3.25pm Newbury Tips & Betting Preview 23/09/2017

3.25pm Newbury tips for Saturday’s Class 2 race. A big field handicap is on the agenda and, with so many horses lining up, you’ll need our preview to get your head around this tricky race. Read on for our free betting tips, predictions and analysis.

IN SUMMARY: Fidaawy will appreciate this galloping track and remains capable of better, but preference is for EDDYSTONE ROCK. He gained an overdue win when taking a similar event at York in August and he’s only four pounds higher here. Conditions will suit – as will this track – with a strong pace ideal for him as it can pull him into the race. The main danger is likely to be Teodoro, who arrives here three pounds ahead of the handicapper.

1 SNOANO – Everything fell perfectly for him when taking the Wolferton Handicap at Royal Ascot and, although he’s only one pound higher here, he’s been well held on all his runs since. Conditions will suit, however he likely needs more leniency from the handicapper.

2 BANKSEA – Inconsistent runner who won over the mile here in April, a career best but he’s been well held since in two races at Ascot. He has won at the 1m 2f trip before, but that was in a small field and his stamina has to be questioned in such a big field.

3 FIDAAWY – Four-year-old who is suited by a galloping track, with being prominent the key to his success when winning a York handicap. He’s five pounds higher here, but remains capable of better in time for leading connections and has to be considered.

4 LESHLAA – Finished fourth in a similarly competitive event at Newmarket in July, not needing to improve to win a Local Group 2 at Veliefendi (Turkey) last time. A five pound penalty here is going to be tricky to overcome and should find him out.

5 EDDYSTONE ROCK – Back to his best when storming home to win a York Handicap last month and he’s only four pounds higher here. He remains with potential for better off this mark and a strong pace will drag him into the race. Conditions will suit and he looks the likely winner if even matching that recent run.

6 EUGINIO – Won a four runner race last week, however that was very tactical and a more straightforward, strongly run race isn’t certain to suit him. He’s still lightly raced and Ryan Moore takes over, but he should find a few of these too good off this mark.

7 ERIK THE RED – Had been out of form before bouncing back the last twice, winning a Doncaster Handicap before a third behind Fidaawy when last seen. He’s likely to give another decent account off the same mark, but a turnaround with Fidaawy is unlikely.

8 BAYDAR – Course and distance winner who went backwards towards the end of his time with Hugo Palmer, making his debut for Ian Williams today. Needs that switch to have done him the world of good and, considering he was 18th in the race won by Eddystone Rock, it’s easy to look elsewhere.

9 FIRST FLIGHT – Retains a fair amount of ability for new yard but he hasn’t looked like threatening the judge and his latest eighth at the Curragh was no more than fair. First-time blinkers today, but others have stronger claims.

10 AZARI – Has only run one bad race this season on the flat, winning twice and hitting the frame on all other starts bar one. Those were at the 1m 4f distance though and he looks sure to be outpaced over this trip, with Jenny Powell’s five pound claim not enough to tempt.

11 LAW AND ORDER – Finished second in a Listed race at Windsor in August and he again ran well in a Group 3 at Kempton when last seen. He’s due to be four pounds higher in the future and he looks like a big danger with potential for better back on turf.

12 SILVER GHOST – Completed a hat-trick when impressively winning at Sandown in a Class 4 event two starts ago, losing nothing in defeat in Class 2 company last time out. He’s on the same mark here and should give another good account for in form connections.

13 ANYTHINGTODAY – Form figures of 21132 at this trip before a step up to 1m 4f backfired on his latest start. He was progressive before that and he’s on a manageable mark, with the booking of Pat Smullen interesting. Each way contender with conditions to suit.

14 AL NEKSH – Has been running well without troubling the judge this year, third to Euginio on his latest start. First-time cheekpieces need to squeeze out more and, although he’s considered for each way terms, he looks vulnerable for win purposes.

15 SHABBAH – Returned from an 11 month absence when fourth at Yarmouth, subsequently well held at Sandown when beaten a long way behind both Silver Ghost and Euginio. More on his plate here and drawn poorly, so it’s easy to look elsewhere today.

16 CURLEW RIVER – Best of her form has come at the 1m 4f trip and she looked very one paced when fifth at Haydock on her latest start. She’s only been dropped a pound as a result, but she’s sure to be outpaced at this trip, with competition at the front far from ideal.

17 BROROCCO – Has been unlucky in races of late, again finding trouble when fourth at York on his latest start behind Eddystone Rock. He’s on the same mark here and has to be considered a danger as a strong pace will suit him massively.

18 TEODORO – Completed a hat-trick at Yarmouth at this trip when making all at the venue on his latest start and he arrives here three pounds ahead of the handicapper. Conditions are perfect for him and he holds leading claims as we likely haven’t seen the best of him yet.

19 THREAT ASSESSED – Looked to have plenty of potential last year for Clive Cox, but he’s not been seen since a second at Haydock in July 2016. The market will be your best guide to his fitness, but caution is advised after such a long absence.

20 REAVER – Won a Class 4 event at Kempton in April and even though he hasn’t been disgraced in subsequent runs, he was well held in a weak looking Class 2 at Kempton earlier this month. He looks out of his depth here and should be one of the first struggling.