Greatwood day at Newbury – Preview – 2nd March 2019

Charity is the name of the game at Newbury with horse welfare the main beneficiary. Our UK man on the spot NEIL MORRICE brings you his Best Bets for the the two features on Saturday March 2, 2019, the Greatwood Gold Cup and the Greatwood Veteran’s Handicap Chase. Bet now at Hollywoodbets!

A field of 16 for the feature Greatwood Gold Cup sees our leading trainer Paul Nicholls three-handed whilst his former assistant Dan Skelton saddles two. However, Philip Hobbs is also double-handed and trains like likely favourite WAR SOUND, the mount of champion jockey Richard Johnson.

In the Greatwood Veterans’ race the unexposed ABOLITIONIST has attracted plenty of ante post support and THEATRE GUIDE is running into form.

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Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase Preview
Race 2 – 14:05 – 3m1f (5000m)

Interlinking formlines make for a close finish at the end of the marathon three and a quarter miles and on the book there’s not much between HOUBLON DES OBEAUX and THEATRE GUIDE. They met at Sandown exactly a month ago, and though ‘Houblon’ had the call there, several factors tell me that Theatre Guide can turn the tables.

Aside from this being only his fourth race of the season, making him a fresh horse, he’s shown much of his best form at this track by finishing 3rd in the 2013 Hennessy Gold Cup and 2nd in the same race in 2015. And although not as good, he improves in leaps and bounds granted the good fast ground he’ll encounter today. Furthermore he enjoys a 7lb pull with his rival from Sandown.

At a working man’s price I’m attracted to ZIGA BOY despite the misgivings of his trainer who insists he will benefit from the run. When we last saw him almost two years ago the 10yo was in winning form and long absences don’t often faze horses nowadays. Trainers are so well served with all weather gallops of all varieties that getting horses fit from the injury list is not the onerous task it was.

ABOLIONIST fits the bill in as much as his appearances are as rare as seeing a cuckoo in the Spring, making him hard to evaluate, but there was certainly nothing visibly wrong with his winning return at Aintree in November. THE LAST SAMURAI is another fresh horse targeting high profile pickings through the Spring while JOE FARRELL was last seen nosing out Ballyoptic in the Scottish National when he had his tail up and he resumes on a hat-trick.

Neil Morrice’s Prediction

Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase Preview
Race 3 – 14:40 – 2m3f (3800m)

An attractive betting heat with the magic number of 16 giving players the four place bonus. Several in the field reach their peak in the Spring and the unusually clement weather through February is a boon for the likes of WAR SOUND, VALDEZ and DOLOS.

WAR SOUND has been wrapped in cotton wool for much of the season and with his handicap mark thereby protected has to be taken seriously. His trainer is a master at getting them ready for a long range target which certainly applies to both his runners, with GALA BALL equally interesting coming back from a 700-plus day absence. Both worked and schooled beautifully earlier in the week.

VALDEZ has not been able to take advantage of some recent opportunities owing to the ground, but the terrain on offer today means the lightly-raced veteran should be in his comfort zone. His trainer Alan King is quietly confident Wayne Hutchinson’s mount can defy his advancing years.

DOLOS will go off the shortest of the Nicholls trio and rightly so as he’s been a model of consistency in just four outings this season. He reverted to two miles when hacking up at Ascot last time but picked up a 5lb penalty for his troubles and is now back over two and a half under top weight. Stablemates SAN BENEDETO and WARRIORS TALE could struggle as the former has been out of form and the latter looks badly handicapped.

HAPPY DIVA hails from a stable that is running into some form and usually troubles the judge. The 8yo has added assistance from a capable conditional rider taking 3lb off.

MASTER DEE takes my eye returning from a break as he found his form in the second half of last season and comes here fresh. A solid run here will earn him a shot at the Randox Health Grand National.

Neil Morrice’s Prediction