Newbury Racing Tips for 12 February – who will take victory in Berkshire?

Today’s racing meet at Newbury sees several promising horses enter the fray – here’s who you could put your money on.

13:15 – Bravemansgame

One of Paul Nicholls’ star runners, Bravemansgame, gets an outing just a month before the Cheltenham festival, at a time where Nicholls’ runners are struggling for form.

This horse, however, should surely record success for the Ditcheat based trainer.

With entries in both the Brown Advisory Novices’ Chase and Turners Novices’ Chase at Cheltenham next month.

He will go off an odds-on favourite, but with good reason.

He has taken to fences brilliantly, showing a knack for taking fences cleanly and his travelling ability translating well to the bigger obstacles.

On top of all this, Bravemansgame is the only winner in the field at graded or listed level.

14:25 – Royale Pagaille

Venitia Williams’ yard has been in great form of late.

With eight winners out of 26 runners in the last 14 days, and highlight performances from Green Book and L’Homme Presse last week at Sandown represented a massive graded success for Williams and jockey Charlie Deutsch, yielding £180,000 prize money.

With Nicholls’ runners out of form, and Clan Des Obeaux the favourite coming off a tough run in the King George VI Chase on Boxing Day, there could be an upset here.

Royale Pagaille would probably like softer ground but was only beaten by Gold Cup favourite A Plus Tard last time he ran on this type of surface in a classy Betfair Chase.

Newbury also provides big fences and a flat running surface, which suits this horse down to the ground.

15:00 – Funambule Sivola

Another significant recent success for Venitia Williams yard was Funambule Sivola.

He ran out a gutsy winner off top weight last time out, ahead of Before Midnight who won a significant handicap at Cheltenham earlier this season.

He ran well on the good ground, and although this represents a step up in class he has run well against classy opposition before.

Last season at Aintree he ran out three lengths runner up behind Shishkin, the highest-rated horse in training.

With Sky Pirate yet to discover the winning form of last season, Hitman winless at the graded level and Sceau Royal coming off the back of a disappointing run over hurdles at Cheltenham last time out, this horse could grab another big win for Venitia Williams and Charlie Deutsch.

LUKE HAWKINS