Destroytheevidence looks wise move for Newbury punters

Destroytheevidence can make it two from two over fences in the Watch Weekend Winners With BetVictor Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at Newbury on Thursday.

While the prevailing dry spell is making it difficult for some trainers to bring their winter horses back to the track, Kim Bailey has been firing on all cylinders in recent weeks, with seven winners from 23 runners over jumps in October equating to a 30 per cent strike-rate.

Destroytheevidence was one of that number, impressing on his first foray over the larger obstacles at Chepstow early last month.

The six-year-old also won three times over hurdles last season and finished second in a Grade Two novice at Cheltenham, and yet he always looked the sort to do even better over a fence.

With a 5-point rise for his Chepstow win allowing him to slot in at the top of the weights for this 0-135 contest and good ground in his favour, Destroytheevidence should prove hard to beat.

Listentoyourheart is difficult to oppose in the CSP Mares' Novices' Hurdle.

After winning a Sedgefield bumper on her debut, Dan Skelton's charge went on to fill runner-up spot behind Diva Luna in Listed company before finishing a creditable fifth behind the same high-class mare in a Grade Two at Aintree.

It was no surprise to see Listentoyourheart justify skinny odds on her hurdling bow at Market Rasen, but you could only be impressed by the way she put her rivals to the sword from the front and came home with 21 lengths in hand.

She appears to have been found an excellent opportunity to double up in Berkshire.

The Skelton team may also find the target in the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle with the prolific Major Fortune.

The six-year-old won five races on the spin last season and was only narrowly denied the six-timer at Ayr in the spring.

He dispelled any notion that the handicapper had caught up with him when making a successful start to the new campaign over a shorter trip at Newton Abbot last week and connections have elected to turn him out quickly under a 7-point penalty.

Major Fortune has more on his plate against a couple of high-class operators in Monmiral and Emitom, but both of those horses have been off the track for a while, which may give the improving Skelton runner the edge.

James Owen is another trainer who has his string in excellent form and he looks set to add to his tally at Ludlow with Usuario Amigo.

A decent Flat performer with a mark in the mid-80s, the three-year-old made a perfectly respectable start to his jumping career when second to a fair yardstick in Model Approach at Kempton last month.

He will not need to improve much on that performance to go one better in the Welcome To Pontesbury Tractors Juvenile Hurdle.

Wendigo is the pick in the Pontesbury Tractors Case Ih Red Power 'Introductory' Hurdle.

Favourite-backers had their fingers burnt when this dual bumper winner made his hurdling debut at Hexham four weeks ago, but he did not do much wrong in being beaten a length into second place.

Jamie Snowden steps the Great Pretender gelding up in trip in Shropshire and it looks a wise move.

Race The Wind can notch a third win from four starts for Charlie Appleby in the Boost Your Acca At BetMGM Fillies' Handicap at Southwell, while Newcastle punters are advised to side with with One Eye Jack, who takes a sizeable drop in grade for the BetMGM: It's Showtime Novice Stakes after finishing down the field in a valuable sales race at ParisLongchamp last time out. - Press Association

TAB is betting on 5 UK meetings on Thuursday. Here are the tips.

SOUTHWELL: Race 1: 13.40 Better, Race 2: 14.15 At No Time, Race 3: 14.50 Apache Canyon, Race 4: 15.25 Novak, Race 5: 16.00 Del Ray, Race 6: 16.35 War Supremo, Race 7: 17.10 Race The Wind, Race 8: 17.45 First Dynasty.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 14.30 Schmilsson, Race 2: 15.05 L’Astronome, Race : 15.40 DESTROYTHEEVIDENCE (NAP), Race 4: 16.17 Listentoyourheart, Race 5: 16.52 Major Fortune, Race 6: 17.27 Masaccio, Race 7: 18.02 Wandering Ego.

LUDLOW: Race 1: 14.40 Thank You Ma’am, Race 2: 15.15 Usuario Amigo, Race 3: 15.50 Ned Cash, Race 4: 16.25 Hollygrove Cha Cha, Race 5: 17.00 Wendigo, Race 6: 17.35 Rockinastorm, Race 7: 18.10 Frontier Prince.

NEWCASTLE: Race 1: 16.10 Keen Interest, Race 2: 16.45 Tickets, Race 3: 17.20 One Eye Jack, Race 4: 17.55 Pivotal Days, Race 5: 18.30 True Promise, Race 6: 19.05 Darlo Pride, Race 7: 19.40 Alpine Sierra, Race 8: 20.15 Fircombe Hall.

CHELMSFORD: Race 1: 18.55 Bouvier, Race 2: 19.30 Lady Wingalong, Race 3: 20.00 Capricorn King, Race 4: 20.30 Kentucky River, Race 5: 21.00 Switchel, Race 6: 21.30 Twilight Fun, Race 7: 22.00 Maid In Chelsea, Race 8: 22.30 Hat Toss.

DOUBLE: Destroytheevidence and Listentoyourheart (Newbury, Races 3 and 4).