Saturday’s Racing Tips: Potential of Equinus to win out

Four meetings remain across Britain and Ireland this Saturday, after the heavy rains of the past few days took their toll with Warwick and Uttoxeter forced to abandon their jumping cards.

First off is Newbury and Naas over jumps, before two evening all-weather cards from Newcastle and Wolverhampton.

Amongst our Saturday fancies is an unexposed stayer bidding to enhance Nigel Twiston-Davies's notable record in the extended 3m handicap hurdle from Newbury.

1.30 Newbury - Equinus @ 6/1

Nigel Twiston-Davies trained the winner of this race in 2013 and 2016 and his 2024 representative EQUINUS makes plenty of each-way appeal in this competitive now 10-runner Class 3 staying handicap hurdle.

The six-year-old is open to further improvement after only ten starts and is dropping in grade after running fifth in a Class 2 contest at Sandown in December.

The selection registered a Racing Post Rating of 131 when coming clear to win over this trip at Aintree on his seasonal reappearance in October, so a 63-day break and a mark of 124 should prove no barrier to further success.

Horses aged six are 5-19 (+£25.75) in the 10 runnings of this race since 2013 and he is one of only three that are taking part today.

The son of Shantou copes better than most with testing ground and he may be about to resume his progression.

2.05 Newbury - Shishkin @ 8/11

SHISHKIN is representing Nicky Henderson in the Grade 2 extended 2m7f Denman Chase 46 days after his excellent but luckless effort in the Kempton's King George on Boxing Day.

He stumbled and unseated jockey Nico de Boinville shortly after two out when yet to be asked a serious question in a one-length lead in the Grade 1 three-miler.

The 10YO is an admittedly quirky sort, but he is upwards of 8lb clear of his four rivals on the book, and almost three-miles on testing ground around Newbury should be suitable enough conditions for him to confirm his superiority over this opposition.

3.15 Newbury - Altobelli  @ 13/2

Harry Fry's representative ALTOBELLI is a strong each-way suggestion in the feature 24-runner extended 2m Betfair Hurdle from Newbury in this Betfred Super Extra Place Race that sees six places getting rewarded.

The six-year-old is one of the least exposed horses in the field after only six starts and a mark of 132 looks exploitable having registered a Racing Post Rating of 139 when second in a similar contest on testing ground at Ascot on his reappearance in November.

All of the 10 winners of this race since 2014 were aged between five and seven, and nine had an official rating between 132 and 143 during that period. Eight carried no more than 11st 5lb to victory.

Altobelli (OR132 and 11st 6lb) has near perfect credentials on those positive pointers before factoring in the young horse's potential for further improvement.