Plenty of rain for Altobelli at Newbury

This is probably the last weekend of top class action where you may see a Cheltenham Festival winner, and the Betfair Hurdle spears the card on a super Saturday at Newbury. Always one of the best handicaps of the season, this looks another decent renewal of the 2 mile handicap hurdle.

3:15 Newbury - 2m1/2f - Betfair Hurdle (Handicap)

Any readers of the blog in December would of been well aware of my love for ALTOBELLI for the big 2 mile handicap hurdle at Ascot a couple of days before Christmas where he was a strong each way selection. It's time to go again on him at Newbury, especially with the deluge of rain forecast this week before the race.

3rd in the aforementioned handicap at Ascot in December, the ground dried up that week and it didn't suit the Harry Fry trained gelding. He needs softer ground to be at his best over 2 miles, and given the forecast that's due this week, he should get just that. The form at Ascot looks solid with Impose Toi (2nd) running well in the Lanzarote at Kempton last month, whilst the winner Luccia holds a serious chance here if the ground is decent.

Altobelli can brush up on his jumping, but the soft ground will slow others down and help him in that regard, and it will also help his finishing effort as he lacks a true turn of foot on good ground unlike the winner at Ascot, Luccia. He rates another strong each way bet on Saturday, assuming they get all the rain forecast which looks definite at this stage.

Hansard can run well but the weight may tell, whilst I really fancy Lookaway to run well but I'm not sure if he'll definitely run. He had a hard race in the Challow Hurdle too. Whilst the Henderson mares Luccia and Under Control will have serious chances, if they take part.

Bets:

Altobelli - 2pts ew @ 12/1 (Coral)