2m½f (2m69y) Ladbrokes “Where The Nation Plays” Intermediate Hurdle (A Limited Handicap) (Listed Race) (Class 1) (4yo+ 0-155)
I like two in this race. Dan Skelton’s Antunes looks progressive and should outrun her mark, but Nicky Henderson’s ELUSIVE BELLE could be very generously treated off a mark of 134. She split the 150-rated Reserve Tank and a winner from Friday’s card at Sandown in February, and her trainer was quoted saying she’ll go over a fence this season after she’s had a go at landing a big handicap hurdle prize. This is surely the plan and she goes well fresh, too.
1pt win Elusive Belle @5/1, 14:25 Newbury, Saturday
3m2f (3m1f214y) Ladbrokes Trophy Chase (Handicap) (Grade 3) (Class 1) (4yo+)
This looks a cracking betting heat with 9/1 the field and no outright favourite. Usually there’s a Grade 1 horse lurking in this handicap and that’s the way to go, but it’s not obvious who that is, so I’m going to back the most unexposed horse in the race, TWO TAFFS, for the Skeltons. He had been off for two seasons before a very encouraging staying performance when sent off 20/1 over hurdles earlier this month. Being ridden quietly and not fancied that day, it’s hard to believe it wasn’t anything other than a pipe opener to protect his chase mark of 146. Three miles always threatened to suit before his career was halted by injury, as he was a staying third in the Close Brothers at the Festival in 2017 and had useful hurdles form too. He’s totally unexposed over fences at this trip and he could be thrown in at the weights.
1pt each-way Two Taffs @16/1, 15:00 Newbury, Saturday (1-6, 1/5)
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