Stayer can roll back the years and repeat previous course win

Brave Eagle
1.50 Newbury
2pts winEmperor’s Choice
2.10 Haydock
1pt each-wayKnockanrawley
2.25 Newbury
2pts winGranville Island
2.45 Haydock
1pt each-wayPoetic Rhythm
3.00 Newbury
1pt winTHE West Country air hasn’t been kind to some of the top yards in the area this month and the powerhouses of Philip Hobbs, Colin Tizzard and David Pipe have between them trained 87 consecutive losers.

It is 22 days since Pipe had a winner (39 runs), 21 for Hobbs (24) and 13 for Tizzard (22) and while it is probably no more than a short-term blip, it doesn’t fill you with encouragement for punting.

All three are represented in the Betfred Mandarin Handicap Chase (2.25) at Newbury and Pipe’s Daklondike, in particular, would be of serious interest if the stable were in better form.