Saturday Horse Racing Predictions by Stephen Harris at Newbury and Bangor

Sam Drinkwater’s unexposed young chaser is very much in the notebook as one to follow over fences this spring, and he served notice that his turn was near with a cracking effort in defeat last time out (travelled strongly/pair pulled well clear up the Doncaster straight).

He is getting weight all round here from some much more exposed handicappers, and the drying spring ground expected at Newbury on Saturday should unlock further improvement under regular rider Robbie Dunne.

John Joseph Hanlon’s unexposed Irish chaser found the ground on the lively side when below form at Catterick over hurdles last time out and is fancied to bounce back to his best form in the mud at Bangor on Saturday.

His previous win from well off the pace at Fairyhouse in November is relatively strong form for the grade, and he should get a good pace to aim at here back over the larger obstacles. He remains open to plenty of improvement in handicaps after just four runs over fences, and the booking of Brian Hughes certainly increases confidence at a track where he excels at.

Sheila Lewis’s frustrating maiden hurdler has yet to win in eight starts so far over timber, but he has now found his level in the handicap and his running style from the front is always a good plan of attack round the sharp inner hurdle track (with a switch to going left-handed expected to suit after drifting left at Hereford twice recently).

Sean Houlihan knows him well, and he will be looking to secure a position against the hugely favoured far-rail on this testing ground that suits ideally.