There is a feast of racing live on ITV this Saturday, with ten races in all taking place at Doncaster, Kelso and Newbury. GG tipster Joe Napier has scoured the cards and come up with his best bets across them all.
1.20 Newbury – BetVictor Super Boost Has Arrived Veterans’ Handicap Chase
Anthony Honeyball trains the top three in the market here, but while Credo and Gustavian could back up their one-two efforts from Haydock last time, no ten-year-olds has won this since 2017. The elders among the veterans have tended to hold sway, so perhaps their stablemate SAM BROWN might have one more big victory in him.
At first glance, his Newbury record reads poorly, but he has generally contested very strong races, including a Grade 2 last time out despite his advancing 13 years. Yet, he was far from disgraced that day and was third in the Charlie Hall earlier in the season, as well as second to the in-form veteran of the season in Copperhead at Market Rasen in January.
After his fourth in the Denman Chase last time out, he has actually been dropped a further 1lb in the handicap. Coupling that with Chad Bament’s 10lb claim could well see him right in the mix here against his fellow old boys.
1.45 Kelso – bet365 Premier Chase (Listed)
He also has a potential handicap engagement at Newbury, but if he takes up this declaration, IROKO might well be able to upset Grey Dawning at Kelso. The seven-year-old looks due for one more run before the Grand National and is almost certainly better than the balance of this season’s efforts.
The stewards looked into the lenient ride applied to him at Cheltenham last time in which he was still fourth in a competitive handicap over a trip too short. Trips of 3m and beyond have always looked his calling, so this step up to 2m7½f should be what he’s after and his National handicap mark can no longer be affected.
He has 14 lengths to make up with Grey Dawning from Cheltenham running last season but that too was over 2m4f. Furthermore, the Skeltons’ charge’s only run on good-to-soft ground over fences was his weakest effort and he could well be vulnerable conceding 3lb to the selection. A closely-fought contest should be expected.
2.20 Kelso – bet365 Handicap Hurdle
Having won this last year with a horse ridden by a claimer, there is a chance that the unexposed BOLD LIGHT can make it back-to-back successes for Lucinda Russell’s team. The contest could over him ideal conditions in which he can show his best.
He was a ready winner at this venue over 2m back in October before finishing third in Grade 2 company at Haydock. However, his handicap debut over 2m4f, just a furlong shorter than this race, could not have gone any better, as he won by seven lengths, necessitating a 7lb rise in the weights.
His third in the Scottish Stayers’ Novices Hurdle at Musselburgh last time may well have been over a trip too far for him at this stage, so the drop back to 2m5f looks a positive. With Jack Power taking off 7lb, there could well be races to win with him yet.
2.40 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase
Petit Tonnerre may have finally discovered how to win last time out, but the extreme pace set up front contributed to that dramatically. As long as this is run more sensibly, then CALICO should still have a fair chance of defying his mark of 141 with Tristan Durrell taking off 3lb.
The selection was one of three horses who helped set up Petit Tonnerre’s course and distance success in January by setting off furiously. Naturally, those exertions told, with the first three all arriving from the rear, and the first three finishing various levels of well-beaten, although Calico fared comfortably best of those in fourth, 29 lengths ahead of the other front-running finisher, with the other leader pulled up.
His form in beating Matata at Cheltenham in October was a serious effort in receipt of only 9lb. The runner-up has risen a stone in the ratings since and a more conservative yet positive ride should ensure he is still fully capable of victory off this mark.
3.30 Kelso – bet365 Morebattle Hurdle
Having secured a £100,000 bonus via The Shunter’s success in this race and at Cheltenham in 2021, Emmet Mullins may well be able to do so again with the mare VISCHIO. This has been a clearly identified target since her win at the Dublin Racing Festival last month.
The eight-year-old was making her debut for the yard when blasting clear after the last in what is always a competitive mares’ handicap at Leopardstown last month. She is up a stone in the handicap given her 4lb “Irish tax” from the British handicapper, but she looked well ahead of the ratings when kicking away to a five-length success last time out.
2m on good ground might test her for speed, but she won under similar enough conditions at Punchestown in November for her previous yard. Crucially, Danny Mullins comes across for just two rides at Kelso on Saturday and you suspect that Vischio is the primary reason why.
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