Most unusually for a Saturday, there will be no live racing on terrestrial TV today, Channel 4 having made its exit from the sport at Kempton on Tuesday, four days earlier than scheduled. Racing UK has therefore decided to make a free offer of today’s action from Newbury and Warwick, which will be available on Sky (channel 432) and Virgin Media (channel 536), and will also be streamed live on racinguk.com.
Our preview of the best races on New Year’s Eve begins with Newbury’s Challow Hurdle, which could fall to Cultivator (1.50). Nicky Henderson’s five-year-old needs to improve on his third place in Sandown’s Neptune last time but has scope to do so, having only taken himself out of the reckoning with a late mistake that day.
After the way he ran in snatches, it was quite impressive that he got into the argument at all. Natural progression, plus the addition of Noel Fehily, might be enough to get him home in front this time but I also expect that the removal of the hood he has been wearing will help him keep in touch through the early stages. The 9-1 seems too big.
1.15 Newbury At the bottom of the weights, the progressive Yanmare looks the one to be with here, having stayed on dourly to win all three of his starts in handicap company. This looks a manageable step up in class and this galloping circuit ought to show him in a good light. The concern would be that something in front may keep going too strongly for him to catch, particularly since he is without his regular jockey, Jamie Bargary, replaced by Gavin Sheehan, whose record over fences this season is only modest.
1.40 Uttoxeter Disappointing in novice hurdles, Pure Vision came to life on his handicap debut at Lingfield recently, with a tongue tie back on for the first time since his bumper days. An 8lb hike is by no means harsh and he may be hard to beat here.
2.15 Uttoxeter A useful hurdler who may derive significant benefit from the switch to fences, Rock Gone seemed on his way to victory at Newbury when taking a late fall on his most recent start, in March. He comes from the Richard Newland yard which now seems to be hitting form.
2.25 Newbury The ex-French Cepage was so impressive on his British debut, over this course and distance a month ago, that he still looks handily treated after a 13lb rise. There are a couple of useful sorts in opposition but they may have to find better opportunities.
3.00 Newbury Having his second run since joining Gordon Elliott and his first with a tongue tie, Kings Bandit was going well when coming down at the third-last at Navan a fortnight ago. Even with another 3lb, he makes most appeal here, though Geordie Des Champs is by no means poorly treated for this first foray into handicaps.
