Horse Racing tips: Matt Chapman’s best bets for ITV Racing on Friday

ITV Racing is back baby!

Matt Chapman Cheltenham

RACING is back on terrestrial TV Friday with seven races on ITV4 with a mixture of Newmarket and Lingfield featuring the Group 1 Coronation Cup.

Newmarket 13.50 – Gulliver @ 10/1

Let’s get straight to it with the opening 6f handicap. GULLIVER might prefer a little further than this, but he’s run more recently than most and can run off 104 here while he was 110 on the all-weather when last seen. He’s got quality on a going day and often finishes off well. I’ll have a few quid each-way.

Newmarket 14.25 – Brando

The Group 3 Abernant Stakes, a sprint over 6f. Despite being an eight-year-old, it’s hard on quality to get away from BRANDO, who often does well in this contest. Trained by Kevin Ryan, Brando has a mark of 116 and has no penalty. He showed when fourth in the Champions Sprint that he’s still fully capable.

 

Newmarket 15.00 – Escobar @10/1 (each-way)

So many types of different horses here, with two open to loads of improvement in Dawaam and Sangarius. The latter probably will need further, although his class might be enough, so I will back handicapper ESCOBAR each-way. He’s just a solid proven performer, and while he might not be the best of these by the end of the season he should make his presence felt in this line-up.

Newmarket 15.35 – Ghaiyyath

The finale for ITV’s coverage at Newmarket is the feature race, the Group 1 Coronation Cup over 1m 4f. A fascinating renewal with a Derby winner Anthony Van Dyck taking on a Gold Cup hero in Stradivarius but GHAIYYATH, might just be the beat off all of them.

The Godolphin runner, trained by Charlie Appleby, flopped in the Arc but bounced back to form to win in Dubai and could still be anything. Obviously many will stick with Stradivarius, the top stayer dropping back in trip, while Anthony Van Dyck might still come back to his best. What an event!

 

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Lingfield 14.05 – Huboor @ 4/1

ITV’s Lingfield coverage starts with a 7f handicap. Lots of potential improvers here, and I’ll take a chance with HUBOOR, who might get to the front early from the inside for Mark Johnston. Drawn in stall two, Huboor is on the outside of Tomfre who is usually settled in behind. Dane O’Neill gets the big chance on a horse who has won twice at Newmarket and Chepstow.

Lingfield 14.40 – So I Told You

Next at Lingfield is a Listed contest over nearly 1m 4f seen as a trial for the Epsom Oaks. None of these look like an Oaks winner, and on paper Miss Yoda is the one to beat.

If there is something special in the field then I think it will be SO I TOLD YOU for Richard Hughes. This could be the best horse Hughes has trained, and she looked really good when scoring at Nottingham last term having run well at Bath on the debut. She appears to be a very strong stayer.

Lingfield 15.15 – English King @ 11/4 

Lingfield’s Derby Trial is also a Listed event over an extended 1m 3f. Pride of America and ENGLISH KING are the lightly raced ones here who might have more to give. The latter is the one I like, as he ran well on the debut and then looked really good when I saw him winning at Newcastle. Ed Walker might have a classy animal on his hands.

So best of luck and let’s hope we’ve plenty of Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

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