Murphy to win Kalash of the Newbury titans

Star novice can gun down rivals to win Betfair Hurdle

KALASHNIKOV can belie his relative inexperience by winning the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury.

Amy Murphy has made the bold call to pitch her star novice into one of the most competitive handicap events of the campaign on the back of a fair effort when second in the Tolworth last time out.

Kalashnikov just failed to really fire on the heavy ground that day, but he stuck on well and it also later transpired he had lost a shoe.

That defeat ended his three-race unbeaten run and while he has only limited experience so far, this race has thrown up more than one novice winner in the past and he could have any amount of improvement still to come.

All eyes will be on Altior in the Betfair Exchange Chase as he makes his seasonal bow but following his wellpublicised breathing issue earlier in the year, he has questions to answer and POLITOLOGUE looks well placed to exploit any weakness.

Paul Nicholls’ charge is technically rated 5lb inferior to Altior but he has been improving at a rate of knots this season, with his Tingle Creek Chase victory a particularly taking effort.

Obviously if Altior is at his very best there should be no stopping him, but if he is not, Politologue can take full advantage.

CLOUDY DREAM failed to stay at Aintree last time but is worth another shot in the Betfair Denman Chase.

Tried over three miles and a furlong in the Many Clouds Chase back in December, Cloudy Dream found the combination of heavy ground and strong stayer – and subsequent Cotswold Chase victor – Definitly Red just too tough an ask.

Cloudy Dream drops back to just short of three miles here and while he has a bit to find with Native River, he has the edge of race fitness and can give Ruth Jefferson a first Graded win after she took over her late father Malcolm’s yard at the start of the month.

SELECTIONS NEWBURY :1.15 W hats wrong with you ,1.50 Bastien, 2.25 Cloudy Dream, 3.00 Politologue, 3.35 KALASHNIKOV (NAP), 4.10 Reigning Supreme, 4.40 Pym.

AYR (tomorrow): 1.50 Just Don’t Ask, 2.20 Divine Spear, 2.55 Grand Morning, 3.25 Progress Drive, 4.00 The Delray Munky, 4.30 Smuggler’s Stash, 5.00 Rivabodiva.

DOUBLE: Kalashnikov and Cloudy Dream.