Saturday’s UK racing tips come your way from the meeting at Newbury on 10 February 2024.
NEWBURY
Race 2 – WISEGUY
With G A Henty and Young Butler both withdrawn, Nicky Henderson’s WISEGUY has a good chance of landing his second victory of the season.
The eight-year-old may enjoy revisiting hurdles after a below par Doncaster run in late January, so it’s worth keeping an eye on the market.
American Sniper won among this handicap hurdle company by 0.75L at Cheltenham over 2m5f during November before a Fair Taunton fourth and should be added to the shortlist.
Race 3 – SHISHKIN
SHISHKIN can get a confidence booster in the bag ahead of his Cheltenham Gold Cup date by winning the Betfair Denman Chase.
This season has not gone to plan for Nicky Henderson’s charge, with Shishkin refusing to jump off on his return at Ascot in November before a couple of alternate options were scuppered by the weather.
That meant he headed to the King George without a run and while Henderson expressed his concern about the situation, Shishkin looked a likely winner until a stumble after jumping the penultimate fence saw Nico de Boinville dislodged.
Very testing ground would be the only question mark, but Shishkin’s sheer class can carry him through.
Race 4 – BOOTHILL
BOOTHILL is another on the redemption trail in the Betfair Exchange Game Spirit Chase.
Winner of two handicaps at Ascot at the start of the season, he fell when still travelling well with five fences still to jump in the Desert Orchid Chase at Christmas.
Obviously it is hard to say how he would have fared had he not fallen, but he looked poised to challenge and might still have a bit to give for trainer Harry Fry.
Race 5 – AURIGNY MILL
The Betfair Hurdle is the betting highlight of the day and AURIGNY MILL could be the solution to what is always a tricky puzzle.
Winner of three of his seven hurdles runs, he is on a roll for Victor Dartnall having won on heavy ground at Wincanton in early December before following up on quicker conditions at Kempton’s Christmas meeting.
A seven-and-a-half-length victor on the second occasion, Aurigny Mill has been raised 9lb ahead of this but given his aptitude for differing ground and his progressive profile, he looks one for the frame at least.
