2:40 Newbury Tips

Noble Park was hit hard by the handicapper after winning his second consecutive chase by 24 lengths at Lingfield in November. After an 11-pound rise he has had his limitations exposed in his next two races off a mark of 125. He has dropped back to 123 here and could go close again.

Rodney won twice over hurdles early last year but has shown big improvement recently over fences, winning his last three starts. He began the winning streak with a 6.5-length win over 2 miles at Leicester in December. He has looked better when stepped up to 2m4f, winning by 4.25 lengths at Hereford and defying a 10 lb rise with another win at Ludlow. He is up another 5 lb here, but in his current form can bring up the four-timer.

Distance winner Scorsese is a progressive type on the upgrade and has Harry Atkins taking off 7 lbs to help his cause.

South Of The Border continues to run well. If the wind op makes any extra difference he should be right there at the finish. Good, solid guy.

King Califet makes only his second chase appearance after finishing well beaten on his chase debut and reappearance, beaten 30L. He has since had a wind op, and the yard has a good record with first-time runners after a wind op, with 6 wins and 2 seconds from 19 runners in the past couple of years. He has dropped 3 lb for his two defeats and is Bryan Carver’s only mount of the day. There should be a good pace, which will suit his hold-up style. At around 14/1, he rates a sporting each-way Nap of the day.