Betfair Super Saturday takes centre stage at
Newbury on Saturday.
The two-time Champion Chase hero, Altior, and 2018 Cheltenham Gold Cup winner, Native River, are set to be among the stars on show.
The meeting will also feature one of the season’s big betting races in the shape of the £155,000 Grade Three Betfair Hurdle, the most valuable handicap hurdle contested in Britain.
Below are five horses worth close consideration in a contest where a maximum field of 24 could be on the cards.
1 WHOSHOTTHESHERIFF
Trainer: Phil Kirby. Official rating: 136. Betfair odds: 25-1
carlisle
14:50 Carlisle - Saturday April 20
Watch how Whoshotthesheriff won at Carlisle in the spring
Lady Buttons and Top Ville Ben have flown the flag for North Yorkshire trainer Phil Kirby and he has another exciting talent on his hands in the shape of Whoshotthesheriff.
He was a good fifth to Not So Sleepy at Ascot in December in what was a proper test of his credentials. Ground conditions might have been too testing for him that day, but he stuck to the task well. That experience will stand him in good stead and he looks overpriced.
He jumped fluently that day and is open to more improvement. He looks another horse whose rating underestimates his potential ability and if you are looking for one at a bigger price, you could do worse things than taking the 25-1 on offer.
2. MACK THE MAN
Trainer: Evan Williams. Official rating: 130. Sponsor bets: 5-1
sandown-park
14:25 Sandown-Park - Saturday December 7
Mack The Man impressed at Sandown last time and the form has been franked
A horse firmly on the upgrade, Mack The Man has won his two starts this term and defeated a subsequent Listed winner on his latest start at Sandown.
Up 8lb for that success, he could still be ahead of the handicapper and he represents a yard in sparkling form operating at a 29 per cent strike-rate in the past fortnight.
Five of the last ten winners of this contest have been 6-1 or shorter in the betting and the son of Flemensfirth also handles quicker ground, as he showed when scoring at Warwick in November. This is another step up, but he gives the impression of a horse improving with every start and this race could be the making of him.
3. QUOI DE NEUF
Trainer: Evan Williams. Official rating: 133. Odds: 14-1
cheltenham
15:00 Cheltenham - Sunday November 17
Quoi De Neuf went close in the Greatwood Hurdle
More than double the price of his stable companion Mack The Man (Coral and Ladbrokes offer 20-1) and perhaps overlooked.
He ran a race full of promise when third in the Greatwood Hurdle at Cheltenham in November and was subsequently brought-down at the fourth flight at Ascot, in the race won by Not So Sleepy, in December.
The lightly-raced son of Anzillero will have learnt plenty from his Cheltenham run and if none the worse for his early departure at Ascot, he looks a fascinating contender.
Six-year-olds have won six of the past 11 runnings of the contest and a mark of 133 might just underestimate him. Adam Wedge seems likely to ride Mack The Man, leaving a cracking spare ride for someone to pick up.
4. NOT SO SLEEPY
Trainer: Hughie Morrison. Official rating: 144. Odds: 6-1
Barry Orr, of Betfair, gave us all the latest Betfair Hurdle betting news on Wednesday
He took the field apart when landing the Grade Three Betfair Exchange Trophy and would earn his connections a £100,000 bonus for landing this event provided Hughie Morrison decides to let him take his chance.
The son of Beat Hollow is a free-going sort and has been raised 17lb for that all-the-way victory at Ascot, which certainly makes life tougher.
He is not guaranteed an easy lead in front this time and equally there have to be concerns that he could pull his chance away.
Conversely, he was electric over his hurdles last time and whilst he would prefer more cut in the ground, the eight-year-old is dangerous to underestimate given that the track should suit and connections believe him to be a viable Unibet Champion Hurdle protagonist.
5. THEBANNERKINGREBEL
Trainer: Jamie Snowden. Official rating: 145. Odds: 8-1
haydock-park
12:05 Haydock-Park - Saturday November 23
Watch how Thebannerkingrebel won at Haydock on his penultimate start
Highly regarded by his trainer, Thebannerkingrebel was not helped by the slow and muddling pace of the Grade Two Rossington Main Novices’ Hurdle last time when he finished an outpaced third.
A free-going front-runner, like the aforementioned Not So Sleepy, there is a concern the pair could compromise each other’s chances, but the seven-year-old has an attractive profile.
Lightly raced over hurdles, he was a smart bumper performer and captured a Listed contest at Haydock on ground described as good to soft in November. Snowden has been bullish about his chances in the build-up and if settling into a good rhythm and jumping fluently, he is a lively each-way player.