Newbury Horse Racing Tips for Friday

Among a busy Friday of racing, there is a six-race card at Newbury to look forward to and here are Racing Post tipster Robbie Wilders' best tips for the meeting.

Friday Horse Racing Betting Tips and Odds

3.58 Newbury - Horaces Pearl @ 6/4
4.33 Newbury - Rath Gaul Hill @10/3
5.05 Newbury - Gamesters Guy @ 7/2

3.58 Newbury - Horaces Pearl @ 6/4

The 2m4½f novice hurdle at Newbury looks an intriguing affair and cases can be made for last-time-out winner Lud’Or and Albert Bartlett entry Pierrot Jaguen on their hurdles form.

However, Horaces Pearl is expected to brush those rivals aside for Fergal O’Brien. The lightly raced seven-year-old seems to need plenty of time between his races and the 97-day absence following his easy Huntingdon maiden hurdle success is of no concern.

Before that he showed his class, defying a five-month absence when gunning down talented stablemate Tripoli Flyer to give the yard a one-two in the Grade 2 bumper at the Aintree Festival.

Tripoli Flyer was an impressive winner of the Dovecote last weekend and Horaces Pearl, who seems a certainty to improve for this longer distance, can take this before stepping up in class. 

4.33 Newbury - Rath Gaul Hill @ 10/3

Rath Gaul Hill has a 315-day absence to overcome in the 2m½f handicap chase but might be up to it for Sam Drinkwater. 

The seven-year-old has defied a similar break in the past and was a rapidly improving novice last season when dropped back to two miles.

He signed off his previous campaign with impressive victories over this course and distance and again at the Scottish Grand National meeting.

While Rath Gaul Hill will be 8lb worse off with Duhallow Tommy for his narrow victory here last March, he landed that with far more authority than the deficit suggested.

There should be more to come this term from the lightly raced chaser.  

5.05 Newbury - Gamesters Guy @ 7/2

The Grade 2 novice hurdle on Cheltenham Trials Day proved too hot for Gamesters Guy, but he must have an outstanding chance on his handicap debut in this three-miler.

Gamesters Guy looked a youngster worth following when an unlucky loser behind subsequent Gerry Feilden winner Navajo Indy on his hurdles debut at Bangor in October. He could have done with a greater stamina test there and demonstrated that when a ready winner over 3f further at Carlisle next time.

The selection finished on the coattails of some smart novices when last seen and is expected to continue his improvement now he tackles handicap company for a shrewd training operation.

I’d imagine he wouldn’t look out of place in the Grade 1 Sefton Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree down the line. 

Read more horse racing betting tips and predictions on site.

This article was written by a partner sports writer via Spotlight Sports Group. All odds displayed on this page were correct at the time of writing and are subject to withdrawal or change at any time.