BOB BOB RICARD can secure victory in the the BetVictor Home of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase (2.40pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon. While at Kelso Fergal O'Brien’s NORTHERN AIR can win the Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (3pm).
It's a bit of a lull as regards big races over the Jumps but there are competitive cards at both Newbury and on Ladbrokes Go North Finals weekend at Kelso. After the highs of last week's Cheltenham Festival, eyes are turning towards the Randox Grand National Festival at Aintree Racecourse in two weeks. But first the Jonjo and AJ O’Neill-trained Bob Bob Ricard can triumph in Berkshire before that.
The seven-year-old won on his first two starts over fences at Ffos Las and Worcester last summer. And after a brief return to hurdling, Bob Bob Ricard was out of form in his first two starts back over the bigger obstacles, finishing seventh at Cheltenham in October and being pulled up back at Prestbury Park the following month. But after a short break he returned to winning ways at Doncaster at the start of this month, scoring in a three-runner race on Town Moor dropped back down to the minimum distance. He has, though, won over this 2m4f and with his confidence back and off a low weight in an admittedly tougher contest, Bob Bob Ricard can land back-to-back victories again.
READ MORE: Latest entries and weights for the 2025 Randox Grand National
At Kelso another recent winner, NORTHERN AIR, can win the Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. The six-year-old broke her duck over obstacles at the third attempt, when scoring at Taunton in January. She can back that up with another victory at the chief expense of Adrian Keatley’s hat-trick-seeking Surrey Belle.
Henry Daly’s WYENOT can win the Listed Ladbrokes “Big-Value You Can Bet On” Mares’ Hurdle (Registered As The Beeswing) (GBB) (1.50pm). The six-year-old has been improving all season having been third to subsequent Champion Hurdle hero Golden Ace on her final start of the last campaign. She has won twice at Cheltenham in October and at Doncaster in a Listed contest December this season – the latter when stepping up to three miles for the first time. She wasn’t disgraced stepped up to Grade Two company back on Town Moor in January when third to the Jessica Harrington-trained Jetara. Dropped back down to Listed level she can return to winning ways.
Philip Kirkby’s ACHNAMARA can land another win in the Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle (Series Final) (GBB Race) (2.25pm). The six-year-old has won two of his last three starts, scoring at Sedgefield in December and most recently at Catterick last month. He stayed on strongly there and looks capable of landing another victory in this competitive 2m4f contest.
Sandy Thomson’s course and distance winner GOLD DES BOIS can bounce back from being pulled up at Musselburgh in January to win the Ladbrokes “Boost Your Bet Builder” Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (3.35pm).
JOECOOKER can also return to winning ways in the Ladbrokes “Get Rewarded With Ladbucks” Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (4.10pm). The Rebecca Menzies-trained six-year-old ran well enough to be fifth in the Grade Two Albert Bartlett Prestige Novices’ Hurdle at Haydock Park last month and was sixth over course and distance, not beaten far, at the start of this month. This doesn’t look as competitive and he can land a first win since scoring at Hexham in December.
Others who can triumph at the Scottish track are Ann Hamilton’s DARE TO SHOUT in the opener, the Ladbrokes “Best Odds Guarantedd on Racing” Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (1.15pm); and course and distance winner HUMBLE JUMBLE – from the nearby dual Grand National-winning stable of Lucinda Russell in the finale, the Racing Post Go North Jodami Series Final Open National Hunt Flat Race (Series Final) (GBB Race) (4.45pm).
Back at Newbury Emma Lavelle’s KING'S THRESHOLD can triumph in the John Haine Memorial Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (5.35pm). The eight-year-old has been in fine form recently, winning back-to-back contests at Huntingdon in January and Warwick last month. He had wind surgery in-between those victories and he is arguably getting better. He is up again in the handicap, but having won over nearly three miles and 2m4f last time he should be able to cope with the rise. He clearly stays, but has the speed to cope. This appears his time, having done most of his best work in the first three months of the year. King’s Threshold can bring up the hat-trick.
Fergal O’Brien’s SIOG GEAL can win the Grade Two BetVictor British EBF BetVictor “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (A Limited Handicap Hurdle) (3.15pm). The six-year-old mare won on her hurdling debut at Catterick in December and was second to Bluey in a Novices’ Hurdle at Market Rasen last month. She can return to winning ways.
OH MY JOHNNY has won two of his last three starts and the Philip Hobbs and Johnston White-trained five-year-old can score again in the Get The Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (2.05pm).
Harry Derham’s TEDDY BLUE can bring up a hat-trick of victories in the Business Colleagues & Friends Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (5pm) following wins at Huntingdon and Kempton over the past month.
Others who can score at Newbury are Fergal O’Brien’s JOHN BARBOUR in the John Haines Memorial Novices’ Hurdle (GBB Race) (3.50pm); and the Nigel Twiston-Davies-trained AT THE OCHE Oche in the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper (An Open National Hunt Flat Race) (GBB Race) (4.25pm).
At Bangor GENTLEMAN BILL can win the Alfa Aggregates Products Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race (1.35pm). The seven-year-old’s trainers, Cheshire-based Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, are looking forward to sending Iroko – who is second favourite – for a crack at the Grand National at Aintree in two weeks. And Gentleman Bill, who faced a tough task when 11th in the Morebattle Hurdle, can give them a boost with victory. He has won twice – the first over course and distance – and was second to Willie Mullins’ Jarrive De Mee, who was a good winner at Haydock recently, and the seven-year-old looks capable of another success ahead of stable-mate Homme Public.
Others who can win at Bangor are Rebecca Curtis’ BOSTON JOE in the Broxton Gates Handicap Hurdle (2.15pm); the Venetia Williams-trained duo – JO LESCRIBAA and hat-trick-seeking SOLE SOLUTION – in the Broxton Gates Handicap Hurdle (3.27pm) and in the Voyager Camper Conversions Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (4.02pm) respectively; and MERSEY STREET – from the O’Neill’s Jackdaws Castle stable – in the finale, the Bangor-On-Dee Maiden Hurdle (GBB Race) (5.10pm).
Wright Ones
KELSO
1.15pm Dare To Shout
1.50pm Wyenot
2.25pm Achnamara
3pm Northern Air
3.35pm Gold Des Bois
4.10pm Joecooker
4.45pm Humble Jumble
NEWBURY
2.05pm Oh My Johnny
2.40pm Bob Bob Richard (NAP)
3.15pm Siog Geal
3.50pm John Barbour
4.25pm At The Oche
5pm Teddy Blue
5.35pm King’s Threshold
BANGOR-ON-DEE
1.35pm Gentleman Bill
2.15pm Regal And Royal
2.52pm Boston Joe
3.27pm Jo Lescribaa
4.02pm Sole Solution
4.37pm Carrig Kate
5.10pm Mersey Street
NEWCASTLE
5.15pm Rahiebb
5.45pm Too Much
6.15pm Inns Of Fear
6.45pm Triple Wishes
7.15pm Danzart
7.45pm Shark Two One
8.15pm Darlo Pride
WOLVERHAMPTON
4.18pm Daaris
4.53pm Wedgewood
5.28pm Bajan Blue
6pm Supreme Sovereign
6.30pm Niyla Breeze
7pm Kathleen’s Glory
7.30pm It’s A Love Thing
SUNDAY'S NAP: Red Happy (Carlisle 3.20pm)
