Star daily duo Rory Delargy and David Massey had a 7/2 winner at Newbury on Friday and they have more selections at the track this afternoon.
Racing betting tips: Saturday March 22
0.5pts e.w Pismo Beach in the 3.15 Newbury at 16/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5 bet365, min 14/1)
0.5pts e.w Come On Nia in the 3.15 Newbury at 25/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4,5 General, min 20/1)
1pt e.w Game Colours in the 3.00 Kelso at 8/1 (1/5 1,2,3,4 General, take no lower)
2:40 Newbury
Saint Segal is the correct favourite. He’s a different horse now he’s been allowed to bowl along in front, winning easily here in December and losing nothing in defeat to Booster Bob and Vincenzo in the Greatwood Gold Cup here last time out, trading 1.3 in the run before tiring late. He's on the same mark here and as long as this doesn’t come too soon, is the one to beat.
Theatre Man is undoubtedly well handicapped if a break and wind surgery has turned him around; now 2lb lower than when second to Ginny’s Destiny in the 2024 Timeform Novices Handicap Chase, a run that saw him go off favourite for the Plate at the Festival that year. He’s only had the six chase starts and remains capable of better once he gets it all together. Trainer Richard Bandey has not really got going this season, with just four winners in the last 12 months. On the other hand, three of those have come from his last dozen runners over obstacles, so it could be argued that a corner has been turned.
3:15 Newbury
Open, as ever, and often goes to a double-figure priced winner, and we have two against the field that look a bit overpriced as it stands.
PISMO BEACH has been put in at around 14/1 and that looks worth consideration. She’s been steadily brought along with handicaps in mind (and quite probably, this as a target), taking steps forward on each run and I liked the way she finished off her race at Huntingdon last time without ever being fully asked for her effort. I really liked her physically at Warwick the time before too, just about making her the paddock pick, and trainer Stuart Edmunds continues to have a good spring, with a couple of winners in the past week.
COME ON NIA is another that’s been put in at a big price, but she has form with Crazierthandaisy that means she can’t possibly be a bigger price than that one, the pair finishing 1-2 at Warwick on New Year’s Eve, Crazierthandaisy coming out two lengths the better. But that was a novice event and Come On Nia was having to give the winner 7lb for her wins the previous summer; today she gets 2lb from Crazierthandaisy, meaning she’s 9lb better off for those two lengths. One can’t be 11-1 and the other 25s , so at 20-1 and bigger Come On Nia looks worth a saver, at worst. Forget Ffos Las last time out, two miles and heavy ground were both against her.
Siog Geal is the right favourite, we'd say; she’s been crying out for a step up in trip, which she gets here (is a point to point winner; three runs at 2m to get her a qualifying mark) and Market Rasen last time, though disappointing on the face of it, got her qualified for this. She looks very well handicapped today.
I’m a big fan of Sunset Marquesa too, but she could've perhaps done with more than the 1mm of rain they got last night. Winner of two of her last three, she was a bit below par when running here two starts ago but the tongue tie straightened her out last time, and she could progress again if handling the ground.
2:25 Kelso
Both the televised handicap hurdles at Kelso look very competitive (unlike the two chases), but Rory thought Sayva had a chance here, given his style of running should be a big advantage at Kelso, and the son of Harzand shaped very well at the contrasting Carlisle last time, making most of the running before succumbing to the superior stamina of Coniston George. The winner had plenty in his favour that day and was well backed accordingly, so I thought Sayva deserved credit for running as well as he did on handicap debut. He seems fairly treated – if not exactly thrown-in – on that effort and can progress again at a track that suits forward-going sorts like him. Sadly, the double-figure prices have gone and Sayva is the right price rather than overpriced now.
I Am Max is the most obvious danger having run really well in a qualifier at Haydock last time, and this unexposed son of Vendangeur has improved with each of just four starts over hurdles having also won his only bumper. He would benefit from the forecast rain, whereas I would prefer the ground not to deteriorate much more for Sayva. The amount of rain due to fall seems to change by the hour, but the latest forecast suggests that Kelso won’t get a deluge.
The other to consider is last year's third Singapore Trip, who has been slowly finding his form this season and put in his best run of the year at Carlisle last time, that being a run that got him qualified for this. He gave the impression there was a bit more to come and he's now fallen back to the same mark as last year. You could argue this year's renewal is a bit tougher, but all the same, each-way chances in an open event.
3:00 Kelso
Sunset Hill is of interest here. Only fifth in a spring finish at Market Rasen two starts ago, which wouldn't have suited her at all, she may well have gone close at Ayr last time but for jockey Nathan Moscrop dislocating his shoulder, after which he couldn't offer any assistance from the saddle. He hasn't ridden since, but returns form injury to ride here and will surely be keen to make amends.
It seems somewhat assumed that Rula Bula didn't run her race at Lingfield and so GAME COLOURS 17-length panning of her is somewhat overrated, but that isn't necessarily the case and the mere 4lb rise she gets for it means she ought to beat her old rival again. She's been most consistent and progressive throughout the season and there seems little reason why she won't run her race again.
Published at 0930 GMT on 22/03/25
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