ITV Racing Tips: A Long Distance Walk in the Park for Paisley?
Published:
Tiers are all the rage at the moment, and here at Ladbrokes we’re looking forward to bringing you some elite tier racing this weekend with the two-day Ladbrokes Winter Carnival at Newbury.
Day 1 gets underway on Friday with plenty of top-notch action, including the hotly-anticipated return of staying star Paisley Park in the Long Distance Hurdle at 15:00. Can Emma Lavelle’s charge claim a second win in the race? We’ve had our say on all of Friday’s televised action in our ITV Racing Tips.
13:50 Newbury – Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Chase
First up, it’s a race which is also known as the Berkshire Novices’ Chase, and while only three have stood their ground, they’re three who each have a good chance in Fiddlerontheroof, Caribean Boy and Getaway Trump.
The foremost of that trio lost nothing in defeat to If The Cap Fits on his chasing debut and subsequently made amends next time out at Exeter. Colin Tizzard’s charge beat Silver Hallmark, who has form with the highly-rated McFabulous over hurdles, with the well-fancied Sporting John way back in third.
Fiddlerontheroof showed exceptional battling qualities that afternoon, and with a fitness advantage over his main rival Cariban Boy on Friday, there’s every chance he’ll come out on top in what should be a cracking opener on ITV.
14:25 Newbury – Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Chase
Our man Dan Skelton has won two of the last three renewals of this contest, and there’s every chance he could extend that record to three in four courtesy of 2019’s returning winner, Oldgrangewood.
The nine-year-old prevailed by a nose in this race 12 months ago before going on to score in a Grade 3 Handicap at Cheltenham on New Year’s Day and then finish third in a red-hot renewal of the Plate at the Festival.
He appears to be following a similar route again this year, and with the trainer positive about his chances and his weight following his reappearance in the Old Roan, it’s easy to see why he has a good chance.
Clondaw Castle, San Bendeto and Cepage are others to note at the top of the market, while impressive Ascot winner Sully D’Oc AA also has a reasonable chance if he can cope with a 10lb rise from the handicapper.
15:00 Newbury – Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle
They’re all out to get Paisley Park in the feature race of the afternoon, and while the favourite may have received a bloody nose in the Stayers’ Hurdle at Cheltenham last time out, he does have an excuse for that no-show.
Emma Lavelle’s stable star trailed home a disappointing seventh at the Festival but was found to have a heart problem post-race. Seemingly, that has now been rectified, and with the trainer bullish about his health at last week’s gallop session at Newbury, there’s a fair chance he’ll put that lacklustre run behind him.
If that is the case, then the rest of the field could be in for a tough day at the office, because Paisley Park had been on a run of seven straight victories prior to that blip, including a win in the 2019 Stayers’ Hurdle and success in this race 12 months ago. He showed his trademark turn of pace in the closing stages to come home ahead of a gallant Thistlecrack that afternoon, and while the opposition may be different this time around, the outcome could be the same.
Progressive pair McFabulous and Thyme Hill look set to be the main dangers, while surprise Stayers’ Hurdle winner Lisnagar Oscar and Summerville Boy, who won a decent Handicap on reappearance at Aintree could also figure.
15:35 Newbury – Play Ladbrokes 1-2-Free On Football Handicap Hurdle
Hill Sixteen was an impressive 46l winner over fences at Fontwell earlier this month and there’s a feeling he could be potentially well-treated back over hurdles on only his second start for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
He’ll run off a 3lb lower mark here, and with the step up in trip also unlikely to cause problems, the seven-year-old appears to be a worthy favourite for the last televised race of the afternoon.
David Pipe’s veteran hurdler Dell A’Arca provides the main danger, but he could be stopped in his quest for a hat-trick by a 6lb rise in the weights following his last win over course and distance.
Of those at a bigger price, Lover Boy could be of interest for Alan King after returning from a nine-month lay-off to finish sixth at Wetherby a fortnight ago. He’ll get the assistance of 3lb claimer Jack Tudor here and can go well off an unchanged mark.
ITV Racing Schedule, Friday 27th November
13:50 Newbury – Ladbrokes Committed To Safer Gambling Novices’ Chase
14:25 Newbury – Get Your Ladbrokes £1 Free Bet Today Handicap Chase
15:00 Newbury – Ladbrokes Long Distance Hurdle
15:35 Newbury – Play Ladbrokes 1-2-Free On Football Handicap Hurdle
All Odds and Markets are correct as of the date of publishing
