Philip Hobbs and Richard Johnson are enjoying a fine run of form and Ian Ogg hopes that will continue at Newbury today.
0.5pt e.w. Sykes in 3.40 Newbury at 9/1 (1,2 1/4)
The Oakley Coachbuilders Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (For The Brown Chamberlin Trophy) is a decent renewal of the Newbury contest.
It may only have attracted seven runners but the majority of them should be able to go on and achieve more success over fences.
Tom George's chasers always command respect at Newbury and there was talk of the Eider Chase for Wild West Wind after his Hereford win but connections went to Exeter instead where he was a shade disappointing behind Cheltenham Festival also-ran Label Des Obeaux.
Fergal O'Brien's team continue in fine form and the fitting of a tongue tie may well enable Vinnie Red to atone for his course and distance defeat last time, when sent off the 2/1 favourite.
Bells Of Ainsworth, Dig Deeper and Dueling Banjos come into this race on the back of victories but a chance is taken on Sykes who got no further than the first at Taunton when taking a heavy fall.
The eight-year-old has been given a reasonable amount of time to recover from that, his first run since disappointing in a Chepstow handicap that has worked out very well.
Those two performances help to explain his price but with the ground starting to dry out a little he may be able to get back to the level he showed on his first two starts over fences.
Philip Hobbs has his team in good form and the eight-year-old could be suited by a return to Newbury where he has performed creditably on both starts over hurdles.
A fair bit has to be taken on trust but he is priced accordingly and those at the head of the market do not look to be rock solid themselves.
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Posted at 0854 GMT on 24/03/17.
