Update:
Well, that’s disappointing to wake up and hear the news that Doncaster and Newbury are cancelled. What can you do? So on that basis, just ignore my Newbury and Donny bets below. I still have Cheltenham and one at Leopardstown that hopefully might do the business. Happy punting folks!
Saturday’s action
A busy Saturday of racing with nine races on ITV4 from Doncaster, Cheltenham and Newbury.
There is the perfect mix of Flat and jumps, so let’s get straight into it and here’s hoping we hit it big again having dug out a 16-1 winner for the last three weekends!
The 13.45 at Doncaster is a Listed race over 6f for juveniles. ABERAMA GOLD has a 3lb penalty, but his love for soft ground might be enough to get him home here. He won well at York last time for Keith Dalgleish and has every chance under Shane Gray.
The feature race of the day is the 15.25, the 1m Futurity Stakes, which almost looks a Group 1 benefit for Aidan O’Brien! MOGUL has won his last two starts for O’Brien and looked good in the Champions Juvenile at Leopardstown when last seen. He stays strong and goes with juice in the ground, so with Donnacha O’Brien up should land the short odds in a bizarre renewal.
Finally at Doncaster at 16.00 there is a handicap over 5f. ORVAR is well handicapped here and has soft ground form for Paul Midgley at the track. He’s worth a few quid each-way after a decent third behind fancied Moss Gill at York last time.
The action at Newbury on ITV 4 starts at 14.20 with the Group 3 St Simon Stakes over 1m 4f. Morando was impressive at Ascot last time when I napped him, but I’ll risk YOUNG RASCAL to return to his best after two poor runs earlier this season. The fact William Haggas goes again gives me hope and he dead-heated with Morando on the same terms last year.
At his best, he can romp this.
The action at Newbury ends with the Group 3 Horris Hill Stakes for colts and geldings over 7f at 14.20. I think KINROSS is a good thing here after he did well on his debut at Newmarket. Big ride for Harry Bentley and Ralph Beckett’s colt should have no problem with the ground from a family he knows well.
Over at Cheltenham the 14.00 is a handicap chase over 3m1f. A lot of these could win this at their best – hard to know who will be ready. Cogry faded in this race last year where Rock the Kasbah was too strong. I will take a chance on ROYAL VACATION, who was second in 2018 but that was on his debut. This time he has had a run and he might stay on better for Colin Tizzard here than he did the other day at Chepstow. A small each-way bet.
A conditions hurdle over an extended 2m is up next at 14.35. Hard to oppose TORPILLO after he cruised to victory at Chepstow last time. The Nigel Twiston-Davies trained runner gets 4lb from Quel Destin and should take all the beating. Nelson River is interesting for Tony Carroll after a recent spin on the Flat.
The 15.10 is a handicap chase over 2m. There should be plenty of pace here, and the one who might close in is BRELAN D’AS for Paul Nicholls. He came from off the gallop when last seen at Aintree in April but should not lack anything in fitness.
He also has good form at this track.
We end the jumps action with a 3m handicap hurdle at 15.45 I will take a total chance on the former classy chaser POTTERS LEGEND here for Lucy Wadham. He is back from a long lay-off and may well need the run, but his mark over hurdles is 134 and he has been up to 140 over fences. If he’s ready to go he might not be badly handicapped and he stays well and loves the ground. A few daring quid each-way.
So best of luck. You hear me Paddy?
*Prices correct at time of publication
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