There is a cracking card at Newbury on Saturday and Robbie Wilders from the Racing Post provides his three best bets.
The seven-race card runs from 1.15 until 4.43 and, as always, you can watch all the action from the Berkshire venue and every other meeting across the UK and Ireland on bet365's Sports Live Streaming platform.
1.50 Newbury
Regarding Ruth @ 8/1
1pt win
3.35 Newbury
Faivoir @ 16/1
1pt each-way
3.35 Newbury
Teddy Blue @ 14/1
1pt each-way
Ruth worth regarding
It is always worth treading cautiously with horses returning from lengthy absences but I'm gravitating towards Regarding Ruth in the 3m handicap hurdle (1.50).
Regarding Ruth bids to defy a 645-day layoff but, as a nine-year-old with the potential to make a smart broodmare, it is interesting that connections have brought her back into training.
She was in rude health a couple of seasons ago before suffering a setback, finishing fourth in a Listed Cheltenham handicap before running to a Racing Post Rating of 136 when hacking up at Market Rasen.
The last time Regarding Ruth ran over this course and distance she scored eased down from subsequent Welsh National winner Iwilldoit, and Eddie Edge takes off a handy 10lb for her comeback.
The fact Regarding Ruth has won off breaks of 210 days and 259 days in the past enhances my confidence that this might be the day for Lucy Wadham's runner.
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Teddy and Faivoir make each-way appeal
Naturally you want unexposed novices on your side for the historic 2m handicap hurdle (3.35) and Teddy Blue makes most appeal from the younger generation, with Bet365 paying five places.
Gary Moore has saddled three winners of this in the past and knows exactly the type of profile required. Teddy Blue has that and will be suited by the set-up of this race under 5lb claimer Caolin Quinn, who looks tidy in the saddle.
Teddy Blue is a free-goer but will get a strong pace here with the likes of Aucunrisque, Highway One O Two and Rubaud in the field and is particularly well treated on his runner-up finish to Knight Salute in the Grade 2 Adonis last season.
My selection is still unexposed and loves good ground, while a Supreme Novices' Hurdle entry indicates Moore's faith in his ability.
This race has a strong correlation with the Supreme as four of the past six winners have gone off at 10/1 or shorter at the Cheltenham Festival, and Teddy Blue might be the latest market springer in what is shaping up to be a far more open race than was the case a week ago following Facile Vega's flop at the Dublin Racing Festival.
The other each-way wager I'll be tucking into is Faivoir for the Dan Skelton team. Admittedly Faivoir would be something of a trends buster as you have to go back a good few years to find the last winning eight-year-old.
However, this is a handicap and Faivoir has slipped to a decent mark of 138. He was given too much to do on soft ground at Kempton over Christmas on his return, but stayed on eye-catchingly from off the pace into fourth, and is expected to step forward from that.
Faivoir has recorded RPRs in the 140s on 10 of his last 11 starts (the exception being at Kempton) and he is rated 7lb lower over hurdles than fences despite bringing similar form to the table in both spheres.
He is a former Grade 2 winner who is best suited by arriving late on the scene off a strong pace and brings plenty of good-ground form to the table.
A smart operator on his day, Faivoir looks overpriced to hit the frame for a trainer who is a dab hand at taking out these major Saturday handicaps.
