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Newbury Gold Cup tips as Broadway Boy napped for glory by Garry Owen

-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


BROADWAY BOY (3.00) can play the starring role in the prestigious Coral Gold Cup at Newbury.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge looks tailor-made for the demands of this demanding handicap chase. Impressive on his chasing debut at Worcester last year, he was on Flooring Porter's coat-tails at Cheltenham. The gelding boosted his reputation again with two emphatic wins in top company at the same track.

He wasn't disgraced again come January when third to the classy Grey Dawning in Grade Two company at Warwick. Forced to miss the Festival, he wasn't fully fit when a remote fifth to Inothewayurthinkin at Aintree in April. However, he took a huge step in the right direction when third at Cheltenham on his return and this front-runner should gallop his rivals into submission.

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The Twister can also bag the Coral Handicap Hurdle with GUARD THE MOON (1.54) . The gelding built on some pleasing novice efforts when decisively defeating Boomslang at Hexham in May. He then took well to handicapping when brushing aside Long Draw on his return over 2m 4f at Warwick last month. The bay was unlucky to encounter the in-form Harbour Lake upped in trip and class at Aintree three weeks ago. The six-year-old is nicely unexposed so stands to fend off a strong field dropped four furlongs.

HIGHSTAKESPLAYER (12.40) should be the ace in the pack in the Sir Peter O'Sullevan Handicap Chase. Tom Lacey's horse relished three miles when chinning Iconic Muddle at Kempton in February. The gelding wasn't suited to the return to 2m 4f when pulled up in a better contest at this venue. He bounced back by defeating Fidux over a more suitable trip at Kempton in April and proved to be even better when chasing home Chianti Classico on his return at Ascot this month.

LISTENTOYOURHEART (12.07) can get the ball rolling for Dan Skelton in the mares' hurdle. The five-year-old looked smart when routing Raincloud on her timber debut at Market Rasen. She confirmed that verdict by hosing up from the promising Kitty Foyle over track and trip. It is doubtful we've seen the best of this pacy type who ought to star up at Listed level.

The title-chasing trainer can strike with THE NEW LION (1.15) in the novices' hurdle. The gelding went into plenty of notebooks when caning Not So Sobers in a Market Rasen bumper in April. He then raised his game again by powering to victory from Belliano switched to timber at Chepstow last month. The five-year-old has a bright future so should get the better of some exciting opponents.

Skelton ought to make it three with ETALON (3.35) in the competitive Jim Joel Handicap Chase. The useful hurdler made rapid headway with wins on his first three runs over fences. However, he found Grade One company too much when only seventh in the Maghull at Aintree in April. The bay had his limitations exposed again when last of five to Jpr One in this month's Haldon at Exeter. The seven-year-old should be much fitter so can cash in on a falling mark dropped in grade.

SALVER (2.25) stands to be the dish of the day for double act Gary and Josh Moore in the Gerry Feilden Handicap Hurdle. The four-year-old oozed class with impressive wins at Warwick and Exeter last November.

Washington Heights ridden by Kevin Stott (second left) on their way to winning the Scaleby Restricted Maiden Stakes at Carlisle racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday June 22, 2022.
Washington Heights ridden by Kevin Stott (second left) on their way to winning the Scaleby Restricted Maiden Stakes at Carlisle racecourse. Picture date: Wednesday June 22, 2022.

"He then didn't mind a promotion to Group Two company when hacking up from Balboa at Chepstow. The gelding wasn't wholly convincing with an error-strewn win in the Victor Ludorum at Haydock come February. But he jumped better when third to Majborough in the Triumph at Cheltenham. The bay remains upwardly mobile so she can defy a welter burden.

ZANNDABAD (1.03) looks set to come good for Tony Martin in the French Furze Hurdle at Newcastle. The gelding was a cracking second to Geezer Rockstar on his most recent timber outing at Ascot in March. He stayed in form on the flat, signing off with a fine seventh in the Irish Cesarewitch at the Curragh. The five-year-old is open to plenty of progress so can shade a strong race.

DESTINY IS ALL (1.35) can keep Lucinda Russell's bandwagon rolling in the BetMGM Chase. The gelding ended last season by giving Event Of Sivola most resistance over three miles at Perth. The 10-year-old bettered that with a defeat of Crixus's Escape on his return at Ayr. The bay is proven over staying trips so should shrug off a lenient 3lb penalty in this stronger event.

MYSTICAL POWER (2.10) can prevail for all-conquering Willie Mullins in the Fighting Fifth Hurdle. The gelding began life over timber with emphatic wins in strong events at Galway and Punchestown. He then found only fellow improver Slade Steel too good in the Supreme at the Festival. The bay gained compensation when outpointing Firefox in the Top Novices' Hurdle at Aintree. He landed another Grade One with an easier defeat of that rival in the Punchestown Champion Novice and there is plenty more to come from this class act.

NEON MOON (3.20) can shine for David Pipe in another hot renewal of the Rehearsal Chase. The gelding was sent for wind surgery after a tepid third to Karl Philippe at Kempton in April and returned with a convincing defeat of Pull Again Green at Chepstow. The eight-year-old recorded another career best when third to Chianti Classico as Ascot and can strike here for victory.