Saturday tips: Dave Nevison's best bets in the handicaps
By Dave Nevison
Last Updated: Fri 20 Mar 2026
Betting expert Dave Nevison likes a trio in action at Kelso plus one in the feature at Newbury.
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1.30 Kelso: Captain Butler
Ruth Jefferson will no doubt go back chasing with Captain Butler in the autumn as he hasn’t done too badly in two novice events this season. However, it looks a good idea to try to exploit a decent hurdles handicap mark at the end of this current season.
Captain Butler looked a little rusty on his return to hurdles over 2m last time but hopefully he can build on that and, upped to a further distance, he should be able to go better here.
The eight-year-old is 2lb lower than when a good second on his seasonal reappearance at Ayr and this big field/decent pace scenario should suit him ideally and he is worth a close look.
2.10 Kelso: Riviera Walk
Bookmakers are taking no chances with the classy topweight Khrisma but at about 6-4 she takes out too much of the market and I would much rather look for something each-way at a price.
The O’Neills had their best Cheltenham for years and and this mare came good in a modest event at Catterick last time out.
Riviera Walk signalled she was on the improve when going well until she fell at Wincanton in a better race. She runs off a mark just a 1lb than her only previous handicap run and she looks better than a 105-rated mare and can at least make the frame.
2.40 Kelso: Moon Phases
This £150,000 purchase is well related to staying chasers and may yet prove worth the investment of his owners.
Moon Phases had been progressing nicely over fences until last time out, when hold up tactics were employed for the first time, and seemingly didn’t suit him.
He jumped less well than previously and a particularly bad mistake late on finished him completely. I am prepared to forgive that run and give him another chance over the same course and distance.
He is effectively dropped in grade here and the easier company should give him a better chance to establish a good jumping rhythm.
3.00 Newbury: Severana
I have always loved this mares’ handicap and generally try to find one to run well at a price from a smaller yard.
Richard Bandey’s Severana fits the bill and looks overpriced at the 20-1 on offer as I write.
The six-year-old mare might not be typical of the “plot” horse that I look for in this race as she has been thoroughly consistent in all her races.
In three runs over hurdles, she won at Carlisle and then seemed to find Wincanton too sharp to improve on that performance last time, though still ran well.
Severana comes from a family who progress with age and experience and back at a track that should suit her very well I expect her to once more run a good race.
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