There is another bumper ITV Racing offering this Saturday as they showcase live action from Kelso, Bangor-on-Dee and Newbury, with nine races set to be shown.
Kelso and Newbury provide the Premier action and while there’s no standout race, there is plenty of competitive action to look forward to.
Here we take a close look at all nine races set to be televised on ITV and pick out our strongest fancy in each.
1.15 Kelso – Ladbrokes ‘Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing’ Handicap Chase (3m2f)
Just shy of four miles was too far for CADELL last time out, but he comes back down in trip here and deserves another chance. He was an impressive winner of a novice chase over three miles at Wetherby in November, but found Grade 2 company a little too warm at Sandown after that. Lucinda Russell’s gelding has been dropped 4lb since his last run and this looks like a good opportunity.
Selection: Cadell @ 4/1 with Betfred
1.35 Bangor-on-Dee – Alfa Aggregates Products Handicap Hurdle (2m3½f)
THUNDER ROCK has struggled a little in graded company this season and the drop into handicap company could prove to be an inspired move. Lewis Saunders takes 7lb off here and that could make all the difference. Olly Murphy’s gelding brings the best form to the table here and looks like the one to beat with that in mind.
Selection: Thunder Rock @ 4/1 with Betfred
1.50 Kelso – Ladbrokes ‘Big-Value You Can Bet On’ Mares’ Hurdle (Listed, 3m½f)
The official ratings suggest that Henry Daly’s WYENOT should be coming out on top here and it’s hard to disagree with that point of view. She comfortably got the better of Ottizzini in a Listed contest at Doncaster in December and was far from disgraced when third behind Jetara in a Grade 2. The others have some way to go to reach that level and that’s why she gets the nod.
Selection: Wyenot @ 10/11 with Betfred
2.05 Newbury – Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m3f)
The progressive CALIMYSTIC got off the mark in good style at Doncaster last time out and an opening handicap mark of 118 looks pretty generous. Eased down late on, he had plenty in hand that day and his profile suggests further improvement could be on the cards.
Selection: Calimystic @ 8/1 with Betfred
2.25 Kelso – Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle (2m5f)
HARPER VALLEY is peaking at the right time and the eight-year-old returned to winning ways over 2m4f at Musselburgh last time out. The handicapper has responded to that career-best effort with a 5lb rise, which seems pretty fair, and it may not be enough to prevent the follow up.
Selection: Harper Valley @ 10/1 with Betfred
2.40 Newbury – BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase (2m4f)
MATTERHORN won easily over 2m3f in his novice hurdle days and you would imagine this 2m4f trip will be fine with that in mind. Decent ground is key to this horse and it seems likely that he’s going to get that here. Arriving off the back of a 140-day break, he should be nice and refreshed, so a return to winning ways could be on the agenda.
Selection: Matterhorn @ 11/1 with Betfred
3.00 Kelso – Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (2m)
SURREY BELLE is at the top of the weights here but there’s probably a good reason for that, as she won a novice hurdle by 57 lengths at Newcastle last time out. Winning over two miles before that, the drop back in trip shouldn’t be a problem and a mark of 121 shouldn’t be beyond her if turning up in the same form as last time.
Selection: Surrey Belle @ 5/1 with Betfred
3.15 Newbury – BetVictor British EBF “National Hunt” Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2, 2m4½f)
Nicky Henderson runs three here but it’s quite possible that Nico De Boinville has picked the wrong one. CRAZIERTHANDAISY took a couple of starts to get the hang of things but managed to get off the mark at Warwick last time, beating Come On Nia by two lengths. A handicap mark of 109 looks workable and her profile suggests she’s likely to progress again.
Selection: Crazierthandaisy at 9/1 with Betfred
3.35 Kelso – Ladbrokes ‘Boost Your Bet Builder’ Handicap Chase (2m1f)
FLASH DU PISTOLET got off the mark over fences at the seventh time of asking at Newcastle last time out and there could be more to come, provided there’s no issue with the drop in trip. There’s work to do in the jumping department, as he jumped to his right at times that day but it didn’t stop him and this looks like a pretty winnable race.
Selection: Flash Du Pistolet @ 11/4 with Betfred
