By Carl Harris
Newburys Winter Festival is in full swing and Denman is a declared runner in the Hennessy Gold Cup on Saturday, which has somewhat messed up the handicap. The Fighting Fifth for me though will be the best race of the weekend with Binocular, Solwhit and former Champion Sublimity all declared, the best renewal of this for some time in my view. I think I may go and watch what will be a great race.
Newbury stages another excellent card on Friday and I think Nicky Henderson is the man to follow, indeed I am banking on a Henderson treble at the Berkshire venue. He should at least have a double so my strategy is a multi-bet combining the doubles and trebles.
14:40 Newbury, Punchestowns- Win. Rated 173 over hurdles, Punchestowns finished the season with two seconds to Big Bucks, including the World Hurdle at Cheltenham. Nicky Hendersonnow sends him over fences and it should be a case of Punchestowns against the obstacles, surely a clear round will be good enough against horses not in the same class as Punchestowns. A short price should provide a bonus in the doubles. Banker of the day.
15:15 Newbury, Pepsyrock- Win. A competitive looking handicap chase with ten runners going to post. Pepsyrock has won three of his last four starts over fences and looks to be on an upward curve. Henderson also saddles one time decent hurdler Afsoun but Pepsyrock’s looks a very good jumper who I think will be a force to be reckoned with this season. We may get a good price from our friends the layers as he has been raised in the weights for those wins, but in my view is still on a winning mark.
Another top class McManus hurdler - Bellvano
15:45 Newbury, Bellvano- Win. Bellvano was left at the start at Kempton in February but won his two other starts in bumpers, including an easy seven length victory here at Newbury. Now over Hurdles in the JP McManus colours Tony McCoy takes the ride and should get off to a winning start. Bellvano could be one we see at Cheltenham in March and should be up to winning here today.
Carl Harris Best Bets for Friday 27 November
- 14:40 Newbury, Punchestowns- Win
- 15:15 Newbury, Pepsyrock- Win.
- 15:45 Newbury, Bellvano- Win
My suggested bet is a multi-bet combining doubles and trebles….
