Horse Racing Tips: Timeform's best bets at Newbury on Friday

Newbury Betting Tips

13:30 – Ilko d’Olivate
14:05 – Manothepeople
14:40 – Arqoob
15:10 – Loup de Maulde
15:40 – Precious Eleanor
16:10 – General Probus
16:45 – Lift Me Up

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.

13:30 – Ilko d’Olivate

Ilko d’Olivate, who finished runner-up on his hurdling debut at Compiegne last season, made a successful start for Paul Nicholls at Taunton in January, looking a useful prospect as he tanked through the race and drew six lengths clear on the run-in. He then ran well when runner-up behind a smart prospect at Sandown and wasn’t disgraced when fourth in a good-quality novice at Ascot just a couple of weeks later. He should have been freshened up by a five-week break and looks up to defying a penalty.

14:05 – Manothepeople

Manothepeople progressed well over hurdles last season, winning his final two starts at Huntingdon and Doncaster, and he has continued to progress over fences this term, winning both outings at Chepstow. Manothepeople immediately stepped up on his hurdling efforts when making a successful chasing debut in a novice handicap at Chepstow in October and he progressed again to follow up in a similar event off an 8 lb higher mark when last seen in December. This Irish point winner remains open to further improvement and can defy another 8 lb rise in the weights.

14:40 – Arqoob

Arqoob was a useful and consistent handicapper on the Flat and he offered some encouragement when runner-up on his hurdling debut at Huntingdon in January, doing well to remain competitive for as long as he did given he jumped tentatively. He failed to progress from that when a distant fourth here last month, but he got back on track at Huntingdon 19 days ago, registering a first success over hurdles despite again not always jumping fluently. He’ll need to jump better in this more competitive environment but it’s still relatively early days over hurdles and an opening mark of 114 could prove lenient given the level of form he has shown on the Flat.

15:10 – Loup de Maulde

Loup de Maulde has had an extremely productive campaign and made it four wins from his last six starts when successful at Warwick 12 days ago, putting up his best effort yet and winning with even more in hand than a six-length margin would suggest. The field cracked one by one in the back straight and Loup de Maulde was the only one still travelling three furlongs out before he readily drew clear. He’s tough, reliable and going in the right direction so looks the one to beat under a 7 lb penalty.

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15:40 – Precious Eleanor

Precious Eleanor ran one of her lesser races when last of five finishers at Warwick last month but she had been in good order prior to that and it would be little surprise were she to bounce back. Precious Eleanor had shaped as if in good form when third in a good-quality and competitive handicap at Cheltenham on Trials Day, and a repeat of that sort of performance gives her sound claims in this contest. It’s also worth noting that she won a couple of times last spring, is back down to her last winning mark and has Harry Cobden in the saddle.

16:10 – General Probus

General Probus showed he retains all his ability when a good second on his return from two years off at Ascot in November on his first start for the Kieran Burke yard. He was seen to good effect from the front on that occasion but it was still an encouraging effort with the absence in mind, and it’s worth noting that the winner went on to make a successful chasing debut on his next start. General Probus returns from another break on what still appeals as being a fair mark after a 3 lb rise in the weights, and he gets the vote.

16:45 – Lift Me Up

Lift Me Up comes from a good family – he is out of an unraced half-sister to smart hurdler Polly Peachum who herself is out of an unraced sister to Denman – and he catches the eye on his debut under Rules having won three of his four starts in points. Most of his rivals have some sort of question to answer so he looks worth siding with in this hunter chase.