Today's Horse Racing Tips: Time for Birchdale to come good at Newbury

Birchdale to make it third time lucky over fences

13:25 Newbury - Back Birchdale @ BSP

With a decent Novices' Handicap to look forward to on the Newbury card, it's time for Birchdale to finally come good over fences. And these Newbury ones do take a bit of technique, so he'll have to jump better than he did at Catterick after making an almighty blunder over the far side at the 12th - ploughing through the birch and unseating his rider.

He was a decent hurdler who ran in the Coral Cup from 146, Birchdale has come up short in two disappointing effots chasing so far, including that error at Catterick when he was turned over at 1.121/8 in the run.

But he's a gorgeous horse and a Grade 2 winning novice hurdler, and I expect a big run from Nicky Henderson's novice.

Trainer Philip Hobbs has two chase debutants, but I am am never keen backing those from the yard first time out over the larger ones, so I'll swerve on Dostal Phil and Le Ligerien and would be keen to take both on in the Place market.

Pipe's Panic can go on the attack

15:05 Newbury - Back Panic Attack @ BSP

David Pipe's Panic Attack holds an almost perfect record against her own sex and she is the one to beat judged on an easy win at the track last time. She was very impressive that day.

The mare absolutely dotted up in a similar course and distance mares' race by over five lengths with a series of good jumps, in particular three from home taking out several lengths from her rivals. She displayed an action that very much enjoyed soft ground too and tends to finish her races off well, and we saw that when she scored in a maiden hurdle at Uttoxeter.

Her blip this term came at Cheltenham, but she made an early error, however she's a sound jumper.