Horse Racing tips: Ruby Walsh’s eight slick picks for Saturday’s ITV races

Paddy Power ambassador Ruby Walsh has made his Saturday selections

By / Horse Racing News, Horse Racing Tips / 4 years ago

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

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13.45, Kempton – Global Giant

GLOBAL GIANT had a poor run in Saudi Arabia the last day but that was in a much hotter contest than this. Just down the road at Kempton might suit him better.

14.00, Doncaster – Juan Elcano

I’m picking JUAN ELCANO in this, based on looking back to his Guineas run last season. I was looking for horses that have proven that their first run off a break can be a good one. He ran an absolute stormer in last year’s Guineas on his first start of the season when he was fifth behind Kameko. He was drawn on the nearest and led them down past the furlong pole, so I’m going for him.

14.15, Kempton – Dark Pine

I like DARK PINE here. I think he is improving and could still be ahead of the handicapper. He wasn’t the worst horse in the world when Dermot Weld had him and switching to the all-weather suits it.

14.35, Doncaster – Spiorad

I don’t have a strong opinion on this race, but I do like David O’Meara-trained horses in the north of England, especially at this trip. SPIORAD has been running on the all-weather and should be fit, but that is a tentative choice.

14.50, Newbury – Hooper

I thought Good Ball ran well at Newbury the last day but Gowel Road really let the form down in the County Hurdle – he was beaten by the time they got to the top of the hill. I actually through Gowel Road could run well in the Supreme if he took his chance in that, but he was beaten so far out in the County that he obviously wouldn’t have had a chance.

I actually like HOOPER, who has won his last two starts for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville. They were one of the few English yards in form at the Cheltenham Festival, with the two winners they had, while this horse has won at Kempton then followed up at Hereford over 2m3f where it beat Aki Bomaye by a long way. He is progressive and Nicky Henderson has a good record at Newbury as well.

15.10, Doncaster – Brentford Hope

The ground is a concern for my time, but I think they have eventually figured out the right trip for BRENTFORD HOPE and I think he was incredibly impressive on his last start at Haydock. He beat Mascat last time out, who runs in the preceding race at Doncaster.

Prior to his run at Haydock, Brentford Hope ran over 1¼m twice and 1½m twice. But they dropped him back to 1m and he didn’t come off the bridle to win. He’s only gone up 8lbs, and although that win was on heavy ground, it’s still only March and the ground can’t be that firm. The official going is good-to-firm but unless Doncaster has been moved to a different part of the world, it just can’t be summer ground.

Doncaster Races

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15.25, Newbury – Little River Bay

I watched Rose Of Arcadia at Ffos Las three runs back when Estelle Ma Belle beat her, and she was really keen then. She blazed along in front and was there to be shot at. I know she won over 2m5f at Wincanton but again she raced keenly and she is up in grade here, so she has to learn to race properly. Maybe she has some more learning to do, so I would like to watch her first,

Misty Whiskey has a shout and LITLLE RIVER BAY‘s last run at Sandown on really heavy ground was disappointing but before that she was on a really good role. She won at Wincanton, Fontwell and Newbury, and while I know she is top weight here I would be willing to take a chance.

15.45, Doncaster – Just Frank

My selection, JUST FRANK, is based purely on maths. The three-year-olds are getting 13lbs at this time of year, and adding 13 to a rating of 101 brings you to a rating of 114. That’s 2lbs behind Brando on official marks but can Brando, at nine-years-old, still be as good and still be a 116-rated horse? I don’t think so. Just Frank could be the improver, but it should be noted that three-year-olds have struggled and do struggle against the older horses until around early June.

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widget, while in-copy odds are accurate at the time of publication but subject to change

Ruby Walsh’s bet summary – Saturday, March 27

13.45, Kempton – Global Giant
14.00, Doncaster – Juan Elcano
14.15, Kempton – Dark Pine
14.35, Doncaster – Spiorad
14.50, Newbury – Hooper
15.10, Doncaster – Brentford Hope
15.25, Newbury – Little River Bay
15.45, Doncaster – Just Frank

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