What a super Saturday it will be at Newbury, with Altior drawing the crowds for his appearance in the Game Spirit Chase, followed by Native River and Might Bite in the Denman Chase and one of the difficult betting heats of the season with a full field of 24 in the Betfair Handicap Hurdle.
At Warwick, it is Kingmaker Day, which with their Classic Chase in January are their two super Saturdays. A good card ahead as ever with the Grade 2 Kingmaker Novice Chase, a Listed Mares’ Hurdle and strong handicaps too. There is always plenty going on at Warwick between races and the team at the course do a great job of making ideas happen. I’m a big fan of Warwick and well done to all the team, headed up by Andre Klein General Manager for The Jockey Club and Ryan Bronger General Manager for Jockey Club Catering.
Look out for Tommy’s tips too.

Go racing!

1.15 Newbury – Novices’ Hurdle 2m ½f
Tremwedge went into plenty of notebooks after his third to Cerberus and A Wave Of The Sea at Fairyhouse in December, form that’s been well franked since but has since changed yards and now finds himself in the care of Alan King. Interesting that he goes for a novice rather than a juvenile race with him, as his target is surely either the JCB Triumph Hurdle or the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle. A very interesting contender.
Unibet 9/1 each-way

2.05 Warwick – Agetur Kingmaker Grade 2 Novice Chase 2m
Nube Negra trained by Dan Skelton is a horse I have followed since his juvenile days when third in the Boodles Fred Winter Juvenile Hurdle in 2018. He was favourite that day and has always indicated that he would be a horse to watch, with his switch to chasing this season paying dividends.
Nube Negra has won here at Warwick, ahead of following up at Fakenham before stepping up to Grade 1 company in the Henry V111 at Sandown when second to Esprit Du Large in December. On that occasion the ground was soft, and today’s conditions will suit more, whilst returning to a left-handed course may suit.
Dan Skelton’s charge has the best form in the race and his jumping will see off the others.
Unibet 6/5 win

3.15 Warwick Castle Handicap Steeple Chase 2m 4f
Most of these are right at the top end of their marks with no wriggle room, but Two Taffs is now just a pound higher than when taking a Listed chase at Ayr two years ago. Since then he’s only been seen out three times, and whilst neither of his starts this season have been under his ideal conditions he did run well for a long way over a longer trip before fading behind De Rocher Counter in the big chase feature at Newbury in November. Today, conditions look sure to suit and with fitness not an issue from Dan Skelton’s yard, Two Taffs can strike here.
Unibet 5/2 win

Newbury – 3.35 Betfair Handicap Hurdle 2m
Stolen Silver for Nigel Twiston-Davies will make a good chaser next year, however in the meantime you couldn’t fail to be impressed with his attitude in the finish when coming with a very late charge at Haydock to win the Grade 2 Rossington Main last month on heavy ground. Stolen Silver will face better ground here, but this will be fast-run and that will help counteract that. Bottom line, young improving horse with a lot going for him.
Unibet 16/1 each-way

Novices have a great record in this contest in the last decade, with Ecco for Paul Nicholls looking a good each-way shout. He is not been overburdened with a rating of 138 on his first handicap and is the type to appreciate a fast-run big-field handicap on drying ground, as he doesn’t always find much off the bridle. Following two wins and a third he was giving 8lb to the winner Fred (who has gone in again) at Kempton on Boxing Day and possibly found the ground a bit against him there.
Unibet 25/1 each-w

Over the festive season, there was plenty of exciting racing to enjoy. The 32Red Kempton Park Winter Festival on Boxing Day and 27th December featured in the King George VI Chase the Thistlecrack v Cue Card contest, who were both trained by Colin Tizzard, in the most hotly anticipated jump-racing encounter of the season so far. The crowds turned out to see the fascinating contest with Thistlecrack taking breathtaking leaps, which was reminiscent of the mighty Desert Orchid, to secure victory. Tom Scudamore, Thistlecrack’s jockey, enjoyed a spectacular ride to his first victory in the feature event of the Christmas racing programme, a race his grandfather Michael won as a jockey in 1956 but always eluded his father Peter. As a result, Thistlecrack is now a very short priced 4-5 favourite for Cheltenham Gold Cup in just 2 months’ time, with the next in the market another Colin Tizzard horse Native River at 8/1. There was also a good performance by Yanworth in the Christmas Hurdle and it will be interesting to see if Yanworth runs in the Champion Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival for which is currently priced at 5/1. As well as marking the card The Wine Tipster was presenting top wines from the Jockey Club wine list with Sancerre Les Chasseignes, Domaine Fouassier, Macôn Rouge, Domaine Dupré and Nyetimber Classic Cuvée NV proving very popular at this particular meeting.

At Warwick on New Year’s Eve a massive crowd of over 6,000 people came racing and General Manager, Andre Klein and his team are doing a top job here with more exciting plans for the future. The Wine Tipster had great fun on the mic marking the card as well as seeing lots of familiar faces in the 1707 and Kingmaker Restaurants. The winning wines here were Catena Appellation Vista Flores Malbec, Voltolino Gavi and Château Léoube Rosé de Léoube. Look out for bumper winner Marten trained by Ben Pauling.

Despite the bad weather Cheltenham welcomed over 30,000 on the gate on New Year’s Day, with the victory of Whisper the most eye-catching performance of the day. This also marked the first day of coverage by ITV where Ed Chamberlin and the team came straight out of the gates with pace, passion, diversity, banter, humour and important horse racing education, which really set a really nice tone. Everyone did a top job and most importantly, horseracing welcomed lots of new fans who will be back next Saturday on ITV 4 for The Morning Show and the afternoon coverage from a cracking card at Sandown and Wincanton.

Last weekend, Newbury Racecourse in Berkshire enjoyed a perfect day for the 60th running of Hennessy Gold Cup. Run over 3 miles and 2½ furlongs, the £200,000 Hennessy Gold Cup is one of racing’s biggest tests for horse and jockey, won by many of racing’s best loved stars including Mandarin, Arkle and Denman. This year, the trophy was presented by Her Royal Highness the Duchess of Cornwall.

The Wine Tipster backed Native River who set off as 7-2 favourite and crossed the line half-a-length in front of fast-finishing Carole’s Destrier (25-1) with Double Ross (50-1) a gallant third. Native River not only jumped well but showed he’s also a stayer in an impressive and exciting finish. It was also The Wine Tipster’s nap of the day in his On The Box column in Racing Plus continuing his fantastic tipping run.

This win formed the middle of a treble for trainer Colin Tizzard, a yard in great form at the moment, enjoying wins for Thistlecrack and Ultragold (9-2) in the bet365 Handicap Chase.

The Wine Tipster took some time out to chat with Radio Berkshire where he shared his tips and enjoyed a warming cocktail appropriately named, Horse’s neck. It is a combination of Hennessy Fine de Cognac with ginger ale and a slice of lime. Ideal for a winter’s day at the Races.
This Friday and Saturday The Wine Tipster will be presenting at The Tingle Creek Christmas Festival at Sandown Park in Esher. Sandown Park is a wonderful racecourse and, as ever,we have two cracking days of racing ahead.

See you there!