1.10pm Newbury Tips & Betting Preview 09/11/2017

1.10pm Newbury tips for Thursday’s race. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis. 

IN SUMMARY: A highly competitive renewal as expected but one that could well fall to TOBEFAIR (Each Way) who ran some superb races last season all the way up to Cheltenham and can be forgiven one poor run over fences. Back over hurdles now he looks sure to run a huge race with a win a distinct possibility.

1 WHATAKNIGHT – Stays for ever and ran a race full of promise when third over further on his return at Newton Abbot. Disappointing seventh at Cheltenham last time out with no excuses and the handicapper may have him in his grasp.

2 TOBEFAIR – Ran up a sequence of seven hurdles in a row before finishing twenty-second in the Pertemps Final at Cheltenham. Didn’t look a natural over fences at Ffos Las and should do better back over hurdles now and may well spark off another sequence here.

3 DELL’ ARCA – Back to somewhere near his best when winning at Ascot in April and not disgraced in three races since with a fourth at Cheltenham last time out beaten less than six lengths. Same rating now and won’t be far away for the in-form Pipe stable.

4 LAURIUM – Better over fences winning at Exeter and then Kempton last season before signing off when pulled up at Ayr. Possibly running here ahead of a chasing campaign and best watched unless there are positive market vibes for the Nicky Henderson seven-year-old.

5 ONEFITZALL – Decent sort with three wins from seven career starts and two from six over hurdles. Won here over two and a half miles in November before flopping at Wincanton but lightly raced and open to plenty of improvement and has Richard Johnson in the saddle which is a bonus

6 CLOSING CEREMONY – Not seen since finishing a distant third over fences at Kempton in January 2016 and hard to argue a case for after such a long absence. He did win the Class Two Rendlesham hurdle in February 2015 but may do better with a race or two under his belt.

7 TERRY THE FISH – Getting better with every race for Jonjo O’Neill with three wins this season followed by a good second to Scoop The Pot at Worcester last time when carrying over twelve stone. Up another two pounds now but Killian Moore claims three off his back here.

8 MINELLA ON LINE – His first run over hurdles since joining Oliver Sherwood though he has won twice from four starts over fences. Last ran over the smaller obstacles two years ago and looks up against it in this company off five pounds higher now.

9 BENEAGLES – Top connections in Alan King and jockey Tom Cannon and cost £50,000 after finishing second in a point-to-point in February 2016. One win from five starts over hurdles in a maiden at Huntingdon over further and expected to do even better this season but his future lies over fences.

10 CAPTAIN BUCK’S – Possible improver for the in-form Paul Nicholls yard after two wins from five starts over hurdles at Kempton over two miles five and Exeter over two miles seven.  Needs to find more in this field but lightly weighted and could surprise a few of these under Sam Twiston-Davies.

11 JUST MILLY – Second spot in both her last two races after a mistake two out cost her dearly at Wetherby and run off a pound higher here. Up against it in this class but James Bowen claims seven pounds which could make her that bit more competitive with any further improvement.

12 COURT FRONTIER – Stays even further than this and has won three of his last five starts over fences at up to three miles six and a half furlongs at Huntingdon. Left Paul Morgan for Christian Williams in April and better handicapped over hurdles, off since April and something to find for now.