With Cheltenham just around the corner many of these that ran at Newbury at the weekend are likely to bypass the Cheltenham Festival and wait till Aintree.

Over at Doncaster our former TOP TIP AaimTo Prosper stepped up in distance as we had hoped and duly won a handicap hurdle in great style just beating the well handicapped and gambled Cockney Trucker.

RatingTheRaces TOP TIPS made a profit of 6.05 points with an ROI of 27.50% This now takes our record to +124.40 in just 16 tipping days with an ROI of 42.03%.

Newbury

Betfair Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle

The better ground was the key to this race with the initial forecast favourite and in form Dream Again Boys having won his last 2 races on heavy going this was never going to suit and so it proved with him dropping out early and being pulled up.

One of our TOP TIPs Bygones Sovereign showed up well for a long way and came into the straight just about in the lead before appearing to get very tired very quickly, this was his first run on better going for a long time and he may come on for this run.

Buck Magic was our other TOP TIP in the race and despite sweating up badly pre-race and nearly missing the start he travelled really well during the race. Turning for home with many of his rivals struggling he dived to the stands rail which was probably a race winning move. With the rail to run against he battled on well to win by 3 1/4 lengths. A similar race at Cheltenham or Aintree could be on the cards and if he doesn’t sweat as much pre-race he could still be well handicapped on better ground.

Barbury International Supporting Greatwood Veterans’ Handicap Chase

Once again we had 2 TOP TIPS in this race and we were delighted to see jumping 3 out our 2 were the only horses in contention, with both horses being backed e/w we simply hoped that both remained on their feet over the last fences.

Both Hey Big Spender and Michel Le Bon had travelled really well towards the back of the field and started to make their move 5 from home.  After a cracking duel up to the last Michel Le Bon forged clear to win by 9 lengths. Hey Big Spender did make a mistake 2 out but this probably didn’t cost him the race and both should win races in the near future on this better ground.

Ladbrokes Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle

Meganisi was given a fantastic ride by Patrick Corbett to beat the unexposed pair of Cry of Freedom and Tango De Juilley and looks the type that could follow up.

Both our TOP TIPS The Pier and Turn Over Sivola were well backed in the market after being advised at bigger odds and both travelled quite well during the race. Turn Over Sivola didn’t pick up very well and may need further now and The Pier might still be in the measure of the handicapper. If the Pier drops another couple of pound he could get involved in a big handicap, maybe at Cheltenham.

StanJames Supporting Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase

Pacha Du Polder won this very impressively from the front and repaid the faith Paul Nicholls had in him. It was a great front running ride from Ryan Mahon and on this better going good be much better than he had previously shown.

Our TOP TIP Pepite Rose was in the process of running a massive race, having travelled into contention and probably going best of all when falling 3 out. She looked destined for a place at the very least and was one of our biggest e/w singles on the day so was very frustrating. A return to Newbury over this distance in a similar could see her win next time if she jumps round.

Charlton Baker Supporting Greatwood Handicap Hurdle

A very poor looking race on paper turned out to be just that with nothing really standing out and looking like they could go on to bigger and better things. The winner Arctic Wings was having his 55th run and winning his 5th and had been up and down the handicap lots of times emphasising the disappointing nature of this race and result.

Our big priced TOP TIP Gay Sloane looked like one of only a few that could be progressive on this better going but he laboured round to a disappointing 8th.

Balreed Supporting Greatwood Novices’ Handicap Chase

With no bets in the Bumper this was our last race that we had a TOP TIP in and it didn’t let us down. Marie Des Anges under her new pilot Charlie Huxley was given a fantastic ride.

Tracking the leaders for most of the race our selection moved into 2nd coming into the straight and was kicked clear before the last. After a slowish jump there was some worrying moments that the momentum of her challengers would get them past but our selection had plenty more to give and won by an unflattering 1 1/4 lengths. She is value for more than this and can win again.

So another great day for the RatingTheRaces TOP TIPS with a profit of 6.05 points. Staking just 22 points to achieve this meant we achieved an ROI of 27.50% which isn’t bad for one day and could have been a whole lot better if Pepite Rose had stayed on her feet. This now takes our record to +124.40 in just 16 tipping days with an ROI of 42.03%.