| Friday, December 29, 2023 6:30 PM

Saturday’s Horse Racing Tips: Newbury, Taunton, Haydock, December 30th

Stephen Harris

Today’s Racing Tips – December 30th

A bonanza for ITV punters on Saturday, with 8 races covered across Newbury, Haydock and Taunton. Ground conditions are sure to be on the softer side of good after an unsettled week of weather across the country. Tough big field handicaps are very much the order of the day, though purists will enjoy the Grade 1 Challow Hurdle at 3.00pm.

In this article:

Today’s Daily Nap
Today’s Value Angle
Saturday’s ITV Racing Tips

Today’s Daily Nap

Collectors Item

Haydock 1:25 (UK time)

Jonjo O’Neill’s dual winning hurdler remains a maiden after three starts over fences, but he shaped really well when well backed at Sandown last time out and this stiffer test of stamina should be ideal. He is a strong traveller who handles testing ground well, and this small field is unlikely to put too much pressure on his jumping in the early stages (took a while to warm to his task latest in a strong 3m contest).

Odds: NA

Today’s Value Angle

Certainly Red

Newbury 2:25 (UK time)

Lydia Richards stable star has won 4 from 10 over fences, and has run with real credit in defeat twice this winter already at Wincanton and Sandown. He is a sound jumper and thorough stayer, and a switch to front-running tactics on this better ground would be a good plan under regular rider Marc Goldstein.

Odds: NA

Odds are best odds available as at 9am December 30th 2023. Odds may now differ.

ITV Racing Tips – Saturday December 30th

Time (UK)	Track	Horse	Analysis
1:15	Newbury	The Russian Doyen	Jeremy Scott’s 10-y-o has not been easy to train over the years, but he returned from a long absence with a very promising effort over this course and distance at the start of December. He will hopefully avoid the dreaded bounce factor second run back, and some decent eased ground should be ideal with Harry Cobden an excellent booking.
1:25	Haydock	Collectors Item	Jonjo O’Neill’s dual winning hurdler remains a maiden after three starts over fences, but he shaped really well when well backed at Sandown last time out and this stiffer test of stamina should be ideal. He is a strong traveller who handles testing ground well, and this small field is unlikely to put too much pressure on his jumping in the early stages (took a while to warm to his task latest in a strong 3m contest).
1:50	Newbury	Rambo	Olly Murphy has his team in terrific form at the moment, and is useful handicapper has been running with credit in victory and defeat all winter. He did not jump with any fluency when sixth in a strong race at Newbury at the start of December, but still looked in top form and a positive ride (from the red-hot James Bowen) dropping back to 2m4f should suit ideally.
2:10	Taunton	Jaminska	Jane Williams runners have generally been needing a run to get fit so far this winter, and her unexposed mare should come on for her excellent reappearance over 2m3f here in November. She remains open to loads more improvement after just three career starts over timber, and a positive ride from David Noonan back in trip to 2m should make her hard to pass up the short straight.
2:25	Newbury	Certainly Red	Lydia Richards stable star has won 4 from 10 over fences, and has run with real credit in defeat twice this winter already at Wincanton and Sandown. He is a sound jumper and thorough stayer, and a switch to front-running tactics on this better ground would be a good plan under regular rider Marc Goldstein.
2:45	Taunton	Game Winner	Harry Derham’s 7-y-o let down backers here over fences last time out, making a series of mistakes harried on the lead, and the switch back to hurdles looks the right call. He remains open to improvement in this sphere after just three runs over timber last season, and the decent ground should help him get into a smooth rhythm under the vastly improved Paul O’Brien.
3:00	Newbury	Captain Teague	Paul Nicholls raw novice was turned over at 4/6f at Cheltenham in November, but had excuses that day and possibly bumped into a very smart one in Minella Missile. He will relish this flat galloping track on better ground, and his jumping will continue to improve as he gathers more racing experience (very much a three mile chaser on looks).
3:35	Newbury	Moon Hunter	Henry Daly’s unexposed chaser remains open to plenty more improvement after just two runs over fences, and perhaps “bounced” second run back when disappointing at Exeter in November. His promising reappearance at Cheltenham in October remains fresh in the memory (chase debut and finished strongly up the hill behind some useful proven handicappers), and this test of stamina on eased decent ground should be his optimum.