Horse Racing Tips: Katie Midwinter's best bets on Monday including 50/1 Newbury pick

• Katie Midwinter has selections across the cards on a busy Monday

• Grey makes appeal in Leopardstown handicap

• Nicky Henderson-trained mare can land Newbury opener

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Newbury, 12:05 - Back Arclight @ 7/24.50

Nicky Henderson has a good record in this race in recent years, winning with Gran Luna in 2021 and saddling Spring Note to victory in 2023, only narrowly denied with Break My Soul, who was beaten a neck by Tour Ovalie in last year's renewal.

Arclight must defy top weight to return to winning ways in this opening contest, but holds leading claims under Nico de Boinville from a rating of 124.

The daughter of Champs Elysees drops in class on her return to hurdling, having finished second to Mount Tempest over fences at Worcester when last seen. She is 12lb lower rated over timber, and could be able to take advantage of her hurdling mark.

A dual Listed winner over fences, the six-year-old once finished second to Greyval in a Listed Doncaster contest over hurdles a few years ago, and has proven to possess plenty of ability since.

The Seven Barrows representative should have enough class to mount a threatening challenge and makes the most appeal.

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Doncaster, 13:35 - Back Fortescue @ 17/29.50

Experienced 11-year-old Fortescue has struggled to pose a serious threat in recent runs, but has performed with some credit including when fourth to Ask Brewster at Cheltenham in April. The strong stayer is effective on a sounder surface and should be suited by this challenge for Henry Daly. 

In his 40th start, Fortescue could be capable of posing a threat from a rating of 117, now 26lb lower than his last win, and makes appeal at the weights after a decent return at Ludlow. He may come on for his first run of the season, after a 231-day absence, and is one to note from a low rating, having shown he still possesses some ability.

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Newbury, 13:50 - Back Annual Invictus @ 6/17.00

Likeable veteran Annual Invictus should improve plenty for a return to action in deep waters at Newbury following a 581-day break. Should he take a step forward for that run behind Panic Attack, the 10-year-old holds leading claims if retaining ability from a mark of 140, 3lb lower than when narrowly denied by Minella Cocooner in the bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown on Jump Finale Day in 2024.

The Chris Gordon-trained contender has previously beaten Forward Plan in the Great Yorkshire Handicap Chase at Doncaster from a mark of 137. He'll be suited by the sounder conditions at Newbury and has previous winning form at the course.

The son of Mahler has amassed plenty of valuable experience throughout his career and has proven his credentials in big field handicaps. The yard remains in good form, as is the rider, and there's plenty of positives as he seeks a ninth career win.

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Leopardstown, 13:57 - Back Ho My Lord E/W @ 10/111.00

Still seeking a first win over fences as he makes his 12th start as a chaser, Ho My Lord is one to note for Padraig Roche from a rating of 120 with 4lb claiming Peter Smithers in the plate.

The seven-year-old makes appeal at the weights, holding solid claims if able to bounce back from a disappointing effort behind What's Up Darling at Clonmel when last seen. He had previously finished third at Kilbeggan over an intermediate distance, outpaced but staying on, following a fourth to Bal Kauto over 3m2f, sticking to the task well from the rear of the field. 

When trained by Willie Mullins earlier in his career, Ho My Lord shaped as a promising prospect with a few good efforts which included a second-placed finish to Il Etait Temps over fences at Thurles. He chased home Farren Glory on debut for his current yard, and, although he is winless since his maiden hurdle victory at Navan in February 2023, he appears on a mark from which he could finally strike over the larger obstacles in a race that should suit.

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Doncaster, 14:45 - Back Spike Jones @ 9/25.50

Eight-year-old gelding Spike Jones has impressed so far this season, putting in two competitive efforts at both Lingfield and Cheltenham. He was only narrowly denied by a tenacious Ikarak in his reappearance following a 296-day break, before outrunning odds of 14/115.00 to be denied only half-a-length by Titan Discovery at Prestbury Park.

Dropping in class in calmer waters here, Spike Jones could prove tough to beat from only a 2lb higher mark under 7lb claiming Benjamin Macey, making appeal at the weights and coming into the race in good form.

The Samuel Drinkwater-trained son of Walk In The Park has shown a good attitude this term and could make it third time lucky. He appears a horse worth keeping onside and warrants consideration at odds of 9/25.50.

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Leopardstown, 15:05 - Back Blue Mosque @ 7/18.00

Noel Meade-trained Blue Mosque is an interesting contender in this competitive extended two-and-a-half-mile handicap at Leopardstown.

The daughter of Berkshire is unexposed coming into the race on a mark of 127, and could prove better than her current rating, appearing potentially well treated at the weights under an in-form Sam Ewing. 

The five-year-old won both of her first two career starts before being well beaten by The Yellow Clay when upped into Grade Three company, but has since placed at Listed level and finished a creditable second to Kaid d'Authie when last seen at the Punchestown Festival.

She stuck to the task well on that occasion, pulling nine-lengths clear of third-placed Got Glory, with the likes of reopposing Fad Eadrainn, Saint Le Fort and Champagne Kid further behind, showing a good attitude and plenty of ability.

The winner, given a rating of 139 over hurdles, has since finished second on chasing debut to subsequent Grade One winning Kitzbuhel, a hugely impressive winner of the Kauto Star Novices' Chase at Kempton, with subsequent 15-length winner The Enabler, now rated 138 over fences, a further 11-lengths behind.

Blue Mosque also finished a length-and-quarter second to Cardcounter, a promising Cullentra prospect who recently finished third at Listed level and is rated 136, in a Navan novice event, again making eye-catching progress late on to mount her challenge.

She finished ahead of now 134-rated chaser Butch Cassidy and subsequent Grade Three winning novice chaser Ol Man Dingle, given a rating of 145 over fences, as well as C'est Ta Chance.

There's plenty of substance to her form and Blue Mosque remains unexposed in only her second handicap start from an unchanged mark of 127. Her previous appearance in handicap company was in a hugely competitive 18-runner Fairyhouse Listed contest in which she travelled best of all turning for home in a congested field.

That was a valuable experience from which she is entitled to improve and show further progression. It didn't pan out favourably for her, but she emerged with credit and can improve on that outing on this occasion.

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Kelso, 15:15 - Back Esprit Du Potier @ 13/27.50

Lucinda Russell and Michael Scudamore-trained Esprit Du Potier must emulate stablemate Idem, who landed the race twelve months ago, if he is to defy top-weight and claim a fifth career success in this extended 2m6f contest. The six-year-old grey must also bounce back from a pulled up effort at Haydock, but is in much calmer waters here from a 2lb lower mark, which should allow him to fare better. 

During his debut campaign in bumpers, the son of Montmartre shaped with plenty of potential, finishing second to Dino Bellagio on debut before winning successive Ayr bumpers by a combined distance of almost 10-lengths, including a convincing win over now 134-rated Slugger. 

The grey was then able to achieve a sixth-placed finish to Florida Dreams in a Grade Two Aintree bumper at the Grand National Festival, despite being sent off at a price of 33/134.00. He made it third time lucky over obstacles with a dominant maiden success at Ayr once again, and landed a novice hurdle by 26-lengths at Newcastle. 

However, following a Grade One appearance in the Mersey Novices' Hurdle won by Brighterdaysahead, he spent 567 days off track before returning in November with a fourth-placed finish to Nab Wood. He is yet to show he has retained ability but is a six-year-old making only his 13th career start. 

Considering the promise he has shown in the past, and having had a couple of runs back from which he is entitled to improve, this could be the time for Esprit Du Potier to resume his progress and return to form under Derek Fox.

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Newbury, 15:35 - Back Harsh E/W @ 50/151.00

Making his first appearance for Mickey Bowen in first-time blinkers, having changed hands for 30,000gns during the summer, previously owned by breeders Gigginstown House Stud, Harsh is one to note under champion jockey Sean Bowen, who landed the Welsh Grand National on Saturday.

The five-year-old son of Dark Angel shaped with potential for Joseph O'Brien earlier in his career, putting in a number of competitive efforts on the Flat and over hurdles, including finishing a brilliant fourth at odds of 40/141.00 in The Fred Winter at the Cheltenham Festival.

After winning a handicap hurdle from a rating of 119 under Danny Gilligan, he was transferred to Cullentra but failed to add to his two career successes for Gordon Elliott. Despite failing to win since May 2024, Harsh has caught the eye on occasion, emerging with credit when sixth to Al Gasparo on this day twelve months ago in a Listed Leopardstown handicap, before going on to finish a length-and-three-quarter second to the talented Mirazur West over fences at Cork.

He also managed a third-placed finish to Anyway in a Kilbeggan chase in June, and, although unable to build on that effort, remains a horse with potential, unexposed in his seventh chasing start.

With headgear added on the back of a break for new connections, Harsh shouldn't be discounted at a price of 50/151.00. The likeable grey remains open to further improvement and could make the frame at an each-way price.

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Newcastle, 17:15 - Back Pop Star E/W @ 15/28.50

From a mark of 78, five-year-old gelding Pop Star should be capable of posing a threat in his first start for Iain Jardine. He was only narrowly denied by Ziggy's Triton from the same rating at Musselburgh in August, before emerging with some credit in two runs since when third and fourth respectively, including when outrunning odds of 16/117.00 in his latest start at Windsor.

Earlier in the season, Pop Star was unfortunate to be beaten a nose by Parisiac in a Hamilton handicap from a 1lb lower mark, proving his credentials at that level from a higher rating despite being 7lb higher than his previous success and upped in class.

The son of Sioux Nation is yet to win in five starts on an all-weather surface but has been sparingly seen on all-weather tracks and was far from disgraced at Chelmsford and Wolverhampton in his first starts for his previous trainer after leaving Ballydoyle. He was once a 215,000gns Book 2 yearling before going into training with Aidan O'Brien, winning a maiden over subsequent Listed winner Yosemite Valley, gelded subsequently. 

Pop Star is on a workable mark from which he should be able to put in a bold bid if ready to rock on stable debut. He has proven his capabilities from a similar mark previously and makes appeal under Andrew Mullen.

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Now read Sam Turner's latest tips here!

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