OLGB Spring Cup: Metal Merchant to Steel a March on the Field at Newbury

Fascinating action this weekend as Newbury kicks off its 2025 flat season in fine style. Mick Hinchcliffe takes his view on another fine weekend of action on the turf.

Newbury Spring Cup PreviewMick Hinchcliffe

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Newbury kicks off its 2025 flat season in fine style with an intriguing card comprising a mixture of what are sure to be informative maidens as well as trials for three year old colts and fillies: the Greenham and Fred Darling stakes respectively, the 2011 running of the Greenham incidentally being won by no less than Frankel. The impressive card starts with the Group Three John Porter stakes. A good day's racing.

Our attention is focused on the OLGB Spring Handicap run over a distance of one mile. Curiously this years edition is being contested over the round course. Following hot on the heels of the Lincoln Handicap the Newbury Spring Cup is another early season major handicap highlight and is always a ferociously competitive affair and a tricky puzzle for punters and this time is no different. METAL MERCHANT can land this years prize. A five-year-old gelding the son of Make Believe was highly tested in group three company at times in his two and three year old career before landing this very same race as a four-year-old last year, beating Goodwinson - who won the Lincoln this year by half a length. Trained by Jack Channon from his historic West Ilsley base and due to be ridden by David Probert, he put in solid performances in big handicaps including a fourth in the international Stakes at Ascot and a seventh in the Royal Hunt Cup.

Reportedly moving well on the gallops and generally a 13/2 chance across most firms METAL MERCHANT can help pay for next weeks' Easter Eggs !