Weekend Betting Tips: Rydon Pines on track for Newbury

Our tipster Karl Hedley provides the odds for the weekend's races

SATURDAY

NEWBURY

1-50 BETFAIR HOME OF THE PRICE RUSH HANDICAP HURDLE – 3 MILES 110 YDS

Rydon Pines bids to atone for a half-length defeat in this race last year and he has been known to go well fresh in the past. Haddon Frost knows him inside out having partnered him in eleven out of his twelve career starts to date and he is the only jockey to have ever won on the son of Beat All. The seven-year-old seems to act on all types of ground and he has finished in the frame in both of his previous trips to this track.

Milansbar has been in good heart this season and made a brave attempt to land a hat-trick of wins last time out. Carrying an identical weight to this afternoon he was only just touched off by a rejuvenated Barafundle. Trevor Whelan keeps the ride and he is fully at home on ground with plenty of give. They look the biggest threat to the selection and they are entitled to plenty of respect.

Opening Ceremony will appreciate this return to three miles having failed to stay further last time. Aiden Coleman replaces Richie McClernon but they will have to defy a career high mark in order to play a part in the finish. Rydon Pines is likely to have been trained with this particular race in mind and it would be of little surprise to see him go one place better than last season.

2-25 BETFAIR DENMAN CHASE (GRADE 2) – 3 MILES

Unioniste improved from his first start this season to record a facile success in a competitive handicap at Sandown last time. He made the most of a drop in class to see off the likes of Bertie Boru and Triolo D’ Alene by no fewer than ten lengths. This marks a return to the highest level but that win should have done his confidence the world of good and with Paul Nicholls bidding to win this race for the ninth time since the turn of the Millennium he has to command respect. Noel Fehily has been retained to ride the seven year old and the combination ought to prove a formidable duo.

Coneygree is undefeated in two starts so far this season and it is clear that he is fully at home in small fields. He is a previous course winner and he showed he had no problem with this trip when demolishing the likes of Warden Hill and Virak at Sandown last time. He is still only lightly raced compared to a few of these, but six wins in eight starts make him the biggest threat to the selection.

Houblon Des Obeaux has bumped into a couple of smart performers on his recent outings. Many Clouds proved far too strong in the Hennessy and The Young Master accounted for him last time. The form is working out and the Venetia Williams trained eight year old deserves his place here. Unioniste has the Grand National as his main target this year but it will come of little surprise to see him return to his very best this afternoon and he should go close.

3-35 BETFAIR HURDLE (GRADE 3 HANDICAP) – 2 MILES 110 YDS

Jolly’s Cracked It was firmly put in his place by the talented L’ami Serge at Sandown last month. Having won at the likes of Ascot and Wincanton in the past he clearly likes racing on a flat track so Newbury ought to hold no fears. Nick Schofield has won twice on the selection this season and they are set to be reunited this afternoon. Two miles seem to suit Harry Fry’s charge well, as too will the likely soft ground. Having only had a handful of career starts there is every possibility of further improvement and he cannot be dismissed on what is his handicap debut.

Pine Creek was unfortunate not to win the Ladbroke at Ascot back in December. He was only beaten a neck by the Gordon Elliott trained Bayan in what was an ultra-competitive heat. He has been punished in the weights as a result but if returning in that same rich vein of form he poses a real threat. Sign Of A Victory was no match for Faugheen when they locked horns at Kempton last month. He should find this company much more to his liking and despite top-weight he too commands a second look.

Activial and Calipto are two improving types but the latter has beaten the former on the two previous occasions that they have met. Both still have plenty of questions to answer though and they offer absolutely no value at current odds. It usually takes a lightly weighted six-year-old to win this race and Jolly’s Cracked It could well be the one. He should have more to offer and it will be a massive disappointment if he cannot hit the frame.