepest ground he has encountered in this country (though he has won on heavy in France). For that reason, the Game Spirit is a race to watch rather than get involved with from a betting perspective.
It also remains to be seen whether Nicky Henderson will be happy to run Lulamba in such conditions so close to Cheltenham.
The big‑field handicap of the day can again see FAIVOIR 28/1 (each-way) (15:20 Newbury) run well after his big‑priced 5th in this race 12 months ago. He should be suited by the drop back to 2m and is now 5lb lower than his mark last year.
He goes well for Heidi Palin, who rode him into third behind Alexei in the Greatwood at 40/1, and once again he seems unfairly ignored in the market. He won the County Hurdle at 33/1 in 2023 and was 2nd to Go Dante in the Imperial Cup, giving him an excellent record in competitive handicaps.
The heavy ground gives Milldam a chance, but he is not the easiest ride and will test Isabelle Ryder’s fitness. At the time of writing, he is half the price of Faivoir.
CHELTENHAM CORNER
With plenty to digest from the Dublin Racing Festival, next week’s blog will focus exclusively on Cheltenham and a handful of horses worth considering one month out from the big four days.
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