Newbury Placepot picks: Tom Collins shares his perm for the midweek card

An 11-runner three-year-old hurdle (12.20) wouldn't be high on a regular Placepot punter's shortlist to open a card, but that is the hand we have been dealt at Newbury. This certainly isn't a race for a banker.

Alan King has won this race three times in the last ten years, as well as saddling the 2017 runner-up, so Forever William warrants inclusion despite being an eight-race maiden on the Flat. One Journey, who was rated 100 in that sphere, has to go in too.

There's also limited form on offer in the following maiden hurdle (12.50), but I'm happy to bank on likely odds-on favourite I Am Maximus, who beat My Drogo on debut. The return to a left-handed track should suit.

Recent Exeter winner Beatthebullet and the well-handicapped I K Brunel are chosen in the novice handicap chase (1.25). While three-time Listed winner Chilli Filli and the highly talented Silver Forever stand out in the feature mares' chase (2.00).

I was tempted to bank on Wonderwall in the 2m4½f novice hurdle (2.35), but that would have been unnecessarily risky off a layoff. Add in Guardino.

Nobody wants to crash out in the final leg, so play it safe by selecting three of the four runners in the 2m handicap chase (3.05). The prolific Darling Du Large, returning Le Coeur Net and bottomweight Only Money complete the perm.

Newbury Placepot perm

12.20
5 Forever William
11 One Journey

12.50
7 I Am Maximus

1.25
3 Beatthebullet
5 I K Brunel

2.00
1 Chilli Filli
7 Silver Forever

2.35
5 Guardino
11 Wonderwall

3.05
1 Darling Du Large
2 Le Coeur Net
4 Only Money

2x1x2x2x2x3 = 48 lines

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