Adieu Can Make Bold Bid At Newbury

Katachenko was in the process of running a decent race for us at Ayr earlier but unfortunately he took a heavy fall just as the race was beginning to take shape. It was too soon to tell if he would have played a part at the finish but he was travelling as well as anything at the time he tipped up. At least he was none the worse for the mishap and he lives to fight another day.
 

Richard Hughes has started the season well.

The one I like on Saturday goes in the closing 10f handicap at Newbury and I think Bid Adieu looks extremely well handicapped for Richard Hughes with Shane Kelly in the saddle. This lightly raced 4yo son of Pour Moi was switched from Venetia Williams to Hughes after a couple of poor runs over hurdles and it could prove to be a wise move.

He made his debut for his new yard in an 8f handicap at Southwell off a mark of 78 a couple of weeks ago and he ran well to be 3rd given he travelled very wide throughout. However, I think he is best judged on his last run over 10f on the level at Dundalk when he proved 1.5L too good for Clear Skies, a horse he was conceding 2lb to.

Clear Skies won five of her next six starts and she is now rated 96 on the all weather and 107 on turf. The third home Nivvo has since won two races at Dundalk while the 4th home Financial Conduct has also won twice since, including a handicap by 3L off 88 last time out. Bid Adieu raced without a hood that day and it is discarded again on his return to the turf.

He has only run once on turf before (12.5f soft), on debut at Tipperary, and he ran a cracker to be 2nd behind Squire’s Tale. Solo Saxophone and Brazos finished 3rd and 4th and they proved there was substance to the form by filling the first two places in a maiden next time at Listowel. Brazos is now rated 88 and he was beaten just 4L off that mark at Naas last time.

So, on that evidence I think that Bid Adieu looks very well handicapped off a mark of 78 and his yard is in superb form at the moment. Richard Hughes has two winners and four places from his last 13 runners and he will be desperate to get his first winner at Newbury. The hood worn last time at Southwell is off, he should appreciate the slight ease in the ground and at odds of 33/1 he has to be worth chancing each way.

STEVOS’ SELECTION: 5.30 NEWBURY-BID ADIEU E/W @ 33/1