Horse Racing Tips: Dascombe dynamo fancied to prove Hot stuff at Newbury

• It's all about the Bass in feature hurdle

• Phantom taken to make his Point

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Newbury, 15.20 - Back Hot Fuss each-way @ 12/113.00

With at least four confirmed front-runners in the field, this race has the potential to be run at a true end-to-end gallop.

Bucephalus won't die wondering under regular rider Harriet Tucker, while the likes of Tutti Quanti, Wellington Arch and Un Sens A La Vie all like to race handily and dominate.

This event has favoured the front runners before so it wouldn't be a huge surprise if the speed held up and one of the quartet were good enough to hold on, but if Hot Fuss is allowed to gain a tow into the race like he was in a valuable Windsor handicap then he could be poised to run another huge race.

Last year's Fred Winter fourth was ridden ultra aggressively on his penultimate start at Sandown and paid for those exertions late on by fading into fourth courtesy of a tired effort at the last hurdle.

Ridden with a touch more restraint at the Thameside venue, Tom Dascombe's five-year-old appeared to benefit from the patience and wasn't burnt out when asked to challenge three hurdles from home.

From that point, he galloped on remorselessly to see off Wilful, himself a handsome winner of a valuable pre-Christmas handicap when well fancied.

That form looks strong and Hot Fuss, a tough and genuine stayer from the flat, could supplement that Windsor success here under a 5lb penalty.

Warwick, 16.10 - Back Phantomofthepoints @ 9/25.50

On the face of it, Phantomofthepoints was a little disappointing last time in the race won at Haydock last month by Dalston Lad.

Considering he had previously tried to make all the running in a similar affair in November only to give way late when the likes of Electric Mason and Hartington came at him, his fourth place finish, beaten 17 lengths was a shade underwhelming.

The eight-year-old drops in trip here and that could prove the catalyst to a better showing as might the better form of David Pipe's horses who were a touch subdued in the first three weeks of 2026 until Eton Mes and River Run Free put some respectively on his strikerate with victories.

February wins for Harkey's Pride and Gold In The Rivers confirmed the west country trainer is ticking over nicely and a positive ride over this shorter trip could be ideal for the Mount Nelson gelding who admittedly holds no secrets from the handicapper but does at least operate on deep ground.

Lingfield, 16.40 - Back Al Shahab @ 4/15.00

I was keen on the chances of Al Shahab in a similar course and distance handicap to this last month, only for him to be sadly withdrawn with a cut leg.

The Saxon Warrior makes his return in a handicap reminscent of that event today and can reward the patience of connections with another Lingfield success.

The selection caught the eye with a fine effort in a relatively warm race for the grade at Wolverhampton last time where he was sandwiched in second by two subsequent winners in the Al Baahy and third-home Relevant Range.

He was forced pretty wide on the home turn that night which affected his challenge so in the circumstances he did well to get involved with the winner later as his conqueror enjoyed the perfect trip under Billy Loughnane. 

Steel can prove punters' Ally at Warwick

It is the third weekend of Betfair's terrific "Bet £10 Get £10 on racing multiples" promotion so I'm going to have a double which could pay nicely at Warwick.

Hollygrove Cha Cha (13.15) could be some value to overturn hot favourite Jubilee Alpha in the Listed Mares' Hurdle with the ground deteriorating, while Steel Ally (13.50) could prove the answer in the Kingmaker Novices' Chase as his jumping has looked brilliant to date over fences and he should see the trip out strongly given his confirmed stamina over further.

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