The Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 day 1 card from the Berkshire track on Friday, 28 November always proves informative. That’s because not one, but two Grade 2 contests take place on the opening day of the meeting with some smart supporting races.
Sharing top of the bill as this fixture gets underway are the John Francome Novices’ Chase and Long Distance Hurdle. All the action from this dual-purpose track has Coral’s backing with some big handicaps to follow on Saturday. For now, though, it makes sense to focus on the beginning of the two-day meeting.
There are National Hunt maiden and fillies only juvenile hurdles during the Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 day 1 card, plus a novices’ limited handicap chase for the Fulke Walwyn Trophy. Joining those events here are a handicap chase over two-and-a-half miles and a staying handicap hurdle, so punters can look forward to plenty of variety.
Our horse racing experts switch their focus to this as well. Their form study leads to conclusions. Combining past performances and potential for future progress with the best odds from leading horse racing bookies online is what you can expect from them here, as ever. View our experts’ Friday fancies from one of the better jumps fixtures before the busy Christmas period below…
Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 Day 1 Preview for Friday, 28 November
12:15 – 2m 69y Class 3 National Hunt Maiden Hurdle
Had a soft spot for SINNATRA as a bumper horse last season, and that’s a good start to his hurdling career.
Travelled like the winner for much of the race, and he wasn’t asked too many questions.
Could be quite smart this season.
— Ash Symonds Journalism (@ASymondsJourno) November 6, 2025
Sinnatra looks more of a two-miler on pedigree than Harbour Island. One of two for Olly Murphy in the race, he bumped into Team Skelton’s Mydaddypaddy up at Carlisle last time. That is a stiffer track than Newbury, so Harbour Island might need a bit further than this trip on a flatter course.
Park Talk is another second on hurdles debut, but Harry Derham’s Irish Point winner also may want a greater test of stamina than this provides. Jorah d’Alma is unbeaten for Fergal O’Brien, meanwhile, and Nicky Henderson saddles Act Of Innocence at his local track after posting some smart bumper form last season.
12:45 – 2m 92y Class 3 Fulke Walwyn Trophy Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase
Lurking lower down in the weights, however, is CAPTAIN BELLAMY. Representing last season’s winning trainer in Paul Nicholls, he has finished past the post first around Newbury before. Captain Bellamy suffered disqualification in a novice hurdle here last December when his jockey broke whip rules. He has since come second to the highly-touted Queensbury Boy in another such event at the track.
Given his pedigree, as a son of Black Sam Bellamy, chasing should be his game. Captain Bellamy looks well-handicapped starting life off over fences for one of the leading stables in the country off a mark of just 120. He won an Irish Point in some style before joining Ditcheat, so looks a bit of value against those with experience of the discipline.
Last time out chase winners Palacio for the in-form Sam Thomas, once a jockey for Nicholls, and James Owen’s Secret Des Dieux could also have a say in the finish. It’s only fair to point out, however, that this race demands more than the ones that those two, Bluey and Mambonumberfive landed previously.
1:15 – Listed 2m 69y Fillies’ Juvenile Hurdle
Strong finish 💪
One Horse Town stays on to win the @jcbmachines Triumph Trial Juvenile Hurdle 🙌🏼 pic.twitter.com/kmVIp5ie1v
— CheltenhamRacecourse (@CheltenhamRaces) November 15, 2025
Also crossing from the Emerald Isle are Cian Collins’ experienced Sopelana and John McConnell inmate Wonderfulwonderful. Owen runs three, including Cheltenham Grade 2 third KATE O’REILLY, who drops in class. Fifth to the mighty Minnie Hauk on the Flat in a Chester Classic Trial this spring, she could be handy.
Also representing the same owners is Trad Jazz, but her long odds-on defeat at Leicester doesn’t look good. Owen also has Zahra Dodville in the line-up, but this demands more than her Fakenham romp on stable debut. Wensleydale third TRALEE GIRL could be another for the Skeltons who comes on for her hurdles bow and, while not as highly rated on the Flat as others, that Wetherby run looked respectable.
Nicholls saddles topweight Gold Cast, who arrives in England with a big reputation after Bryony Frost, now riding in France, recommended her to connections. Golden Falls also won well across the Channel, but couldn’t follow-up before joining the Lucy Wadham stable. Madame De Labrunie has already finished second in a Grade 1 over fences, but also scored in this sphere prior to a move to Fergal O’Brien.
1:50 – 2m 3f 187y Grade 2 John Francome Novices’ Chase
Another cracking ride from @Sean_Bowen_!@O_J_murphy91‘s Wade Out responds well to his rider’s urgings, flying home to defeat Wendigo in a thrilling opener at @WorcesterRaces!
That’s six winners on the bounce for the jockey and trainer combination 👏 pic.twitter.com/x3WKXif0Si
— At The Races (@AtTheRaces) October 22, 2025
Wendigo also beat Regent’s Stroll fair and square in the Grade 1 Challow Novices’ Hurdle here over last Christmas. Elliott’s King Of Kingsfield didn’t go a yard around Cheltenham last month, but does have the most experience of fences and stepping back up in trip might help him. This distance looks on the sharp side for Anthony Honeyball’s Crest Of Fortune, meanwhile.
Pauling saddles No Questions Asked, who landed his chasing debut at Ascot. He has no form racing left-handed, however. Kingston Pride also scored first time out over fences around Perth and steps up in class after being somewhat frustrating to train. Given his Irish Point background, this discipline may be just what needs for Murphy.
2:25 – 2m 3f 187y Class 2 Handicap Chase (0-150)
The ultra-consistent Telepathique wins again, powering clear to take out the Listed Lady Protectress Mares’ Chase in fine style 🏆@lucy_wadham | @tomcannon2 pic.twitter.com/Stgg7uOek9
— Huntingdon Racecourse (@Huntingdon_Race) February 6, 2025
Winning horses have carried lofty ratings of 146+ in four of the last five editions of the old Open Handicap Chase on Newbury Winter Carnival 2025 day 1, so Lucy Wadham mare TELEPATHIQUE could well defy topweight. She saw her Carlisle conqueror Paggane come out and bolt up in another Listed race in midweek, so her reappearance run has been franked.
Telepathique often jumps left on the track, a hindrance last time and went accounting for Brides Hill around Huntingdon, but no problem here. Twinjets beat Heltenham off level weights in a Fakenham contest last time, but Skelton’s charge now meets the Nicholls runner off 5lb better terms. Murphy tries to revitalise the career of Bective Stud’s American Mike, meanwhile.
He’s probably best watched off just 1lb lower than when ninth in the Grand Annual. Joe Tizzard’s yard is in fine form, but Western General hasn’t proven his stamina beyond two miles yet. While Christian Williams newcomer Marvel De Cerisy brings experience of fences from France and should come on for his stable debut, the other form horse is Hughie Morrison inmate Filanderer on a five-timer from 2lb out of the handicap.
3:00 – 3m 57y Grade 2 Long Distance Hurdle
💚💛 IMPOSE TOI flies home to make a winning seasonal reappearance on his first start over 3m1f @AintreeRaces under @NdeBoinville. pic.twitter.com/0RuTmtk9dz
— Nicky Henderson (@sevenbarrows) November 8, 2025
Off a revised rating of 153, Impose Toi could well be up to this level off these terms. He receives 6lb from last year’s winner Strong Leader, who isn’t the best of jumpers. On adjusted figures, Impose Toi could well come out on top as he’s open to more progress as a stayer. Hewick disappointed in the Charlie Hall, meanwhile, so reverts to hurdles for Shark Hanlon and son Paddy.
Skelton mare Take No Chances receives weight all-round, but not as much as usual due to her success in this grade at Ascot in January. Veteran trio Botox Has, making his reappearance; Doddiethegreat, also representing local trainer Henderson; and Scottish raider Ahoy Senor don’t make much appeal off these terms.
3:35 – 3m 57y Class 3 Handicap Hurdle (0-135)
The winner finished second in a Haydock Grade 2 last Saturday, while the third, fourth and sixth home have all scored since. Lavelle frames the weights with Classic King, but Harry Cobden takes an eye-catching outside ride for her on hat-tricking seeking J J Moon. Course and distance winner Keable represents the Philip Hobbs & Johnson White yard that has started the core jumps season so well, meanwhile.
He seems best on soft ground, but delivered here in January off a 7lb lower mark. Alan King inmate I’m A Lumberjack placed in three bumpers at this venue, so could want this longer trip now sent handicapping off a 120 rating. Thunder Rock has dropped dramatically in the weights, but simply didn’t deliver on his early promise for Murphy and the McNeill Family.
