Chris Loader has turned his usual Lucky 15 into a Lucky 63 today, covering huge races at Newbury, Newcastle and Bangor on Saturday 30th November.
What a day we have in store with the Ladbrokes Trophy and the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle as well as lots of good action elsewhere. I’ve been in fair form recently and I unleash a new concept with Racing Tips with my first EW Lucky 63 a format I’m looking to do on Saturday.
Selections come from Bangor-On-Dee, Newbury & Newcastle. Best odds available here with Unibet.
Saturday’s Lucky 63
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1.20 Bangor-On-Dee – Head To The Stars
(Tom O’Brien/Henry Daly)
Not the first place you think I would be starting today but I just had to put this horse up. I advertised Head To The Stars at Ludlow last time and there was plenty of money around for him but unfortunately he fell early. However despite this I think he’s got scope of his mark of 124 and has had excuses in the past. Also Henry Daly is in good form saddling Stoney Mountain at Haydock last week plus having a record at the course. Daly is 12-47 (26%) operating +£45.75 (£1 Stake) at Bangor in the past five seasons. The trainer admitted in interviews recently that the course his one of his favourites, and you can see why with his excellent record. Today I think is the eight-years-old day especially with the testing ground which he should relish.
1.50 Newbury – Downtown Getaway
(Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
Now to the best meeting of the weekend and I think we have a really we handicapped selection with this pick. The son of Getaway has always come with a lofty reputation when he won a bumper really impressively for Elizabeth Doyle when trained in Ireland. Since being at Seven Barrows he hasn’t always been the most straightforward to get right but he’s displayed good form in some nice novice races at Newbury and Ascot. He was highly thought off to go into Grade 1 Company at Aintree but over three miles that was probably the wrong trip so over two and a half miles should be more in his favour. In my opinion I think he could be well treated off 131 and could have lots more to offer. Nicky Henderson always targets this meeting and I think there will be a massive gamble here.
2.25 Newbury – Scarlet Dragon
(Tom Cannon/Alan King)
I think Alan King’s gelding is a cracking bet in this race. He has a very similar profile to Who Dares Wins who won this race off top weight in 2016 with the the same owners and trainer. Scarlet Dragon will also be carrying too weight but that’s no issue as four of the last ten winners have done this. Moreover his form is very good and he won a very nice handicap at Market Rasen where Gumball & Flashing Glance have subsequently won since in decent races. The drying ground is also a massive plus and Alan King has kept him fresh. This has to have been the target for him since September.
Scarlet Dragon winning over hurdles at Kempton.
3.00 Newbury – On The Blindside
(Nico De Boinville/Nicky Henderson)
I’m so gutted that I didn’t go in at 25-1 a couple of weeks ago when he caught my eye for the feature race of the weekend. I was doing some research for the Tote Ten To Follow and as this is one of the bonus races I thought he had been strongly laid out for the Ladbrokes Trophy. He’s been a frustrating horse for Nicky Henderson displaying plenty of promise picking up Grade 2 Novice Hurdles and beating Talk Is Cheap on his second start over fences. He’s had his setbacks and has been injury prone but off 149 he could have seriously untapped potential. The ease in conditions is a positive and his run at Ascot when he finished fourth behind Vinndication and Black Corton was very encouraging. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he’s one of the gambles of the race today.
3.20 Newcastle – Captain Chaos
(Bridget Andrews/Dan Skelton)
You have to seriously forgive this horse on his latest outings however he’s too well handicapped to ignore. Dan Skelton’s runner is now back to a mark of 131 which is 1lb higher than his run last year when he finished second behind Lake View Lad. The pair then went to the Roland Meyrick at Wetherby and finished in the exact same positions on Boxing Day. This year he’s 17lbs better off than when meeting Lake View Lad who he opposes again here. He often takes a couple of runs to get fit and Dan Skelton is really happy where is now and thinks he has a big chance. Also cheekpieces are going to be added and he’s shown great form every time when aided by new equipment. With heavy going expect a very bold show.
3.40 Newbury – Magic Saint
(Harry Cobden/Paul Nicholls)
This could be one of the big movers of the day in the final race at Newbury. The five-year-old ran a blinder over the wrong trip in the BetVictor Gold Cup to finish fifth at Cheltenham when running off 148. He’s been lowered 1lb and going to a flat left handed track could be exactly what he needs. I think he’s the one they have to beat tomorrow and he’s the classiest horse in the race that could be ahead of his mark.