The second day of Newbury’s winter festival takes place on Saturday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his best bets for the feature afternoon at the Berkshire track.

The second day of Newbury’s winter festival takes place on Saturday and Racing Post tipster Graeme Rodway returns with his best bets for the feature afternoon at the Berkshire track.

Jacamar@ 25/1

1.20 Newbury
1pt each-way

Lord Baddesley @ 8/1

1.55 Newbury
1pt each-way

First Street @ 11/4

2.30 Newbury
1pt win

Corach Rambler @ 6/1

3.05 Newbury
1pt win

Bun Doran @ 7/1

3.40 Newbury
1pt win

Jacamar no back number

The Sir Peter O’Sullevan Memorial Handicap Chase (1.20) is the first of several tricky handicaps at Newbury and Jacamar could be overpriced after a couple of disappointing runs.

The seven-year-old was one of the star novices last season when winning a hot race at Kempton and regularly running well in strong contests and it’s too soon to write him off.

He might have found the ground against him when beaten in the Grand Sefton at Aintree last time and that was over the Grand National fences anyway. Maybe he just didn’t take to them.

His previous run at Chepstow can also be ignored as he didn’t seem to stay the longer trip and he could bounce back from those below-par runs back on his ideal ground at this distance.

Lord Baddesley on the up

The 2m41/2f handicap hurdle (1.55) is another competitive race, but Lord Baddesley has shown improved form this season and might be capable of continuing his move up the ranks.

He found only subsequent Elite Hurdle winner Knappers Hill too good when second in the Silver Trophy at Chepstow on his seasonal return and built on that at Plumpton last time.

Lord Baddesley quickly put distance between himself and the useful handicapper Royaume Uni to score in impressive fashion and he is well suited by a big-field handicap like this.

He is up 9lb, but has form at this track and is going forward quickly enough to defy the rise.

First looks right up my street

The best bet of the day runs in the Gerry Feilden (2.30) because First Street looks a class above this opposition and is strongly fancied to make short work of the race off top weight.

First Street has the standout piece of form in this race when he was beaten only a length and a quarter by State Man in the County Hurdle at Cheltenham last season. He was attempting to give 1lb to that rival which was an impossible task as State Man is a Champion Hurdle horse.

My selection competed in Grade 1 company at Aintree last time, but was probably still feeling the effects of a hard race at Cheltenham and is fancied to bounce back on his seasonal return.

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Corach Rambler a class apart

The 3m2f handicap chase (3.05) is always one of the season’s features and Corach Rambler can throw his hat into Gold Cup contention by winning for Lucinda Russell and Derek Fox.

Corach Rambler produced a stunning display to win the Ultima at Cheltenham last season. He came from a near impossible position to win going away and not many horses would have the ability to weave through rivals and win a race of that nature in the way he did.

It speaks volumes about his ability that he overcame so many negatives and he is suited by big fields.

He was well beaten on his seasonal reappearance at Carlisle, but that was probably no more than a sighter for this race and I expect him to be at his very best for his early-season target.

He is just 7lb higher than for his Cheltenham win and still looks a step ahead of the assessor.

Bun Doran can roll back the years

The 2m1/2f handicap chase (3.40) features several old favourites, but none are as well-handicapped as Bun Doran and the 11-year-old is fancied to take advantage.

He was unlucky not to win this race three years ago off a mark 19lb higher than this and he proved he retains plenty of ability when landing a handicap chase at Doncaster in March.

Bun Doran held on well to score by a neck and is able to race off the same mark as for that success here. The handicapper appears to have given the old boy a chance for another win.

Bun Doran has been off the track for 233 days, but he goes fresh and this might be the time to catch him given his advancing years, Tom George is likely to have him ready here.