Unexposed hurdler can extend margin of victory over Chepstow rival

Tea Clipper
1.50 Newbury
Buy at 4.25 in a match with Flash The Steel

Although Flash The Steel and Tea Clipper boast identical ratings of 141, it is hard not to believe the latter is by far the best treated and could prove a cut above his more experienced foe.

Despite Tea Clipper being in the infancy of his career after just five starts, he has already been set a tough task in the Grade 3 Silver Trophy, in which he fended off Flash The Steel by two and a quarter lengths in gritty fashion.

Given the latter is 4lb better off for that defeat, making a case for him reversing the form on paper is simple. But Tea Clipper is the one worth marking up given he hit the front plenty soon enough and was involved in a brawl with Sir Psycho and Beaufort West some way from home.

He fended those rivals off before handling the second wave with similar ease and suggested that he would relish this step up in trip. The galloping nature of the track will play to his strengths, while Flash The Steel is returning off just a seven-day absence after a heavy fall at Haydock.

The shape of the race suggests being too far off the early gallop may prove to be a disadvantage and I predict the forward-going Tea Clipper will extend his margin of victory over Flash The Steel.

1.50 Newbury
Sporting (50-30-20-10): 19-22 Tea Clipper, 11-14 On The Wild Side, 10-13 Champagne Platinum, 9-12 Flash The Steel, Amour De Nuit, 8-11 Christopher Wood, 7-9 Rathhill, Howling Milan, 6-8 Jacamar, 5-7 Colonial Dreams, Hang In There, 2-4 Lord Lamington.

Match bet: Tea Clipper/Flash The Steel 2.75-4.25

2.25 Newbury
Sporting (50-25-10): 23-26 Marie's Rock, 12-15 Milkwood, 10-13 Thyme White, Botox Has, 8-11 Sebastopol, Floressa, 2-4 The Pink'n, Miller's Bank, Pisgah Pike.

Match bet: Milkwood/Botox Has 0.25-1.75

3.00 Newbury
Sporting (50-30-20-10[5 for buyers only]): 10-13 Vinndication, 9-12 Aye Right, 8-11 Kildisart, Black Op, The Conditional, Copperhead, 7-9 Secret Investor, 6-8 Two For Gold, Cloth Cap, 4-6 Beware The Bear, Mister Malarky, Potterman, 3-5 La Bague Au Roi, Danny Whizzbang, 2-4 Regal Encore, Ardlethen, 1-3 Ballyoptic, 0.5-2 The Hollow Ginge.

Match bet: Vinndication/Aye Right 0-1.5

3.35 Newbury
Sporting (50-25-10): 22-25 Moonlighter, 17-20 Ibleo, 9-12 The King Of May, 8-11 Zanza, Hatcher, Western Miller, 6-8 The Russian Doyen, 3-5 Marracudja.

Match bet: Moonlighter/Ibleo 0-1.5

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