Today on Sky Sports Racing: Arkle favourite Lulamba tackles open company for first time on Super Saturday at Newbury
Welcome to Super Saturday! We have a top-class National Hunt card to enjoy from Newbury this afternoon, headlined by Lulamba taking on open company in the Game Spirit Chase; classy pair Haiti Couleurs and L'Homme Presse lock horns in the Grade Two William Hill Denman Chase
Thursday 5 February 2026 16:11, UK
Lulamba will aim to underline his Cheltenham Festival credentials when he faces open company for the first time in the Game Spirit Chase at Newbury on Super Saturday, live on Sky Sports Racing.
2.45 Newbury - Arkle favourite Lulamba takes on open company
All eyes will be on Arkle favourite Lulamba as he tackles open company for the first time in the Grade Two William Hill Game Spirit Chase at Newbury.
Nicky Henderson's star novice chaser arrives unbeaten in two starts over fences and impressed with the way he saw off Be Aware to land the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown in December. He should take all the beating here before heading to Cheltenham next month.
Saint Segal looks the chief threat for Jane Williams and Ciaran Gethings. A six-time winner over fences, he has risen through the grades and was not disgraced when runner-up behind Thistle Ask at Kempton over Christmas. The winner ran a cracker in the Clarence House next time, so the form has a solid feel to it.
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Last year's winner and runner-up return with Master Chewy and Libberty Hunter both having place claims. The former might struggle to concede weight all round, while Libberty Hunter will need to jump with more fluency if he is to trouble the judge.
2.10 Newbury - Top chasers Haiti Couleurs and L'Homme Presse clash
Classy pair Haiti Couleurs and L'Homme Presse lock horns in the Grade Two William Hill Denman Chase.
Rebecca Curtis' stable star, Haiti Couleurs has been fantastic over fences, winning five of his seven starts including when dominating the Welsh Grand National on his last outing. Freshened up since then, he skipped the Dublin Racing Festival, and this looks an ideal fit for this previous course winner.
L'Homme Presse will concede 2lb to the likely favourite but cannot be ruled out after showing he retains all his enthusiasm at Cheltenham last month. Beaten just three-quarters of a length, he rates a huge danger providing this does not come too soon.
Leave Of Absence is a course and distance winner but may have to settle for bronze, while Riskintheground could be playing for prize money.
3.20 Newbury - Let It Rain and All In You contest competitive feature
A typically competitive and intriguing field of 16 will assemble for the valuable William Hill Hurdle with Let It Rain heading the market for the Dan Skelton team.
Unbeaten in two bumper runs, she has steadily improved over hurdles and caught the eye with the way she travelled when just failing to get her head in front at Ascot in December. A 4lb rise looks fair and she looks poised for a big run under Harry Skelton.
All In You ran out a convincing winner at Sandown to make it three wins over hurdles and he should appreciate the soft conditions as he heads up in grade.
The Twiston-Davies yard has a good record in this contest and Ludlow winner Un Sens A La Vie must be considered, while The Hardest Geezer is the pick at more lucrative prices.
Best of the rest
Also at Newbury, the Skelton-trained Kadstral takes on Sober Glory and Fantasy World in the opening William Hill Racing Epic Boosts Novices' Hurdle at 1pm before A Pai De Nom and Below The Radar feature in the 1.35pm William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle.
The end of the Berkshire card is also well worth a watch, with Jig's Forge appearing to be the one to beat in the William Hill Cheltenham Non-Runner Money Back Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at 3.35pm. Itseemslikeit chases the hat-trick in this one, as does Emma Lavelle's Silver Thorn.
The Listed William Hill Racing Bet Builder Beacons finale (4.30pm) was won last year by Sober Glory and features some nice types this term - namely No Walkover and Risky Obsession.
Elsewhere, Silkie Wilkie and Lazzar headline Lingfield's feature Daily Profit Boosts At betmgm.co.uk Handicap (3.35pm) before attention turns overseas to the Abu Dhabi Gold Cup at 4pm. There's plenty of British interest here, with Jonquil and Comanche Brave well in the mix.
7.30 Southwell - Listed Tandridge Stakes where the last two winners of this clash as Tyrrhenian Sea and Dear My Friend return.
