Timeform Racing Radio Tip: Oscar Rock solid in the bumper

McCoy has a leading chance on My Tent Or Yours

David Cleary has looked through Newbury's fantastic card and found three selections for you...

Betfair Hurdle day at Newbury offers one of the very best meetings in the build-up to Cheltenham, and this year is no exception with a fascinating renewal of the main race and several classy conditions events in support. With the ground considered too soft for Court Minstrel, withdrawn this morning, the Betfair Hurdle at 15.35 may well go the way of the warm favourite My Tent Or Yours. A really good bumper horse, he's shown abundant potential in three starts over hurdles so far and while he was put up plenty in the weights for his novice win at Huntingdon last time, he's still got lots more to come - a future top-class performer - and he can win this otherwise very competitive handicap in style.

The best bets on the card look to be in the last two races. The novice chase at 16.10 sees five go to post, of which three have serious claims. Unioniste was impressive on bad ground at the International meeting at Cheltenham before Christmas, but that came in a well-run handicap, a different race from today's, and that form doesn't put him so far clear of his main rivals here as the morning market indicates. Our Father was good at Cheltenham first time over fences but disappointed next time and now has his tongue tied. He was fragile over hurdles and the better bet against the favourite looks to be Hadrian's Approach. Hadrian's Approach shaped well behind Dynaste in the Feltham at Kempton last time, largely given a confidence booster after a fall here the time before, and has plenty more to offer as a chaser.

The listed bumper at 16.40 sees the British debut of Vago Collonges, who won both his starts in France last summer. He beat several other previous winners when scoring at Craon on the second occasion and has joined Paul Nicholls, so has plenty going for him. However, he was very keen in that race and looked more speed than stamina, today's conditions very different from those he faced on that occasion. The remainder have raced in Britain and Ireland and the clear pick of them on form is Oscar Rock, whose effort when winning at the Hennessy meeting here has been boosted since. A reproduction of that performance would be good enough to win an average running of this race and there may be more to come. This looks a case of the known quantity being a better option than the unknown, and Oscar Rock gets the nod over Vado Collonges.

Recommended Bets:

Back Hadrian's Approach @ 4.216/5 in the 16.10 at Newbury
Back Oscar Rock @ 5.04/1 in the 16.40 at Newbury
Back My Tent Or Yours @ 5.59/2 in the 15.35 at Newbury

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