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Daily Mirror

Sport

David Yates

Newbury and Newcastle ITV Racing tips with Fiddlerontheroof the Ladbrokes Trophy pick

If I were a rich man, I’d have a right few quid on FIDDLERONTHEROOF in the Ladbrokes Trophy Handicap Chase (3.00) at Newbury.

Colin Tizzard has twice captured the race that began life as the Hennessy Gold Cup in the past five years, courtesy of Native River in 2016 and Sizing Tennessee two years later.

And the Milborne Port stable has another strong Saturday candidate in Fiddlerontheroof, who shares his name with the Oscar-winning musical film of 1971.

A top-level scorer in his first campaign over obstacles – the son of Stowaway lifted the Tolworth Novices’ Hurdle at Sandown Park in January 2020.

My selection collected just once from seven attempts over fences, when beating Silver Hallmark by a head at Exeter last November.

Fiddlerontheroof is Newsboy's tip to win the Ladbrokes trophy at Newbury (PA)

But, while the Tizzard team’s results fell below expectations last season, the good times have returned to Dorset this time around.

Fiddlerontheroof hit the target at the first time of asking with a one-and-a-quarter-length supremacy from Pay The Piper in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Intermediate Chase at Carlisle last month.

This afternoon’s three-mile, two-furlong trip should show Brendan Powell jnr’s mount in his best light yet, and a British Horsracing Authority mark of 150 looks within range for a horse who has plenty more to give.

MONMIRAL rates a real threat to hotpot Epatante as he steps into open company for the Grade 1 Fighting Fifth Hurdle (3.15) at Newcastle.

The French native, part-owned by ex-Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson, enjoyed the perfect campaign as a novice last season, winning all four starts and signing off with a seven-and-a-half-length destruction of his rivals in the Grade 1 Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle at Aintree in April.

There is obviously more required as the Paul Nicholls trainee steps into open company for the Betfair-sponsord test, but Monmiral is a long way from the bottom of the barrel and can remain unbeaten.

There’s an open look to the Betfair Exchange Rehearsal Handicap Chase (2.05), but don’t underestimate NOTACHANCE.

The wheels came off the Alan King seven-year-old on his final two starts of last term, but a reproduction of the form he showed to score at Bangor in November and Warwick in January would put Johnny Burke’s mount in the shake-up.

King saddles VALLERES in the Betfair Daily Rewards Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (1.30), and the step up to an extended two miles and seven furlongs is a big plus for the top weight as he bids to build on a chasing debut third at Newbury 23 days ago.

Sir Alex Ferguson is one of the owners of Doom Bar Anniversary 4-Y-O Juvenile Hurdle winner Monmiral (Getty)

At Newbury, Philip Hobbs also has prospects of an ITV3 double, kicking off with KALOOKI in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (1.15).

A tendency to jump to his left held Kalooki’s progress over fences in check last winter – including when a head second to Espoir De Teillee here in March – but Tom O’Brien’s partner has the scope to rate higher this winter.

O’Brien drove his boss’s MASTERS LEGACY to a last-gasp head margin over two miles at Chepstow last month, and the additional four furlongs and 107 yards will aid the follow-up bid in the Ladbrokes Get Your £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Hurdle (1.50).

Four improvers lock horns for the Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Intermediate Hurdle (2.25), with preference for ONEMOREFORTHEROAD.

Get all the latest horse racing odds with Grovesnor Sport

The six-year-old continues to follow an upward curve in the hands of Neil King, returning to action with timber triumphs at Stratford and Huntingdon, and there is more to come.

Sam Thomas was in the money at Ascot last Saturday with Before Midnight, and the going-places trainer is taken to capture the Watch Racing Free Online At Ladbrokes Handicap Chase (3.35) with GREY DIAMOND.

Sam Twiston-Davies’ partner ran a pleasing comeback third at Ascot last month and should be at peak fitness here.