Ben Jones Saturday rides blog: 'Hopefully we can go and do a bit of nicking'

Ben Jones has five rides at Newbury on Saturday, November 29, 2025. The Ladbrokes ambassador previews them all in his latest blog.

• Leader In The Park - Newbury - 12:30 race odds

• Kalkbrenner - Newbury - 1.05 race odds

• Personal Ambition - Newbury - 1.40 race odds

• Pic Roc - Newbury - 2.55 race odds

• General Medrano - Newbury - 3.35 race odds

12.30 - Newbury - Leader In The Park 

Leader In The Park was part of a very special Boxing Day at Kempton for me last year - I really like this horse, he jumps brilliantly and is fit and ready to go. He was good in his novice campaign, then he went off the boil a little bit and then last year he just started seeing out his races a lot better and we had a bit of success with him. 

We just allowed him to get on with it and get into stride because he's such an accurate jumper, I think he was just putting others under pressure. At Newbury, the big galloping track will suit him, I think. Obviously, this is his first one back and it looks like a decent race, but he'll be going in in good nick. He will come on for it, but he's definitely ready enough for the day as well, so hopefully he'll have a chance.

1.05 - Newbury - Kalkbrenner 

Kalkbrenner would probably be my best chance of a winner on Saturday. He's a lovely big horse who should go well in what's probably going to be a very decent race. I like him a lot - he's been working really well at home and we were hoping he'd go on and do what he did at Ffos Las last month, and I'd say he'll have come on both physically and mentally for that run. He seems to be a lot sharper at home, and if this little bit of rain comes like it's supposed to, then that would play in his favour.

1.40 - Newbury - Personal Ambition

I've got Personal Ambition next as Ben [Pauling] has chosen to put him in this handicap hurdle, which I'm not too disappointed about because he was really impressive when I rode him at Carlisle a few weeks back. He probably would have gone on to win that race were it not for a little mistake at a crucial stage there, just coming up that hill. If he hadn't have made that mistake, then I don't think he'd have been too far away at all. He strips a lot fitter for that first run back, and he seems to be another one who'll be a lot sharper for it. 

It's obviously a decent race, but hopefully he'll be there or thereabout, like he always is. Hopefully he's got a little chance here.

2.55 - Newbury - Pic Roc

Pic Roc is one who perhaps hasn't achieved quite what we thought he'd go and achieve... he was a very good novice hurdler, and then last year he was knocking on the door without winning anything. He then went and won the last time out around Huntingdon, and seemed to get his act together a little bit there. He jumped a lot better and travelled nicely... look, he's obviously been thrown in the deep end with this big race here, but if we have a bit of luck and ride that luck on the day, then we know he's got loads more ability than he's shown, so hopefully we can go and do a bit of nicking. 

This race is no stranger to an upset; when I won it a few years ago with De Rasher Counter, I think we were around 16/1. He's definitely got more ability than what he's shown and what he's done so far. But if you go back to his form as a novice, it's very, very strong. If everything clicks on Saturday, then hopefully he'll show his card here. There's definitely a lot more in his tank than what he's letting on, anyway. 

3.35 - Newbury - General Medrano

General Medrano is my last ride of the day, and I think he's got a very good chance here. He ran really well in his season reappearance at Ascot. He jumps well, and he loves a fast gallop. He'll take his time and won't show his card until late on here. I have won on him before at Newbury, last December - he's in brilliant form; I watched his gallop at Newbury last week and he was really cantering around there. If he's in the same form as he was last year - or even at Ascot last time out - then he'll have a good chance. 

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