Saturday Racing Tips at Newbury and Newcastle | Jake Price

I think that the favourite Imperial Saint is vulnerable here having been raised 10lbs for his latest win, and instead course specialist Issar d’Airy is surely the play.

This six-year-old has already won twice over C&D, including when beating Martator on Chase debut in December – but it was his return to action at Ascot last month when second to that rival who is now rated 151 which excites me most. That performance came at a time when Gary Moore’s runners were desperately needing their first runs, and it was also run on good ground which wouldn’t be his preference. Despite these factors however he ran a belter for second, and if coming on for the run he should really take all the beating here with conditions very much in his favour this time around.

I put up The Changing Man when he went to the Badger Beers earlier this month, and he didn’t do anything to dissuade me from giving him one more chance.

Al Dancer went off like a scalded cat and jumped them all silly that day, but our selection was best poised of the field in second place for the majority of the contest, until coming to grief at the 16th fence and taking a tumble. On his form this time last year however when splitting Stay Away Fay and Grey Dawning, he simply has to be well treated off his handicap rating of 130, and hopefully the Rehearsal can finally be the day that he puts it all together.

This is a competitive Handicap Hurdle, but I thought that Issam had strong each/way claims, as he looks like the type of Horse who will run his race.

Last season he came on massively for his opening effort to win at Exeter off a mark of 120, and he ended his campaign by beating Resplendent Grey (143 Chaser) over this trip at Wincanton. Returning to action in the Welsh Champion Hurdle, he ran an eye-catching race for fourth that day, and the form could not be stronger considering the first two were Lump Sum (143) and Steel Ally (143). If improving for that run like he did last year and most of Tom Symonds are this year, I think he can run another big race off his mark of 129 on Saturday.