Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Two Newmarket runners are worth a second look

Early-season jumps racing is more of a learning curve than punting opportunity in my opinion, so I’ll be giving the Charlie Hall meeting at Wetherby a firm swerve. Bravemansgame really should take the big prize, though.

Fortunately, there are two horses at Newmarket who have captured my attention before the Stateside action begins. Fingers crossed the meeting gets the go ahead with heavy ground already confirmed and further rain on the way.

My best bet at the Suffolk venue is the Ralph Beckett-trained New Chelsea, who bids to make it fourth-time lucky in the 1m1f nursery (1.37 Newmarket) under rider Hector Crouch. Beckett has had a great late autumn and early winter spell and there is a strong chance that he will add another winner to his tally here.

This son of New Bay caught the eye in a deep novice event at Newmarket in August, which was won by subsequent Group 2 fourth Macduff, and was consequently sent off a short price to get off the mark at Wolverhampton just three weeks later. He let punters down and faded into third inside the final 100 yards, but he was still blatantly green and his failure to switch leads in the straight probably cost him.

He was far more professional when last turned out at Newbury - his first run on heavy ground. New Chelsea broke sharply, showed good early speed, before quickening with two furlongs to run. He instantly put distance between himself and the chasers but was worn down in the final stride by a stablemate who has won again since. The pair were six-and-a-half lengths clear of the remainder.

Beckett has subsequently gelded him and the ground as he looks to make amends. Although he has topweight due to his opening mark of 87, this nice prospect remains extremely unexposed under these conditions and should take a lot of beating providing the extra distance causes no issues.

The other race I’m interested in is the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes (12.27 Newmarket), albeit my initial fancy Valvano wasn’t declared at the final stage. He would have been a confident selection after a blistering debut performance, so keep him in the tracker for when he next runs.

Instead, I’ll be taking a chance on Ten Bob Tony at a bit of a price for trainer Ed Walker and rider Kieran Shoemark. This flashy juvenile attracted notable market support in hot maidens at Salisbury and Ascot to begin his career but failed to feature at the business end of proceedings after being held up. 

A change of tactics was the catalyst for a much better result when he dominated from the outset at Salisbury last month, ultimately pushing clear to win by five lengths on soft ground. He seemed to relish the underfoot conditions and his winning margin was only increasing as the line approached. 

Official ratings tell you he needs to improve a big chunk to match the likes of Son Of Man (10lb higher) and Witness Stand (13lb higher), but he’s a late developing type who appears ready to put in a career-best display on ground that should be favourable. There are far worse 7/1 shots running on Saturday, that’s for sure.

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips

Ten Bob Tony (12.27 Newmarket) @ 7/1
New Chelsea (1.37 Newmarket) @ 9/4