Horse Power: Norman Fletcher can win the Betfair Hurdle at Newbury

NORMAN FLETCHER can win the Betfair Hurdle (Premier Handicap) (GBB Race) (3.15pm) at Newbury on Saturday afternoon.

Nigel Twiston Davies’ five-year-old can come out on top in the always-competitive and valuable handicap feature at the Berkshire track. Norman Fletcher looks to have been targeted at this two-mile contest by the Naunton stable who have won the race three times in the past decade with favourites Ballyandy (2017) and Al Dancer (2019) as well as similar outsider Splash Of Ginge exactly 10 years ago. Despite falling on his hurdling debut Norman Fletcher has been running well since, winning two and being runner-up twice in his four starts.

He broke his duck over obstacles when comfortably landing a maiden hurdle at Market Rasen before following up in even better style in a Novices’ Hurdle at Aintree Racecourse the following month. He lost nothing in defeat to Bertie’s Ballet in a similar contest at fellow Merseyside track, Haydock Park, over the Christmas period. He seems to be a reliable type and he looks to have a workable mark of 126 on his handicap debut. Norman Fletcher looks sure to run a big race under Sam Twiston-Davies and with a bit of luck can come out on top.

As ever with the Betfair there are plenty of others who have viable claims of success. Willie Mullins – fresh from winning every Grade One contest at the Dublin Racing Festival last weekend – is always feared and favourite Ocastle Des Mottes could easily be a class apart on his debut for the Irish champion trainer. But although he won at Auteuil for his former connections on his last start it is hard to really know whether he can land this. Just because of who is now trained by he is feared, while Ben Pauling’s recent Huntingdon winner Tellherth