Nick Luck’s Blog: Max a great bet at Newbury

Ayr

I can’t resist going back in on HASANKEY in the opener at Ayr (1.15pm). The ground here should be more in his favour than it was at Aintree last week and, providing he is fully over that run, I can see him running another really good race here at 15/2. He looks the value alternative to Frere D’armes, who is clearly the one to beat.

The Champion Handicap Chase (1.50pm) looks wide open and, in all honesty, I found selecting one very tough. SAIL AWAY (9/2) is the one I came down on as you’d feel he’s been trained with this race in mind and his run at Chepstow should have put him spot on for this. The Skeltons are always worth keeping an eye on at this meeting too.

RUBAUD looks the percentage play in the Scottish Champion Hurdle (2.25pm). Who knows how strong that Dovecote form is but, whichever way you look at it, this is a horse that travels a lot better than one rated 135. Paul Nicholls, amongst the winners on Friday, could have a very well-handicapped horse on his hands at 13/2.

BALCO COASTAL looks a pretty solid favourite in the Future Champion Novices’ Chase (3.00pm) at 9/4. He didn’t really fire in the Turners at Cheltenham but he’s clearly one that is a different animal on better ground and could easily have too much class for this lot.

I’m going to have a bit of a swing at one in the Scottish Grand National (3.35pm) as I quite like the look of MAGNA SAM at 16/1. I see there’s already been a bit of money for him and that doesn’t surprise me as he looks a horse that will thrive over this marathon trip. I really liked what he did in the Edinburgh National last time and the good ground here should hold no fears – something that isn’t necessarily true for market leader Monbeg Genius.

Newbury

Hurricane Lane could win the John Porter (1.30pm) at Newbury easily, but I’ll be having a few quid each-way on LONE EAGLE at 12/1. It’s obvious this is a massive ask on what he showed at the back end of last season, but he’s moved to Ralph Beckett’s yard, has Frankie Dettori in the plate and the application of blinkers. The last point shows intent to me and don’t forget this is a horse that was beaten a neck by Hurricane Lane in the 2021 Irish Derby.

SWINGALONG is the play at 11/2 in the Fred Darling (2.05pm). She’s a filly crying out for this extra furlong and I think she’s been very much overlooked in the market here. Karl Burke is in flying form and his contender looked the most solid option to my eye.

Chaldean is clearly the most likely winner of the Greenham (2.40pm), but I’ve got to take him on at that price on his first start of the season. The one to do that with is Simon & Ed Crisford’s KNIGHT who has done nothing wrong in his two starts so far, with his win over course and distance showing the likely testing going here will be no issue. He could be really good this season and he’s the one for me at 11/2.

I spent ages going over the Spring Cup (3.15pm) and the one I landed on was GREAT MAX who can continue Amo Racing’s superb start to the Flat season. This horse was a very smart two-year-old and his below par exploits last season when trained by Michael O’Callaghan have meant the handicapper has given him a real chance off a mark of 99. The ground will be no problem and he could look a big price at 14/1 if putting it all together.