KADASTRAL IN POLE POSITION TO COLLECT AT NEWBURY

By Ashley Iveson, Press Association

Dan and Harry Skelton can land the Best Odds Guaranteed Still At BetVictor Maiden Hurdle with Kadastral at Newbury.

The five-year-old won the Goffs Hundred Grand Bumper here in the spring and there was plenty of encouragement to be taken from his hurdling bow at Chepstow in early November.

Although no match for the high-class Sober Glory in Monmouthshire, Kadastral was 14 lengths clear of the remainder and he has every chance of going one better.

Lucky Place is given a second chance to prove his worth over fences in the Hooorrrraaaayyyy It's Christmas Queens Arms 'Chasing Excellence' Beginners' Chase.

A dual Grade Two winner over hurdles, Nicky Henderson's charge ran a peculiar race on his chasing debut at Ascot last month, looking the likely winner turning for home before stopping quickly and then rallying on the run-in.

While his defeat was disappointing, he was only beaten five lengths at a time when the Seven Barrows string were not firing on all cylinders and it subsequently transpired he had scoped dirty after the race.

The Henderson team appear in better form now and Lucky Place needs to be winning a race like this if he is going to make the grade over the larger obstacles.

There will surely be some long faces at the Twiston-Davies yard if Un Sens A La Vie is unable to make the most of what looks a gilt-edged opportunity to get back on the winning trail at Ludlow.

The £180,000 purchase looked a possible graded horse in the making when winning on his hurdling debut at Market Rasen, but he disappointed as favourite for a Grade Two at Cheltenham just 10 days later.

He is perhaps better judged on his most recent effort when he finished second at Kempton to Old Park Star, who did that form no harm when dotting up at Cheltenham last week.

There does not appear to be anything of his calibre in the Tanners Cava EBF ``National Hunt'' Novices' Hurdle and even with a 6lb penalty Un Sens A La Vie is difficult to oppose.

Mersea Island looks to continue his good form in the Make The Move To Midnite Handicap at Lingfield.

The three-year-old has won two of his last three starts for Charlie Johnston, with a narrow defeat sandwiched in between, and he was value for more than the winning margin of four lengths at Wolverhampton last time.

With that in mind it is no surprise to see him turned out quickly under a penalty and he can strike again whilst the iron is hot.

The Roger Varian-trained Aqpan was probably unfortunate to bump into smart-looking Godolphin newcomer Hidden Force on his Kempton debut a couple of weeks ago and he can confirm that promise on his return to the Sunbury circuit for the Unibet Supports Safer Gambling EBF Novice Stakes.

Top tips for today’s UK meetings

TAB is betting on 4 UK meetings today. Here are the tips.

*Starzand declared a non-runner

LINGFIELD: Race 1: 13.05 Come To Pass, Race 2: 13.35 Counsel, Race 3: 14.05 Blue Nguru, Race
4: 14.35 Spirit Of Athene, Race 5: 15.05 Free Your Spirit, Race 6: 15.35 Enpassant, Race 7: 16.10
Mersea Island, Race 8: 16.45 Impulse Buy, Race 9: 17.20 Villalobos.

NEWBURY: Race 1: 13.53 Lucky Place, Race 2: 14.23 Nelson Gate, Race 3: 14.53 Kadastral, Race
4: 15.23 STARZAND (NAP), Race 5: 15.58 Torneo, Race 6: 16.33 Fine Casting, Race 7: 17.08
Saxons Pride.

LUDLOW: Race 1: 14.13 Un Sens A La Vie, Race 2: 14.43 Authoceltic, Race 3: 15.13 Pottersville,
Race 4: 15.45 Neon Moon, Race 5: 16.20 Ghost Dancing, Race 6: 16.55 Regal Renaissance, Race
7: 17.30 High Tea.

KEMPTON: Race 1: 18.05 Westcombe, Race 2: 18.40 Veritable, Race 3: 19.10 Aqpan, Race 4:
19.40 So Darn Hot, Race 5: 20.10 Shader, Race 6: 20.40 Dosman, Race 7: 21.10 Maid In Chelsea,
Race 8: 21.40 Vitalline, Race 9: 22.10 Mintana.

DOUBLE: Kadastral and Starzand (Newbury, Races 3 and 4).

For fields, race betting and more information go to www.tab.co.za