Graeme Rodway's play of the day at Newbury

Javert Allen

It’s always a treat when Newbury appears on the fixture list in the middle of the week and the best bet on the card is Javert Allen, who is fancied to land the 2m½f handicap chase (2.25).

The lightly raced five-year-old had useful form over hurdles last year but looked better than ever when sent chasing on his reappearance after a 323-day absence at Chepstow last month.

Javert Allen jumped well and made virtually all under a top weight of 12st, comfortably seeing off runner-up Lucky Lugger from the final fence with the front two pulling 14 lengths clear of the rest. A 5lb rise in the weights for that win doesn’t look harsh.

The form also has a solid look as the second and third have run well in defeat since, and Javert Allen is entitled to improve significantly for the run given it was his first for so long.

This is a stronger race, but he gets weight from some exposed rivals and can follow up.