A three-mile handicap hurdle kicks off our afternoon of televised racing, and as the last nine runnings have seen nine different trainers and nine different jockeys, with winners at odds up to 14/1 with just the two winning favourites, we are talking minefield alert! I am thinking more rain will fall before racing, making this even more of a war of attrition, and that starts to point me in the direction of Alan King’s Emitom who at 8/1 (as I write) is my each way call.
Second on two of his three starts this year with a length and a half defeat at Ludlow on Monday, he has won five times over hurdles including the Grade Two Rendlesham Hurdle in 2020 on heavy ground, and although it would be ridiculous to think he can repeat that level four years later, he is rated 15lb lower these days and is capable of a huge effort in these conditions.
Daily Sport Recommended Bet 1pt Win Emitom 1.30pm Newbury 9/2 Bet365 and William Hill