Newbury nap March 5: Gotta love Amour De Nuit at Newbury
Paul Nicholls Hat
The feature on a very good Newbury card on Saturday, March 5 is the Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (13:50) and that’s where Planet Sport’s Jonathan Doidge turns to provide his pick of the day.
A hugely competitive field of ten goes to post for the Greatwood, over a 2m4f trip. One who comes here in very good form is Amour De Nuit, trained by Paul Nicholls and ridden by Bryony Frost.
This 10-year-old returned two good placed efforts at Chepstow, and over Saturday's C&D, in the autumn. He then went on to win a good Musselburgh handicap chase over a similar trip on New Year's Day, when he finished 8l clear of Nietzsche.
That form looks solid enough, with the third having improved next time. Also to factor in here is trainer Nicholls' brilliant record in this race. He's won five of the last eight renewals and so you have to take anything he saddles here very seriously.
He's at his best on good or good to soft ground and with no significant rain forecast before the off, the current 'soft' may dry out a little and be spot on for him.
Either way, he looks to have a great chance and I'm siding with Amour De Nuit in the 13.50 at Newbury on Saturday.
