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MATT CHAPMAN
My ‘maniac’ 25-1 each-way NAP at Newbury – for a trainer who admits he’s probably a bit ‘nuts’ too
Has our columnist unearthed one at a huge price?
TWO maniacs together hoping for a miracle – that’s me and trainer Evan Williams at Newbury on Saturday!
I’ve been called worse, to be fair.
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Williams is trying to pull off a big-race shock with Minella Missile in this afternoon’s feature betting race, the William Hill Hurdle, once the Schweppes, Tote and Betfair Hurdle.
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More importantly, a race in the past that has been taken by class acts in the shape of Persian War and Make a Stand, both heroes of the Champion Hurdle.
Also once household names in Ra Nova, Deep Sensation, Large Action, Mysilv, My Tent or Yours and Pic d’Orhy. The contest has a rich history.
A field of 18 is expected to go to post for an event on ITV, and I’m fascinated in Minella Missile, who will be a huge price.
My Saturday NAP
A massive each-way play for me here. He has back class, is unexposed and his trainer knows how to land a big pot. Follow me in Minella Missile by clicking his odds above.
As a novice, Minella Missile was exciting, being unbeaten in three starts and landing a Grade 2 at Cheltenham when defeating the subsequent Grade 1 Challow hero Captain Teague.
Sadly, he’s hard to train, and was absent for over a year before returning at Windsor over three miles on January 19.
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There was just a glimmer in that run that his old ability might still be there, and Williams knows the time of day.
Remember this is a man who had a horse backed from 80-1 to just over 2-1 at Uttoxeter the other day and it won!
When I quizzed Williams on Minella Missile, he fired this at me. “I have also been labelled a maniac – so we are both in the same car park here Matt!
“I think he deserves his chance. I think he’s a good horse. I had to run him somewhere so we went over three miles at Windsor. Newbury might be nuts. I’m probably nuts and so are you. But I’m not running for the sake of it.
“He’s a very difficult horse to train and he’s tricky to get right. But he’s ready to run.”
In another twist, Minella Missile runs even though he has only had three tries over hurdles. That means he’s unexposed.
If he was a juvenile or novice he would not be qualified, as they have to have been seen four times over the smaller obstacles. But Minella Missile gets in.
The likely favourite will be Secret Squirrel, who did my column a great favour when scoring and landing a gamble at the same Windsor carnival that Minella Missile was involved in.
The sexy Squirrel – a beautiful crazy-looking chestnut horse – is up 5lb – re-opposing Navajo Indy back in fourth - but that might not stop him.
Sean Bowen takes over from Nico de Boinville who is claimed by Nicky Henderson for another leading hope Joyeuse.
Today was meant to be all about Sir Gino, the top class novice who was due to have his second run over fences in the Game Spirit Chase.
He was taken out on Friday with a minor setback, which may leave the way open for Matata to snap up the Grade 2 for JJ Slevin and trainer Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Matata bolted up in a handicap chase last time, and his rating rocketed from 155 to 163 putting him in the Champion Chase mix.
On that occasion Matata didn’t bomb out in front which seemed to suit and while it depends what the others do here - Edwardstone can make the running and did so when scoring in this last year - if that happens again he should be hard to stop.
Also in the line-up is the improving Libberty Hunter, who is another for Williams.
He returned in style at Cheltenham and who knows who good he might be?
The other main event today is the Grade 2 Denman Chase which has been contested by top class horses in the past.
Bravemansgame is the one to beat with a tongue strap on for the first time, and of course back in March 2023 he chased home Galopin des Champs in the Gold Cup at Cheltenham.
He would be a good thing on that form.
Sadly, Bravemansgame has been disappointing this term, a shadow of his former self, and he was a distant third at Haydock two runs ago and a poor eighth in the King George at Kempton.
Having once been rated 172 he’s down to 157 now which highlights his decline.
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That all said, he could still be too good for this field for Cobden and Paul Nicholls.
It’s day for being brave. Or a maniac!
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