Horse racing tips: Newbury picks from Dave Nevison

1.00 Musselburgh: Karlie

Meeting abandoned.

2.25 Newbury: Frero Banbou

We have been here before with this horse (who hasn’t?) and not been paid out as yet, but I feel he is still worth perhaps a final roll of the dice here.

It is obvious that Frero Banbou is well handicapped as he is now a 1lb below his latest winning mark in a race 22 months ago.

It has taken him a while to slide down the weights again because generally he runs well and I feel he could be pitched at his correct trip in this assignment. He ran over just further than two and a half miles most recently in heavy ground at Cheltenham and just looked stretched and trip in this over just less could be ideal.

He jumped around Newbury very well on his only run here so far and, even though the two young horses at the top of the weights could be nice prospects, both are making their reappearance and Frere Banbou may be the solid option.

3.35 Newbury: Hoe Joly Smoke

Bottom-weight could be a large advantage for Dan Skelton’s lightly-raced runner, but stepping up in trip is the real plus for a horse with a pedigree that screams stamina.

By Black Sam Bellamy out of an Alfora mare who stayed this trip, the surprise is probably how effective Hoe Joly Smoke has been so far. The five-year-old has run three good races, all at Chepstow and over trips of up to two and a half miles, on each occasion clearly demonstrating that he wants the extra half mile to excel. He gets that here on a big galloping track that will suit and could be a very interesting runner for a stable that has hit very good form.