Tanya Stevenson's Weekend Tips For Newbury And Newcastle
National Hunt expert Tanya Stevenson joins The Panel once again to preview the action from Newbury and Newcastle.
Tanya has already provided us with winners this season, but how will she get on this weekend?
She has cast her eye over the cards on Saturday and come up with three tips which can be backed with the best horse racing betting sites.
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Tanya Stevenson's Selections For Saturday
- Selection 1: 14:15 Newbury - Hot Fuss (Each-Way)
- Selection 2: 14:55 Newbury - Resplendent Grey
- Selection 3: 15:15 Newcastle - Cruz Control (NAP)
What a day of racing with the Fighting Fifth at Newcastle and the Coral Gold Cup at Newbury, the latter being a proper handicap chase for the ages.
There is a sprinkling of Trainers Championship cards being played, even if it is unintentional. Willie Mullins with four in that Coral Gold Cup and Anzadam in the Fighting Fifth.
Dan Skelton with The New Lion at Newcastle and Panic Attack and Riskintheground at Newbury in the big race.
I'm sure the aftermath of the Fighting Fifth will run and run with speculation of who goes where next. Wherever Constitution Hill goes, the noise and the hype follow.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 1: Newbury 14:15 - Hot Fuss (Each-Way)
Newbury’s 14.15 is the Gerry Fielden, a great little hurdle race that has produced Champion Hurdlers in the past.
It does pay to have run in Grade 1 races, and eight of the last 10 winners have run at either that year's Cheltenham or Aintree Festivals.
Four-year-olds have an excellent record over the years, and four line up this year. However, Live Conti and Give It To Me Oj have plenty of weight to concede.
They really have to be Champion Hurdle class under 12stone. I sense Harry Derham’s Viyanni will make the running and set a good gallop, and not far behind him will be Hot Fuss.
Back in October 2024, he was ahead of Give It To Me Oj at Wincanton and ran a cracker in the Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival, leading at the last but succumbing to better-weighted rivals to finish fourth.
He had Murcia behind him, a horse who went on to beat Live Conti at Aintree.
Tom Dascombe, Hot Fuss’s trainer, gave him a couple of crucial runs on the flat, including a recent 11th in the November Handicap, which leaves him with no excuses not to put in a bold display here.
Off his competitive weight, he must have a battling chance.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 2: Newbury 14:55 - Resplendent Grey
A maximum field of 24 line up for the Coral Gold Cup at 14.55pm, what a race!
There will be place terms to look out for, and I’m sure that some betting sites will be offering six places.
I'm going with a win bet, however, with this race being ready-made for Resplendent Grey.
Although we have seen this season, it pays to be in the front rank with him from the off.
The requirements for this contest generally include being aged 7 or 8 and having had between seven and 10 chase races prior; recently, it has been even less.
It’s probably best to have had no more than one race in the current season, and previous experience at Newbury helps.
Nine favourites have won since 1995, and stamina is at a premium; providing no low sun, there will be 21 fences to jump at a lively tempo.
Resplendent Grey has only had seven chases, winning the Bet365 Gold Cup on his sixth career run over the bigger obstacles and then enhancing his reputation further when winning on seasonal debut in the Listed Colin Parker Memorial Chase at Carlisle over a mile shorter.
His engine needs constant stoking; his big grey frame is not easy to lay alongside.
At Carlisle, he stuck his ears flat back, his head down and really accelerated to the line over a distance he really ought to have found too short. He needs to improve from that run.
He also has the ideal man on board in Sean Bowen, who has ridden him in the majority of his races, winning 50% of them (seven wins from 14 rides).
Of course, there are many dangers, including Gorgeous Tom and Annual Invictus. The former, who will probably be in the front rank from the off, has competed at Grade 1 level.
Annual Invictus' trainer Chris Gordon is in great form, and when last seen 581 days ago, he was second in the 2024 Bet365 Gold Cup, just ahead of 2025 Grand National winner Nick Rockett.
Tanya Stevenson Panel Tip 3: Newcastle 15:15 - Cruz Control (Nap)
Now, let's fast forward to the Rehearsal Chase at Newcastle, the last race on their card at 15.15pm.
Since 2005, the staying contest has been run on 17 occasions, and 16 winners had run no more than once before that season.
Eight of the 17 winners had previous form at Newcastle, and there have been only three winning favourites in that time. It is preferable that your last run took place at Aintree, Ayr or Kelso.
The ideal age group to pick from is between 8 and 10, and the ground at Newcastle is good to soft. Providing there is no rain, Cruz Control is the selection.
He ran and won at Aintree last time out, and jockey Stan Sheppard is crucial to him with seven wins from 17 rides. He has speed as well as stamina, having won over two miles and three miles.
He has had four runs at Newcastle, winning three. Tom Lacey could have run him in the big race at Newbury, but has opted for this instead.
It could prove to be a shrewd move.
What do you think of Tanya's tips for the weekend, or do you have any fancies of your own? Let us know in the comments below!
