Horse racing suggestions: Newbury, Newcastle and Dundalk Wednesday 18th December

Today’s racing ideas bid to follow up yesterday’s 9/2 (advised) winner with a trio selections, together with a Phillip Hobbs runner that scored final time we tipped him.

There is one other busy day of racing to sit up for with Christmas Day however per week away.

Jumps racing comes from Newbury and Ludlow, with a Listed Mares Chase the function contest at the former venue; alongside all-weather cards at Lingfield within the afternoon earlier than Newcastle and Dundalk underneath the lights.

With his claim gone, Jonjo O’Neill Jnr remains in very good kind and might get his newest winner on the board at Newbury this afternoon. There’s also a pair of previous C&D winners going in search of more success at Newcastle and Dundalk.

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Youthful Defi earns Newbury call

Jonjo O’Neill Jnr is a potential saddle-star within the making and he’s showing few signs of slowing down having ridden out his claim lately, with a 24 per-cent strike-rate from 34 rides these days.

Befitting a younger rider of his talent, the calls maintain coming and he will be eager to keep on choosing up rides outside of his father’s yard to broaden his horizons even further.

He is on board Defi Sacre (Newbury 3:00) for an in-form trainer in Richard Hobson and the partnership is the one to beat on this Conditional Jockeys’ Handicap Chase over an extended-2m.

At six-years-old Defi Sacre is the youngest on this seven-runner area however he is probably on the improve having opened his account in nice type at Musselburgh 9 days in the past.

That was simply his third begin over fences – with the type of his previous Fakenham second boosted since by the winner – and he was given a constructive journey by James Best that afternoon earlier than coming clear late on for a 14-length success.

A 7lb penalty for that victory is merited and Defi Sacre should still be forward of the handicapper for now.

This is a more durable test; particularly with skilled kinds like Shanahan’s Turn, Valseur Du Granval and Le Coeur Net in opposition, but his mount seems to have extra to provide and having Jonjo O’Neill Jnr on board in this firm is a big asset in itself.

Ascot a hazard at Newcastle

A previous winner over C&D right here at Gosforth Park, Ascot Week (Newcastle 3:45) was a shade unlucky in second spot last month, his first begin since September and first AW look since the spring.

He took some time to get going from midfield at the 2f-marker however eventually rattled residence to beat all bar the winner, Anif.

The third has gone shut in a better race at Kempton since and there is got to be a strong chance that Ascot Week, rated simply 1lb larger right now, can mount a serious challenge beneath Jason Hart now.

Roger Varian’s Bobby Biscuit is probably the one he is received most to worry from, although the Lingfield winner might be racing for the first time on the Tapeta.

Saga may run on

Saga Bolton (Dundalk eight:00) was removed from disgraced at this venue earlier within the month on what was his first begin for 763 days and Anthony Mullins’ cost ought to search out this trip extra to his pleasing.

The Intense Focus gelding is seven-years-old however that run right here was just a tenth profession begin, with a couple of lengthy absences on his CV.

Interestingly, he ran properly around Dundalk on return from his first layoff, before taking place a head on his second begin shortly after; in order that ought to bode nicely for this quick return.

He was a C&D winner at this circuit in 2016 off a mark of seventy five and the 1m2½f trip he was given right here lately would look to have been as sharp as he wanted it.

Back over the two-mile journey, he is 5lb under that previous-win mark and likewise will get a helpful 7lb from Luke McAteer’s declare. They’ll need some luck from a wider draw than best but the trip looks proper and Saga Bolton should be in the firing line if building on his latest return.