Saturday ante-post tips: 33-1 shot can spring a surprise

The feature chase of the day at Newbury on Saturday is the BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase over two and a half miles (2.25) and, although it could be relatively light on numbers, it still looks highly competitive.

JP McManus has an obvious chance in the race courtesy of the Harry Fry-trained Kap Ouest, but Neil Mulholland's HERCULE DU SEUIL is worth chancing at more than five times the price.

The son of Saddler Maker does not have many young rivals to worry about in this race and although he has been comfortably beaten this season, you do not have to go back far to find some very respectable performances and he is still unexposed over this sort of trip.

Formerly with Willie Mullins, he beat Blood Destiny comfortably at Killarney in May and has some fantastic back form, having racked up five wins on the spin as a novice before being sent off a 4-1 chance for the Maghull Novices' Chase at Aintree two years ago.

Things have not clicked for him lately, he has been often been too keen, plus has been out of his depth in races like the Paddy's Rewards Club Chase over Christmas, but his first run for his new yard at Doncaster in January was a better performance than the bare result.

Although he was last of the four finishers, the winner was a progressive novice, and Hercule Du Seuil finished just a few lengths behind the runner-up (giving him 18lb) having looked like he may be pulled-up at one stage. He did his best work late on, suggesting this step up in trip on another galloping track should suit as long as he settles.

He has been dropped 3lb by the handicapper to 147 and should appreciate a return to a faster surface. He is certainly worth chancing each-way at the general 33-1 on offer.

In the following race at 3.00, the BetVictor British EBF 'NH' Mares' Novices' Hurdle, I am keen to stick with the progressive and thoroughly likeable INDANNYA for Chester Williams, who should appreciate this step back up in trip.

Two from four under Rules, she landed a gamble at Warwick on New Year's Eve, winning stylishly in what looked a really competitive race. She then came unstuck in the mud at the same track the following month.

She did not appear to handle conditions there, but in any case, the form was boosted significantly last week when runner-up White Noise landed the Mares' Novice at the Cheltenham Festival. The third has also won since.

Indannya then bounced back to winning ways at Wincanton last time on better ground, which she is likely to get at Newbury. A fabulous jumper when she has been granted her conditions (8.1 Jump Index last time), she should make a lovely chaser, but can first land this valuable Grade Two off a very fair mark of 118.

Over at Kelso, the BetWright Novices' Handicap Chase (2.40) looks another competitive affair, but I think the southern raider DIAMOND DEALER will take all the beating back on a faster surface after his game front-running second last time.

Dan Skelton's novice is stepping down in trip to an extended 2m5f here which might have seemed an odd move when he lined up at this course for the Borders National over four miles in December, but he failed to stay that trip and ran much better over three miles at Wetherby last month.

There he was beaten a short head by the re-opposing I Wish You, but is 1lb better off this weekend and crucially, is likely to be back on better ground. His best form as a hurdler came on a sound surface and he has course form too, having won here on his seasonal/stable in October.

Tristan Durrell is currently booked to ride and he knows this horse very well. A winner over two and a half miles over both hurdles and between the flags, he may take some stopping if he gets into a good rhythm at a course we know suits, and he could prove a fair bit better than a mark of 120 over fences.

He took over nine lengths out of his rivals with his jumping last time and he is a general 4-1 chance at the time of writing. That looks at least a point too big against a field of moderate jumpers, and there could well be more improvement to come on his fifth chase start.

2.25 Newbury: HERCULE DU SEUIL at a general 33-1 each-way.

2.40 Kelso: DIAMOND DEALER at a general 4-1.

3.00 Newbury: INDANNYA at 7-1 with William Hill.