Nick Luck’s William Hill blog: Squirrel should take some stopping under penalty

William Hill ambassador Nick Luck casts his expert eye over the action on William Hill Super Saturday from Newbury as well as a strong supporting card from Warwick.

Newbury, Saturday

HAITI COULEURS can take the TV opener at Newbury en route to a tilt at the NH Chase at the Festival (1:50pm). Although this is clearly not his principal target, it remains a very winnable one when accounting for his significant progress this season. A look at his hurdles form from the back end of last season makes him perfectly well handicapped in this sphere, while any deterioration of the ground will be no issue.

HITMAN is about as reliable as a chocolate teapot, but has his best chance of winning a race for a while in the William Hill Denman (2:25pm). Much of his best form has come on flat, left-handed tracks, while his second to Shishkin in this last year was one of his peak efforts. Anything like that at least gets him to the last with a big chance – what happens thereafter is anyone’s guess, but Bravemansgame looks out of sorts and Djelo is far from guaranteed to want this trip.

MASTER CHEWY looks overpriced in the William Hill Game Spirit (3:00pm). Seven pounds better off with Libberty Hunter for their running at Cheltenham, which came only a week after his Tingle Creek fall suggests he shouldn’t be twice the price. Bits of his form put him right in the mix with the market principals, and he should enjoy this track more.

SECRET SQUIRREL must surely go well again in the William Hill Hurdle (3:35pm). He was value for quite a bit more than the margin in that exceptionally competitive heat at Windsor, beating a very well-treated rival in the process. He has the tactical speed to hold a good position in a race like this, and a five-pound penalty shouldn’t stop him. Any more rain is no serious issue, while Hughie Morrison’s small jumps string continues to go great guns.

Warwick, Saturday

L’EAU DU SUD should take a lot of stopping at Warwick in the Kingmaker (2:05pm). His Henry VIII form could hardly have worked out better, and, although Rubaud is a talented rival, he should extend the sequence en route to the Arkle.

DAMEOFTHECOTSWOLDS has a chance of springing a significant surprise in the mares’ race (2:40pm). Gala Marceau’s best would be too good, but she has a curate’s egg of a profile, and generally doesn’t bring her best first time out. You Wear It Well and West Balboa can barely run to within a stone of their ratings at the moment, so this could be ripe for a turn up. The selection is a tough and uncomplicated mare who could quite easily get a solo lead up front, and expect her to be involved longer than her price suggests.

LE MILOS might very well bounce back in the veterans’ race (3:15pm). The handicapper is slicing chunks off his mark at a rate of knots, dropping him yet another two for running a blinder behind two young improvers over this sort of trip at Chepstow. There aren’t many with compelling credentials, so an in-form well treated horse from a top stable makes plenty of appeal.