Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Gino can be your Friend in the Fighting Fifth

William Hill ambassador looks over Friday and Saturday’s racing from Newbury and Newcastle, and picks out his best bets.

Newbury, Friday

THE JUKEBOX MAN was on my list of horses to follow this season, and he can get off to a winning start over fences in the John Francome Novices’ Chase (1:55pm). He finished behind Captain Teague in the Challow Hurdle last season but stepped up on that when a runner-up over three miles at both Cheltenham and Aintree. Reports suggest that he’s taken really well to fences and going back to 2m4f won’t inconvenience him. I think he’s a horse that will progress further over fences this season.

I like GOLDEN SON in the 2m4f handicap chase (2:30pm). He beat Heltenham at Kempton last season and is now much better off at the weights with that rival. While he struggled to maintain his form last season after that victory, he’s only a six-year-old and I think he’s a horse that can step forward. He’s only had six runs since joining Paul Nicholls and comes here after a wind op so there could be more to come.

Looking at the Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle (3:05pm), to me, LANGER DAN has the strongest form. At Aintree, he was only beaten a head, and a short head by Impaire Et Passe and Bob Olinger, respectively, and then he backed that up when beaten just over two lengths by Impaire Et Passe at Sandown. That’s really strong form. Both his pedigree and form would suggest that he won’t have a problem with this longer trip. He was second to Galopin Des Champs in the Martin Pipe (2m4½f) as a five-year-old, so now he’s more mature, there’s no reason to suggest he won’t get three miles. He’s also receiving two pounds from main market rival Strong Leader, so that’s a bonus.

Newbury, Saturday

Genois is an interesting runner in the Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial (12:40pm), but I’d rather side with HIGHSTAKESPLAYER. It was an excellent run on his reappearance when finishing second to Chianti Classico at Ascot. He’s four from six over fences after that, with his other defeat coming when pulling up on heavy ground at Newbury back in March. The ground should be better for him here, and he should have a good chance of enhancing his good record over fences.

There could be a bit of each-way value to be had in the 2m4½f handicap hurdle (1:54pm) with ISSAM. His fourth last time out in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, where he was five lengths behind Lump Sum and four behind Steel Ally, who franked the form last weekend, was a good effort. He ran like a horse who would come on for that, and while he will need to step up here, he could represent value in an open race.

JERIKO DU REPONET can bounce back in the Gerry Feilden (2:25pm). Obviously, Nicky’s [Henderson] horses disappointed at the Cheltenham Festival, so I don’t think we’ve seen the best of this fella yet, but likewise the handicapper hasn’t either. While he disappointed over fences on his return at Sandown, with a mark of 135, he should be more than capable back over hurdles. It looks a good race, but I think he has plenty of potential off this handicap mark.

The Coral Gold Cup (3:00pm) looks a very open race and you can make a case for any number of horses. HENRY’S FRIEND might be one that is well-handicapped on what he has achieved over fences to date. He was a good winner of the Reynoldstown at Ascot last season, which is a good level of form. Apple Away, who finished behind him there went on to frank the form when winning in Listed company. He’s had a run over hurdles, which should have brought him forward for this race, and I can see him going well in what is a difficult race to call.

Newcastle, Saturday

I’d be with SIR GINO over Mystical Power in the Fighting Fifth (2:10pm). I was at Seven Barrows last month and I had the pleasure of going into the stable to visit Sir Gino. He’s a very impressive type; he’s tall, strong and looks physically very forward. We didn’t get to see him at Cheltenham, but he was a good winner at Aintree in April, when beating Kargese, who went on to frank the form at Punchestown. I can see him stepping up on the excellent form he showed last season.

NEON MOON could be the one in the Rehearsal Chase (3:20pm). A good winner on his return at Chepstow, he wasn’t beaten far in third behind Chianti Classico and Highstakesplayer at Ascot last time. That was a nice run, but he would have benefited from a stronger gallop there, and I think if they go harder here it will play more to his strengths.