Newbury Saturday

NEWBURY staged a two-day meeting last Friday and Saturday, and it was largely low-key stuff, with just the Grade 3 BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup providing action at pattern level.

The big race looked competitive, but turned into a procession as Paint The Dream romped to a 15-length win for Fergal O’Brien and Connor Brace, son of the gelding’s owner/breeder, David Brace.

Winning mark

The winner, an 8/1 chance, has shown a liking for this course before, and benefited from being dropped to his last winning mark to score again.

The winning margin would suggest that he can score again, but the handicapper has raised him 10lb for that, and he has found similar marks beyond him in the past, so may not be easy to place, for all he could enjoy the challenge of the Topham Trophy over the Grand National fences.