The ITV cameras are out once again on Saturday with a bumper offering of 10 televised races to look forward to from Kelso, Newbury and Doncaster.
Kelso’s race of the day is the £120,000 Morebattle Hurdle at 3.30 and Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup at 3.45 also shouldn’t be missed.
Our racing expert has taken a good look at all 10 races and picked out some strong fancies to follow, including a fascinating Irish raider in the main event at Kelso.
By Luke Weaser-Seychell
1.10 Kelso – bet365 Handicap Chase (2m1f)
It could be a good day for Team Skelton and REAL STONE is expected to get them off to the perfect start at Kelso. The 10-year-old remains somewhat lightly raced for his age and he returned to winning ways in good style at Wetherby last time out. A 6lb rise will obviously make life harder but he should be capable of running another big race, with the drop back in trip unlikely to cause any issues.
- Selection: Real Stone @ 7/4 with Betfred
1.20 Newbury – BetVictor Super Boost Has Arrived Veterans’ Handicap Chase (3m2f)
CLOUDY GLEN is an enigmatic character but also a talented horse when on a going day. He had one of those on seasonal debut at Haydock in December, winning a similar race in good style off a 2lb lower mark. There are never any guarantees with this horse but that means you can often get some value and he’s more than capable of outrunning his odds.
- Selection: Cloudy Glen @ 10/1 with Betfred
1.45 Kelso – bet365 Premier Chase (Listed, 2m7½f)
It looked like GREY DAWNING was going to be Britain’s great Gold Cup hope after his Turners Novices’ Chase success at last year’s Cheltenham Festival, but it hasn’t quite gone to plan so far this season. His second to course specialist Royale Pagaille on seasonal debut was a cracking effort and a reproduction of that form would make him very hard to beat here.
- Selection: Grey Dawning @ 8/13 with Betfred
2.05 Doncaster – Livescore Bet Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed, 3m½f)
Irish trainer Liam Kenny may have found the perfect opportunity for WORLD OF FORTUNES, as the seven-year-old is the only Listed class performer in the field. She won a Listed race over 2m5f at Limerick back in October and a similar effort here should be more than enough. There are no Final Demand’s in this field, making this a significantly easier task than her last one; a Grade 1 at the Dublin Racing Festival.
- Selection: World Of Fortunes @ 6/4 with Betfred
2.20 Kelso – bet365 Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
The progressive ACE OF SPADES took the step up to an extended 2m6f in his stride when running out a comfortable winner of a novice hurdle here under a penalty last time out. Lightly raced over hurdles, he makes his handicap debut here and an opening mark of 123 could prove to be very generous if continuing on his current trajectory.
- Selection: Ace Of Spades @ 2/1 with Betfred
2.40 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase (2m½f)
Ann Hamilton’s TOMMY’S OSCAR won a competitive Listed event at Ayr in April off 152 and currently finds himself on a 3lb higher mark. He was beaten by a couple of smart sorts when third at Kelso last time out and should be capable of running a big race here. Peter Kavanagh takes a further 3lb off and that can only help his chances.
- Selection: Tommy’s Oscar @ SP with Betfred
2.55 Kelso – bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m2f)
CASTLE CARROCK didn’t look like the easiest of rides when pulling his way to the front in a bumper at Ayr on debut but that didn’t stop him from bolting up by 16 lengths. He got the better of Grade 2 bumper winner Diva Luna on his first start for Alan King over hurdles at Sandown and that performance suggests he has a significant amount of potential.
- Selection: Castle Carrock at 5/1 with Betfred
3.15 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (3m2f)
This race used to be a fairly strong form pointer for the Grand National but we’re unlikely to find the winner of Aintree’s showpiece here. WEVEALLBEENCAUGHT got off the mark at the 10th time of asking over fences here last month and it was a career-best effort. An 8lb rise isn’t massively generous but if he can find a little more improvement, a follow up victory could be on the cards.
- Selection: Weveallbeencaught @ 6/1 with Betfred
3.30 Kelso – bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (2m)
There’s a substantial bonus on offer for any horse that can win this race and follow up at Cheltenham and Emmet Mullins has achieved the feat before with the Shunter back in 2021. VISCHIO is going the right way and after winning at the Dublin Racing Festival last time out, she’s a mare on the up. Life will be harder now running off a mark of 133 but Mullins would have planned this bid to perfection and the Irish raider should prove hard to beat.
- Selection: Vischio @ 3/1 with Betfred
3.45 Newbury – BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (2m4f)
Paul Nicholls’ BEAU BALKO tends to run his race more often than not and he has finished runner-up here twice already this season. A cosy winner at Wincanton under Ben Bromley back in November, he’s been competitive off a 4lb higher mark since and should be in the mix once again. Harry Cobden prefers Kandoo Kid but one would imagine that’s with a view to the Grand National in April.
- Selection: Beau Balko @ 16/1 with Betfred
