There are six races on the card over at Newbury this afternoon, with a mixture of Class 1, 3 and 4 action.
First up is the 13:25, a Class 3 Novices' Hurdle, with Jurancon (6/5), Kloth Of Utopia (2/1) and Big Ginge (5/2) heading the market. As shown on our THM Class Move Indicator, Jurancon and Big Ginge are both up in class today. Kloth Of Utopia is down in class having raced in Class 2 company last time out. The newly formed training partnership of Noel George & Amanda Zetterholm have only had 18 runners in Britain. They will be hoping Kloth Of Utopia can provide them with a first winner at Newbury.
We have more young horses in action in the 13:55, with un-raced Laughing John (6/5) for trainer Nicky Henderson topping the market. You'd say he was in safe hands with Nico de Boinville on board, but he's yet to be off the mark at Newbury this season, with no wins from his 11 rides at the course in the past 6 months.
The 14:25 Handicap Chase presents an interesting spectacle, and it seems to be a race of two halves. Market leaders Jasmin De Grugy (9/4), Sound And Fury (3/1) and New Order (5/1) have all been raised in the handicap by 11lbs, 5lbs and 9lbs respectively following their good runs last time out. The outsiders in the market all had poor runs last time out and have come down the handicap.
Class 1 action arrives for the girls in the 15:35 Charlie Nugent Memorial Mares' Chase. There is some impressive form on offer, with all of the 5 contenders having a strike rate of 50% or higher over the 2m7f distance. The 6 year old Lady Balko (5/2) takes first place on this front with an 83% strike rate. However, it is outsider Smiling Getaway (16/1) who holds the top strike rate (67%) on the Soft ground they will be facing today. Smiling Getaway has also had a run at Newbury before, along with Don't Rightly Know (4/1), but it will be the first time at Newbury for the remainder.
2nd favourite Apple Away (5/2) and Fantastic Lady (4/1) have had 7 and 11 runs in Class 1 races respectively, so will be familiar with racing against top quality horses. Lady Balko has had none and Don't Rightly Know has only had 1, and are both up in class today. It should be an interesting watch!