Monetaire finished a disappointing eighth on his seasonal reappearance for the Pipe yard in the Paddy Power Gold Cup, and is turned out reasonably quickly here at Newbury. This is a much easier contest and Pipe was fairly positive on his chances before that race. It may just be that the pace set in that race was too much for him off a long lay-off and he looks like he could be well-treated down a further 1lb. He won round this track on his second start last season so handles these obstacles, and that was before he went a close second to Darna at the festival, so he certainly has the pedigree to win a contest like this.
The favourite Upepito could be well-in having unseated for the Skeltons last time out and is dangerous off bottom-weight. Royal Regatta should put in a decent showing on his second start of the campaign and is also feared.
But the other one that catches the eye is Niceonefrankie. Venetia Williams put in a remarkable training performance with a chaser last weekend and she could be in-line to do the same with this nine-year-old who has a similar profile. He has been off the track 314 days, but that should not deter punters having won on his seasonal debuts in each of the last two campaigns. A C&D winner, he romped up the hill at Cheltenham last December to win a Grd 3 race and is now rated 145, having won off a 3lb lower mark at Prestbury Park. He was last seen at Ascot in January, where in truth he ran quite poorly. His mark has come down since then and the break should have freshened him up nicely and should go well at odds of 11/1 on Betfair.
1pt win Monetaire @6/1; 1pt win Niceonefrankie @11/1 (Betfair), 14:40 Newbury
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