1:05 Newbury Tips

Hard to get away from the claims of Believitanducan, who has done little wrong in four starts for Alan King's yard. Beat a strongly backed favorite to win on first hurdles run over course and distance. It looked a strong effort, and they thought it good enough to try the juvenile in a Grade 2 next time out (that was a strangely poor effort). Good win over hurdles and good second on the Flat since. Still pretty well handicapped. Certainly a strong contender here and stable in great form (SR 40%). Conditional jockeys race and Philip Armson (SR 25%) claims 3 pounds allowance.

Inside Man looks a nice prospect for the future over fences, but he’s clearly still on the up over hurdles, having scored on his seasonal reappearance at Newton Abbot in facile style, beating the highly regarded Hope Rising and subsequent Cheltenham winner Leloopa. He also landed a brace of novice events last season at Exeter and Chepstow, travelling strongly and finishing off his races well. He’s gone up only 4lb for that latest success, and given the manner of the victory, he should have more to offer. Worth a bet at around 4/1.

Having made a winning start over fences he struggled with his jumping on more than one occasion after that so it wasn't a total surprise to see him returned to hurdling following a six month break. He ran well over the smaller obstacles in finishing 2nd, well clear of the 3rd and that should have put him spot on for this race, kept to hurdling.

Finished career in France beating a nice sort in Lafayette who went on to be placed in Grade 3 hurdle at Auteuil and looks a nice sort in the making. Made a satisfactory seasonal debut at Chepstow and interesting Megan Fox was on then and this represents a drop in class. Handled decent ground there but the more it rains the more it'll suit and has been pitched in at a fair level for new yard up to know and looks the ew play for me.

My each-way selection for this one is DOUBLE OBAN, who arrives with a hat trick under his belt and looks 10 lbs well in. Rated 113 but has a proven RPR of 123, a significant handicap advantage. He's a 2m specialist (4 wins, 2 places from 7 starts) who acts on good to soft. Crucially, his hold-up style is perfect for today's setup. Multiple keen-going pace setters will create ideal conditions for him to cut through late down Newbury's galloping straight. Jockey Lewis Saunders excels at hold-up tactics, exactly what this race demands. Everything aligns for a horse perfectly handicapped to exploit the race shape.

VOCITO looks a very consistent sort from a top yard and is now only a pound above his last winning mark. He has regressed slightly since his summer peak but is still tricky to rule out if returning to his best. The claimer takes further weight off and seemed to be getting the hang of him when on board last time out, so maybe we get a return with the four places.

I like the bigger priced Skelton horse each in this race. Looks a nice price and first 4 on offer, so can definitely run into a place at minimum.

Celtic Art is today's NAP selection, small each-way tip. It's possible this horse will show some improvement today as this is just his 2nd run back from a rest, he did run quite well for most of the way on that last run and still left the impression he may well do better on his next run. The softer ground conditions today could also be more suitable than the Good ground he raced on last time, most of his best form has been shown on Softer ground conditions.