The ITV Racing cameras will be focused all over the country on Saturday. Kempton, Newcastle and Southwell will all have races broadcast on terrestrial TV throughout the afternoon, and GG tipster Joe Napier visits all three for his four best bets.
1.50 Kempton – Ladbrokes Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2)
Paul Nicholls has farmed this race in the past so Rubaud has to be very well respected, especially as he upped his game when chasing home Arkle hope L’Eau Du Sud at Warwick last time. However, he was possibly flattered to get as close as he did, while the last two Nicholls inmates to win this race were second season novices with vastly more chasing experience.
Generally, it is important to have had at least four chase runs before taking part in this contest and IMPERIAL SAINT has had five. Philip Hobbs and Johnson White’s runner has won three of those, all at Aintree, but proved he was no one track wonder when a close third in a competitive Cheltenham handicap four weeks ago.
He was possibly value for more that day too, but while it was encouraging he was able to go well at Cheltenham, this flatter track should suit ideally given his Aintree record this season. Going right-handed should be no problem given he won at Ludlow over hurdles and he may have progressed beyond the NIcholls runner over the bigger obstacles.
2.10 Newcastle – Virgin Bet Eider Handicap Chase
He has not quite kicked on as expected after a highly promising start to the season, but GABORIOT remains up to winning a race of this nature with the handicapper having been fairly lenient on his best efforts so far this term.
The nine-year-old was a three-time winner as a hunter chaser last season, including over 4m½f at Cheltenham in May. Since returning to handicaps for Oliver Greenall and Josh Guerriero, he has finished a close third over an inadequate 2m5f in the Grand Sefton over the Aintree fences and should have finished closer when sixth at Doncaster having made some uncharacteristic jumping errors.
His third at Haydock last time was not quite up to the levels he had reached previously, but that track is idiosyncratic when the going gets tough. On good-to-soft over this trip, Gaboriot still looks to have more to offer.
2.40 Southwell – BetUK Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed)
A return for the flat on ITV and in competitive style too. The in-form Marshman and last year’s winner Diligent Harry head the market, but the former has questions to answer back at 5f, while the latter was disappointing on return and no horse older than six has won this in the last decade.
VALIANT FORCE also has to prove himself over the minimum trip at this level, but he has been in fine fettle since running on the all-weather for Adrian Murray. He has won two of his three starts at Dundalk, once over 5f, and most recently routing four rivals over 6f earlier this month.
He was beaten at Group 3 level over 5f in between, with 66/1 winner Ostraka reopposing here. However, that surprise victor has to prove that was not a one-off, especially from stall 11 here, while there is a 3lb swing in favour of the selection too. With a decent pace to aim at, Valiant Force looks the one to be on side with most.
3.00 Kempton – Ladbrokes Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
There’s some hidden potential among a few in this line-up, but quite a few have only put their best foot forward from the front so far. As such, MIAMI MAGIC has proven to be slightly more versatile already and has a Grade 1 runner-up finish under his belt too.
Stuart Edmunds’ charge is one of just two course and distance winners in the field and he did so with consummate ease, tearing away to win by 12 lengths. He did make all that day, but was ridden with more restraint at Aintree when finishing just 2¼ lengths behind the then unbeaten Potters Charm in the Grade 1 Formby Novices’ Hurdle.
There was a moment where he was short of room too, but still came through to finish well ahead of the remainder of his rivals. Though Potters Charm has lost since, he probably raced one too many times, while the third has come out and filled the same position at the Dublin Racing Festival against Ireland’s best. That means Miami Magic sets a pretty high standard to surpass.
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