Ruby Walsh’s shrewd Saturday plays – Paddy Power News

The ever vigilant TV pundit has spied GRANDEUR D’AME (14:25) sliding into Veterans Chase company at Warwick.

Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

13:00 Newbury – Sober Glory (Best Bet)
13:35 Newbury – A Pai De Nom
13:50 Warwick – Steel Ally
14:10 Newbury – Haiti Couleurs
14:25 Warwick – Grandeur d’Ame
14:45 Newbury – Lulamba
15:20 Newbury – Wreckless Eric (Each-Way)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:00 Newbury – Sober Glory (Best Bet)

SOBER GLORY looks like he’ll be very hard to beat. He won the bumper on this card last year, and his only disappointing run to date was at Sandown in December, where he was beaten too far out for it to be his true running. He bounced back from that effort when winning over this course and distance in January, and he’s my best bet on Newbury’s Super Saturday card.

A PAI DE NOM‘s run in the Lanzarote Hurdle is head and shoulders above the standard of this contest. The form out of that race is always very strong, and he gets in off the same mark as that Kempton run where he was a good third. He’s stepping up to three miles for the first time and provided he gets the trip, he’s another favourite who looks really hard to beat.

It didn’t look likely for Mambonumberfive halfway around Kempton in the Wayward Lad, but by the time they got to three-out, he was the one powering home down the outside.

That was an impressive performance, but I loved STEEL ALLY in Carlisle on his chasing debut. That was an outstanding performance, and he followed that up when he stepped up in trip in the Howden Noel at Ascot. He was second behind Nemean Lion at Fontwell last February, and that’s a cracking piece of hurdles from. He’ll probably end up being the best chaser in the field, and I’m siding with him in the Kingmaker.

A small field go to post for the Denman Chase, and this should really suit the run style of HAITI COULEURS. He’ll look to bounce out nice and handy, as he did in both the Irish and Welsh Grand Nationals, and keep things straightforward.

I’d imagine L’Homme Presse will jump out with him, and while he’s rated above Haiti Couleurs, he’s reappearing quickly after he ran in the Cotswald Chase behind Spillane’s Tower. I’m not sure about the quick back-up for him, and Venetia Williams’ horses haven’t sprung to life yet this season. I’m finding it very hard to oppose Haiti Couleurs, and he’ll be very hard to beat.

GRANDEUR D’AME stood at the start in a competitive Newbury Handicap on his penultimate start, and could never get into the race from there. He was respectable last time out behind Matata at Cheltenham, and he only qualified for these Veteran Handicap Chases as of last month. This is his first start in this company, and he’s handicapped to win a race of this nature.

14:45 Newbury – Lulamba

Nicky Henderson has a great record when pitching his best novice chaser into this contest, and with the race structure and allowances, LULAMBA looks like he’ll further enhance that record. He’s already comes out on top of the ratings, despite being the youngest in the field. Once he jumps well enough, he should be more than good enough to account for the opposition.

15:20 Newbury – Wreckless Eric (Each-Way)

This race will favour youth, with seven of the 16 runners aged six or younger. They’re the runners likely to be ahead of the handicapper and still unexposed.

That leaves plenty in with chances, and I’ve sided with WRECKLESS ERIC, each-way, at a big price. I’ve always thought there’s a big day in him, and his Imperial Cup form last March, when he was only beaten half a length by Go Dante off a mark of 127, is strong in the context of this race. He’s dropped back down to that same mark now, and there’s plenty of juice in his current price.

Ruby Walsh’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

Ruby Walsh’s shrewd Saturday plays – Paddy Power News

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