Race-by-race guide to the action at Newbury on Wednesday

Not a single outright favourite obliged when Newbury last staged racing on Ladbrokes Trophy Day but I fancy it will be a different story at the track on Wednesday.

All seven market leaders look solid, with chinks in their collective armour not easy to find. I’ll be sticking them in multiples and hoping that the bookmakers are waving the white flag before the bumper that closes the card.

The Racing TV cameras will capture all the action, and there will also be meetings at Leicester and Kempton Park to enjoy on the channel.

Moulins Clermont looks the best of those with hurdling experience but he fluffed his lines on his British bow at Fontwell last month when beaten more than 30 lengths after being sent off at Evens. He’s almost certainly capable of better but there are some interesting recruits from the Flat in this, with ONE JOURNEY, rated 100 in that sphere, jumping off the page.

Her exploits on the level have included two heavy-ground wins at Newbury, the latter gained in runaway style in a handicap over 1m 2f in October and suggesting she could hold her own at a higher level. The daughter of Mastercraftsman (he’s had numerous winners over jumps) has joined Paul Nicholls from Roger Charlton and must have schooled satisfactorily for connections to choose this path. Several firms quote her at 40-1 for the Triumph Hurdle.

Line Of Descent has shown fairly useful staying form on the level and changed hands for 135,000gns in October, while Forever William is jumps’-related on the dam’s side of his pedigree and represents Alan King.

Verdict: 1 One Journey. 2 Forever William. 3 Line Of Descent.

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Nicky Henderson has saddled the winner of this five times since 2010 and would have almost certainly won the 2019 running, too, had Shishkin not exited early on. He has another obvious candidate this time in I AM MAXIMUS, who defeated My Drogo when winning on his bumper debut at Cheltenham last season before shaping with plenty of promise when a length third to Jpr One at Exeter on his hurdling debut last month.

He seems sure to progress and the way he wanted to shift left suggests this track will suit him better. Jpr One did his bit for the form when subsequently going close at Cheltenham last Friday.

Raymond Tusk and Cardano were useful on the Flat but both disappointed, to a degree, on their respective hurdling debuts. It may be that Crypto Currency, a winning pointer who shaped well in a bumper at Sandown last month, is the one to chase I Am Maximus home.

Verdict: 1 I Am Maximus. 2 Crypto Currency. 3 Raymond Tusk.

Nicky Henderson is wasting no time sending VALSHEDA over fences and the hint should be taken. The six-year-old has either been a slow learner or had a problem or two (perhaps both) because he didn’t make his debut until early this year, but he showed the benefit of that initial outing when winning a 2m 7f novices’ hurdle at Exeter in March.

The handicapper has not been left with much to go on, and a mark of 122 may well underestimate him. Like Beware The Bear, who landed the 2016 running of this for Henderson, Valsheda strikes very much as a stayer.

His stablemate, Colonial Dreams, makes a belated switch to chasing. Rising ten, he is best watched. Quartz Du Rheu has won three of his past four races, but they have been relatively uncompetitive small-field events and, raised an aggregate of 14lb, he may be vulnerable. Tide Times, a promising second on his chasing bow at Market Rasen, could be a bigger threat.

Verdict: 1 Valsheda. 2 Tide Times. 3 Quartz Du Rheu.

It’s difficult to look beyond SILVER FOREVER, a smart hurdler who made light of a 22-month absence when beating Imperial Alcazar on her chasing debut here over 2m 6f last month.

She jumped well on that occasion and was smuggled to the front after the final fence, so hopefully will not bounce after a six-week break. The grey is quoted between 16-1 and 25-1 for the Mares Chase at the Cheltenham Festival.

Chilli Filli is the obvious threat after she landed the Listed Mares’ Chase at Market Rasen last month for the second successive year, when Momella was fourth. Chilli Filli beat Casablanca Mix on the first occasion and again looked to have the measure of that rival when she fell two out in the latest renewal.

Verdict: 1 Silver Forever. 2 Chilli Filli. 3 Casablanca Mix.

There should be plenty more to come from PULL AGAIN GREEN, a dual bumper winner who shaped like a certain future winner over jumps when a half-length second to Doctor Ken (pair clear) on his hurdling bow at Ascot. The winner had previously run well behind Gelino Bello at Aintree, so there is some substance to that form.

Wonderwall and Shearer both contested the Champion Bumper last term, although neither threatened to get competitive with Sir Gerhard and Kilcruit. The former, beaten only about 14 lengths at Cheltenham, commands respect, but Shearer has to be forgiven a surprise defeat at Wincanton where he looked a bit awkward.

Guardino offered plenty to build on when runner-up at Wetherby, while Goudhurst Star has had a wind op and is equipped with a first-time tongue-tie after his win in ordinary company at Warwick.

Verdict: 1.Pull Again Green 2 Wonderwall. 3 Guardino.

I’m surprised DARLING DU LARGE is not much shorter than the early 4-5 as she arrives here in the form of her life after successive wins at Uttoxeter, Aintree and Wetherby.

She’s gone up another 5lb for cruising past Cedar Hill on her latest start, but that is offset by the promising Thomas Doggrell claiming 8lb. Five of his past 25 rides have been winners.

Le Coeur Net has been off almost ten months, but he can go well fresh and has slipped back to his last winning mark. He looks a better bet for the forecast than Only Money, who ran tamely at Plumpton last time.

Verdict: 1 Darling Du Large. 2 Le Coeur Net.

A 7lb penalty may not be enough to stop POETIC MUSIC, who won a similar race to this at Market Rasen a couple of months ago and has since changed hands for £60,000 and been moved to Fergal O’Brien.

The third and the fifth home at Market Rasen have won since, so it might prove money well spent.

None of the others with experience can boast comparable form, so perhaps the dangers will come from the unraced contingent. Boro Lass, a sister to four winners, and Tell Ell, a half-sister to four winners on the Flat, are worth a second look.

Verdict: 1 Poetic Music. 2 Boro Lass. 3 Tell Ell.