The Newbury Super Saturday of 2025 has a new sponsor. So long associated with Betfair, William Hill now take over as partners of an 8 February card that contains two Grades 2 and a valuable Premier Handicap.
Initially the Schwepps Hurdle, and run for a period as the Tote Gold Trophy, the race known in recent times as the Betfair Hurdle is the big one for punters with a field of 18 declared. Outstanding novice Sir Gino, meanwhile, steps into open company for the Game Spirit Chase.
There is also another Grade 2 in the Denman Chase, but none of its eight runners have Cheltenham Gold Cup entries. The supporting card isn’t too shabby either. With rain and maybe even snow forecast, the card may need to survive an inspection.
This is one of the last really big Saturdays before the Cheltenham Festival. That looms ever larger on the horizon, so horse racing betting sites hope for punter interest. Before another Berkshire venue in Ascot takes centre stage next weekend, this card is worth a closer look.
And we just so happen to have our horse racing experts on hand to do just that. Here’s their race by race analysis of all the action on a longstanding date in the sporting calendar. Read their thoughts on where value lies below…
Newbury Super Saturday 2025 Preview
1:15 – 2m 69y Class 3 Novice Hurdle
Kientzheim has the usual 7lb mares allowance offset by a 10lb penalty for her success in a higher grade, but that’s no problem here. Tutti Quanti concedes 3lb to her, but is the main danger after comfortably beating a dual subsequent winner around Ffos Las in November.
Connections keep spacing his runs out, which is an interesting tactic from Paul Nicholls. Tutti Quanti has a mark of 125 and that sets the standard here, but it’s not beyond Kientzheim. The other five who aren’t carrying penalties have so little to offer that Uttoxeter winner Rubber Ball completes the shortlist. He would probably prefer a quicker surface, though.
1:50 – 3m 52y Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-135)
What a ride, @GavinSheehan92! 👏
Up For Parol charts his own path before galloping on strongly for a superb victory at @FfosLasRC for @jamiesnowden… pic.twitter.com/4UHCbjDZye
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) January 11, 2025
The winner wasn’t disgraced when runner-up in the Heroes Handicap Hurdle there last Saturday. Up For Parol finished ahead of stable companion Super Survivor at Sandown, who has gone in twice since. Topweight Haiti Couleurs is only running in this sphere to protect his mark over fences for the National Hunt Chase, meanwhile.
Magical King keeps hitting the frame, but another placed effort may be all he can hope for here. Stuart Edmunds’ yard isn’t in form right now. Shutupshirley defied a racecourse absence of 756 to win in real style on Boxing Day around Fontwell, but there is the worry of the bounce factor.
Tiny Tetley has only won races right-handed, so course winner Kruger Park could be an each-way angle. Ditcheat stable conditional Freddie Gingell has ridden him to victory here before last March. The remainder all have even bigger question marks hanging over them.
2:25 – 2m 7f 86y Grade 2 Denman Chase
On that same day he won here in 2022, Eldorado Allen landed this very race but he didn’t show enough in the Veterans’ Chase Series Final. Joe Tizzard’s charge has re-opposing rival Sam Brown from Market Rasen, who finished ahead of him. Both are well north of 10 years old now.
The younger ones aren’t any more inspiring, however. Topweight Djelo and Le Patron aren’t guaranteed to get this trip, so that leaves very little to fancy. The doubly declared Fugitif, also in at Warwick races, has shaped at Cheltenham on occasion as though this longer distance may suit him. Hitman ran second in this 12 months ago for Ditcheat, but stable jockey Harry Cobden rides Bravemansgame.
It really is a tricky puzzle, then. Ga Law hasn’t had much racing over this longer distance and famously fell at the last when holding every chance in the Great Yorkshire Chase around Doncaster. Like Fugitif, he concedes 4lb to Bravemansgame, though. The Nicholls first string appeals almost by default in a very difficult race to have a strong view.
3:00 – 2m 92y Grade 2 Game Spirit Chase
It’s all about SIR GINO, who follows in the hoofprints of Altior in trying to win this Newbury Super Saturday event as a novice. With his Kempton defeat of Ballyburn in the Wayward Lad around Kempton franked by the runner-up in the meantime, it’s very hard to oppose Henderson’s young pretender. Sir Gino is favourite for the Arkle and can sock it to five rivals here.
Last year’s winner Edwardstone and Haldon Gold Cup hero JPR One concede 5lb to the five-year-old. Nigel Twiston-Davies runs two of the six, meanwhile. The thriving and forward-thinking Matata should ensure a strong gallop, but doesn’t have the class of Sir Gino. That could set things up for a closer to hit the frame, however.
Libberty Hunter may well be again ridden from off the pace to pick up some pieces. Evan Williams’ charge outstayed Master Chewy at Cheltenham and, although that one is 7lb better off at the weights here, the Welsh raider has more scope for further progress. There is also the worry that Master Chewy may be taken off his feet by his stable companion.
3:35 – 2m 69y William Hill Handicap Hurdle (Premier Handicap)
A very nice ride from Gavin Sheehan
Navajo Indy holds off Queen Gambles to win the Coral Racing Club Intermediate Handicap Hurdle 🟢⚫️#ITVRacing | @NewburyRacing pic.twitter.com/yxtpudbhQ6
— ITV Racing (@itvracing) November 30, 2024
Navajo Indy was a three-length fourth to Secret Squirrel then and now meets the winner on 5lb better terms. Despite that Windsor penalty, Hughie Morrison’s runner is 1lb well-in on future assignments here. Sean Bowen now takes the ride on Secret Squirrel with Nico de Boinville instead aboard Joyeuse for his own stable.
Henderson’s mare has a nice racing weight of just 10st 7lb dropping back in trip. Horses with a rating as low as Joyeuse wouldn’t normally get into a Premier Handicap like this, so it’s now or never for the second to bottom weight. Connections also run last year’s winner Iberico Lord, but he’s 10lb higher and frames the handicap alongside Lump Sum.
Also up 10lb is Mirabad, who got loose on the front end at Cheltenham in December. Dr Richard Newland has probably laid him out for this. Favour And Fortune is another with claims towards the top of the weights for Alan King. He should strip fitter for his reappearance sixth in the Ladbroke Hurdle off just 2lb higher than his Scottish Champion Hurdle triumph.
4:10 – 2m 7f 86y Class 3 Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
🏆 @JMFinnWealth Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase🏆
🥇 Herakles Westwood
🥈 Moulins Clermont
🥉 WrappedupinmayHerakles Westwood storms home to take victory in our third race of the day under jockey James Bowen for trainer Warren Greatrex 🔥
Well done to all connections 🎉… pic.twitter.com/FbniZSliVR
— Newbury Racecourse (@NewburyRacing) December 18, 2024
Ready preference is for the HERAKLES WESTWOOD, one of three off bottom weight. He runs on Newbury Super Saturday 2025 following a tidy course and distance victory in December, and after following-up on it around Windsor. Tackling fences has brought about plenty of improvement from Herakles Westwood, who should land the hat-trick.
Of the others, those with form ties to recent Sandown Grade 1 winner Handstands look the biggest threats to Warren Greatrex’s runner. Both Lord Of Thunder and topweight Saint Davy are chasing maidens but drop in class after running in graded events, so command respect.
The former for Team Tizzard somewhat inherited second in the Towton last time out. Only two finished at Ffos Las, but Lord Of Thunder should appreciate going up in trip. Saint Davy, meanwhile, was one of the fallers that day but previously ran third in another Grade 2, the Esher Novices’ Chase over this trip.
Of the others, Pic Roc has an encouraging pedigree for tackling longer distances. He too is a maiden over fences for Ben Pauling. Hillcrest continues to work his way back from a long-term injury, while the other three runners entered all pulled-up last time out.
