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ITV Racing Preview Saturday
GREAT DAY AHEAD on ITV Racing with the Betfair Chase taking centre stage from Haydock. We also having action from Ascot where we have two competitive Grade 2’s to get stuck into.
Make sure you scroll right down to the bottom to see any multiples we are placing. These can be added direct to your bet365 bet slip.
ITV Racing Saturday Schedule
1.50 Haydock Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m3f
2.05 Ascot Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase (Grade 2) 2m5f
2.25 Haydock Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) 3m1/2f
2.40 Ascot Coral Hurdle (Class 1) 2m31/2f
3.00 Haydock Betfair Chase (Grade 1) 3m11/2f
3.17 Ascot Coral Hurst Park Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m1f
3.35 Haydock My Odds Boost On Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m41/2f
3.50 Ascot Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (Class 4) 1m71/2f
ITV Racing 4/1 Offer
Back a winner at 4/1 or more and get a risk free bet on the next live ITV race (up to £50) at bet365. Offer applies to first single bet placed.
Applies to Win and Each-Way Fixed Odds markets and Enhanced Place Terms markets only. Bet restrictions and T&Cs apply. New and eligible customers only.
Haydock 1.50 Betfair Racing Only Bettor Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) (Class 2) 2m3f
Kid Commando ticks a lot of boxes here and I wouldn’t put you off but sometimes you have to let price dictate and at 7/2 in some places he just looks too short. I started trying to find one at a big price but realised that’s probably something you can’t force either so the one I’ve come down on is ARRIVEDERCI for Jonjo O’Neill. I remember this horse catching my eye behind Tea Clipper at Warwick and what he’s achieved since then is quite impressive. He failed to land a blow in a decent contest at Chepstow next start but was back on track chasing home Fiddlerontheroof at Sandown and then made the breakthrough over hurdles at Wincanton. He returned off a 301-day absence better than ever at Wetherby and remains open to improvement. This test can suit and with more to come 7/1 is just too big to pass up.
Shakeem Up’arry finished second to subsequent Supreme winner Shishkin at Newbury and made the most of a good opportunity when sent off the 4/9 fav on return at Ffos Las. He’ll need to improve plenty on that but should be feared as has potential as well. Others to note include Our Power for Nigel Twiston-Davies.
Ascot 2.05 Chanelle Pharma 1965 Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) 2m5f
Small field again for this race and it doesn’t look like it will be as testing as last year when Cyrname conquered Altior. Paul Nicholls has won the last two renewals but it is Kim Bailey’s IMPERIAL AURA who I think will win this. He has impressed on every run since going chasing and has improved each time. His win at the Festival was very good on the figures and he looked as good as ever on his comeback run winning at Carlisle. He should step forward again and take a lot of beating here. It’s no surprise to see him installed as favourite.
Real Steel is the highest rated horse in the race but it does sound like his target is the King George so will likely come on a lot from the run. Itchy Feet should give the selection most to think about if putting in an error-free round. He shaped as though needing it in the Old Roan and still has potential in this sphere.
Haydock 2.25 Betfair Exchange Stayers’ Handicap Hurdle (Grade 3) (GBB Race) 3m1/2f
I’m really keen on COLLOONEY at a price here. He is a classy animal and he impressed me on return winning cosily at Fontwell. He can improve from that and remains unexposed over staying trips so I can see him travelling strongly into it before hopefully picking them up under a quiet ride. If it becomes a slog that probably won’t suit him so he’ll want them to go hard throughout.
The Jam Man didn’t put a foot wrong last time and ran out an impressive winner. He has a career-high mark back hurdling now and while the market is taking now chances with him I do think he’s opposable at around 5/1. Relegate is interesting in first-time headgear but Imperial Alcazar is probably the one I fear most as he will relish this trip.
Ascot 2.40 Coral Hurdle (Registered As The Ascot Hurdle) (Grade 2) 2m31/2f
An even smaller field for this race with just 3 set to go to post. It is a tough one to call on paper with question marks over all of the runners. I will be siding with CALL ME LORD who has had a prep run for this and although he needs to bounce back from that run he should go very close. He lost by half a length last year when looking the most likely winner without a prep-run so significant improvement is expected.
Laurina gets a lot of weight from her rivals but has cost us plenty already so hard to trust on her first run for Paul Nicholls. Song For Someone is also running for the first time this season and may set it up for the selection going too hard off the front.
Haydock 3.00 Betfair Chase (Grade 1) (Registered As The Lancashire Chase) (GBB Race) 3m11/2f
I can’t wait to see LOSTINTRANSLATION out again for Colin Tizzard and this beast of a chaser is strongly fancied to make a winning return. He won this last year jumping notably well and I’m expecting him to be ready to go despite a 253-day absence. He won fresh last season so it shouldn’t be an issue. His two market rivals Clan Des Obeaux and Bristol De Mai are both also making their seasonal returns. He has the most potential of the three for me and no doubt all roads will lead to Cheltenham again and the Gold Cup in March.
Clan Des Obeaux has been backed into second favourite but I think it will be Bristol De Mai again who will give him a race. He loves it here and should give his running.
Ascot 3.17 Coral Hurst Park Handicap Chase (GBB Race) 2m1f
As Paul Nicholls points out in his column it is worrying times for racing when this race is now worth a prize fund of £25,000 rather than the £120,000 from last year. He is aiming to win it again with Capeland who fell on his first start of the season. I am just not sure how consistent he is and am siding with ABBEY MAGIC who has proved she still has plenty to offer after nearly 2 years off with a second on her reappeared followed by a good win at Cork. Her handicap mark could still be lenient and carries under 11 stone like the last two winners.
Magic Saint impressed last week at Cheltenham and will be the main danger if the race doesn’t come too soon. First Flow if fully fit could run a big race but usually needs the run. This is a good race but I’m happy to side with the value.
Haydock 3.35 My Odds Boost On Betfair Stayers’ Handicap Chase (Class 3) 3m41/2f
Perfect Candidate won this last year aged 12 and he comes back again trying to repeat that but you have to think it’s a big ask now. He should come on for that Aintree reappearance but even still I’ll be surprised if he defends his crown. It’s a tough race to work out but I’ve come down on ALMINAR at a double-figure price. This horse was back on track when third at Cheltenham behind Bermeo and Boughtbeforelunch and is a danger to all if building on that. I can see him being ridden quietly before picking them off one by one.
Don Poli has been somewhat of a gamble for this but as much as I’d love to see him roll back the years it’s surely a big ask? At 9/2 he can’t be backed with any confidence so is readily opposed. Kings Monarch is probably the most solid. He looked better than ever at Ffos Las and while he needs more you’d be foolish to rule out a big run again.
Ascot 3.50 Coral Supporting Prostate Cancer UK Standard Open National Hunt Flat Race (GBB Race) 1m71/2f
No clue why ITV chose to show this race with limited information on any of these horses. Nicky Henderson has won this twice before and looks to have a strong hand on paper. WRAYSFORD is the brother of the classy Call The Cops and reports are that he may be forward for his age and should go well.
As for dangers it is wide open but Hamilton’s Fantasy for The Queen could make it a 1-2 for Henderson. No Hubs No Hoobs is by Flemensfirth and cost €110,000 so could be pretty useful. It’s a race of unknowns so best to tread carefully.
Saturday’s ITV Racing Win Trixie
8 races live on ITV on Saturday afternoon! Here you will find our three most confident selections and combined them to make a Win Trixie.
Saturday’s Win Trixie
Ascot 2.05 Imperial Aura NEXT BEST
Ascot 2.40 Call Me Lord
Haydock 3.00 Lostintranslation NAP
Pays 18/1!
ITV Racing Each Way Double
Here you will find our two best bets at decent odds combined to make an Each Way Double on Saturday. If both place if will return a profit so here’s hoping for two big runs.
