Wednesday tipping: Colour Squadron ready to bounce back

Racing comes from Newbury

Colour Squadron hasn’t quite lived up to the hype since impressing as a novice hurdler last season, today he has a chance to kick-start his chasing career.

The seven-year-old failed to shine his chase debut at Newbury last time out, but returning to the same track in the Betfred Double Delight Novices' Chase, he’s expected to go well.

Philip Hobbs’ charge hasn’t won since beating Montbazon in a maiden in December 2011 but he did go close in a Grade One at Punchestown when two lengths behind Dedigout.

The talent is unquestionably there so the hope is that his first run over fences was just unlucky considering the saddle slipped after the ninth fence. In all likelihood he wouldn’t have won anyway after making mistakes beforehand, but he made good headway towards the end to highlight his talent.

At 3.4 Colour Squadron looks the value in this race.

Later on the card in the very competitive Betfred Goals Galore Handicap Chase, Loch Ba looks a decent price.

Mick Channon’s seven-year-old has been in good form in his last two outings; winning at Kempton before finishing second in a good race at Ascot in November.

He was just half-a-length off the pace that day and with a rest now under his belt the gelding should be able to overcome a 3lbs rise in the ratings. His stamina and jumping are assured over three miles as is his ability to tackle soft ground.

Providing that the ground isn’t too tacky at Newbury, a price of 9.0 looks fair.

Philip Wicinski

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