Barry Geraghty’s William Hill blog: Mission to take Control of Newbury feature

William Hill ambassador runs his eye over this weekend’s cards from Newbury and Fairyhouse, picking out his best bets.

Newbury, Saturday

INCH HOUSE (12:30pm) was third on his seasonal debut at Chepstow and then a winner here in November over 2m7½f. He won that impressively and under similar conditions should go close. In an open enough race, Nassalam could run well. He ran a nice race when finishing fourth behind Gesskille in the Sefton at Aintree last time and might be better suited to these fences.

Nicky Henderson likes to target this Newbury meeting and fields another interesting prospect in JET POWERED (1:40pm). He’s been off the track for 12 months but he made a good impression when winning cosily first time out. He was disappointing when beaten next time out and there has obviously been an issue with him. However, he looks a horse with a lot of potential and he could be well-treated off a mark of 131.

UNDER CONTROL’s (2:15pm) form was advertised well by Iberico Lord winning at Cheltenham recently. He’s my idea of the winner, but if you’re looking for something to side with each way then Bad might be worth chancing again. We were hoping for a good run from him the last day when he was third at Ascot on reappearance and he has the potential to improve again.

In the Coral Gold Cup (2:50pm), MAHLER MISSION is the one I’d want to side with. He was second on his reappearance over 2m4f in the Colin Parker at Carlisle, where he jumped slightly out to his left. Returned to a left-handed track and stepping up in trip, conditions should be ideal for him. He fell at the second last in the National Hunt Chase last season, having probably gone for home a little too soon, but he had winner Gaillard Du Mesnil on the stretch at the time and that horse went on to be placed in the Irish and English Grand Nationals, so it’s a high level of form. The only slight concern is the form of the John McConnell yard. I mentioned Dusart earlier on and if you’re looking for one at a bigger price then I wouldn’t put you off him. He beat Sounds Russian at Ayr in April 2022 but while he hasn’t been seen at his best since, I wouldn’t be surprised to see him run a big race. Monbeg Genius might go under the radar a little bit after being badly hampered and pulling up at Ascot last time. His third in last season’s Ultima, when behind Corach Rambler and Fastorslow, is form that has clearly worked out incredibly well. 

Fairyhouse, Sunday

IMPAIRE ET PASSE, who may be the main threat to Constitution Hill this season, returns in the Hatton’s Grace (2:35pm). He was very impressive in everything he did last season, including when winning the Ballymore. The vibes have been very good with him, but he does face last year’s winner of this race in Teahupoo. He beat Honeysuckle and Klassical Dream 12 months ago, so I definitely wouldn’t dismiss him.