* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
13:45 Cheltenham – Samba Dancer
ITV Saturday gets under way here with a handicap hurdle over an extended 2m. Samarrive can clearly win but keeps the weights down for some inform rivals. I like the down in trip SAMBA DANCER eachway here for Fergal O’Brien and Liam Harrison, who takes off 3lbs. Samba Dancer is only rated 114 having gone up 7lbs for two successes. He has every chance to race prominently and kick on at the top of the hill.
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14:00 Newbury – Noble Truth
Flat racing at Newbury starting with this Group 3 Horris Hill for juveniles over 7f. NOBLE TRUTH just held on from Hoo Ya Mal in the Listed Flying Scotsman at Doncaster and the latter would have won in another stride. That said, Charlie Appleby’s hope did well to go clear a furlong out and I suspect won a little more easily than it looked. Noble Truth has since been in Group 1 company at Longchamp and he should be very hard to beat here under James Doyle.
14:20 Cheltenham – Truckers Lodge
Now a handicap chase over 3m1f. TRUCKERS LODGE is hard to be confident over with just three runs last season. But that said he’s not badly handicapped and stays forever for Paul Nicholls and Lorcan Williams, who takes off 3lbs. My hope landed the Midlands National at Uttoxeter in 2020 on much softer ground than this but he has form on a better surface. His two latest runs still showed some ability and included a seventh in the Welsh National. He might be warming up for that again but has an each-way chance.
14:35 Newbury – Siskany
Another Group 3 in the St Simon over 1m4f. SISKANY did me a right old favour at Newmarket last time in this column and he’s hard to oppose again in this field with conditions ideal for the Charlie Appleby runner under James Doyle. The lightly raced three-year-old has now won four of his seven starts and just looks a most progressive horse for a powerful stable.
14:55 Cheltenham – Tritonic
This is a conditions hurdle over an extended 2m. It’s hard to oppose TRITONIC who looked a monster on occasions last season including when landing the Grade 2 Adonis Hurdle at Kempton. He was only fifth in the Triumph Hurdle but should be ready for the in-form Alan King and Adrien Heskin. He’s been on the Flat not so long ago, finishing eighth in the Duke of Edinburgh at Royal Ascot.
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15:15 Doncaster – Imperial Fighter
ITV are also at Doncaster for this Group 1 Vertem Futurity for two-year-olds over 1m. Luxembourg might blitz them for Aidan O’Brien but I’m going to back IMPERIAL FIGHTER eachway for Andrew Balding and David Probert, who’s trying to land his first Group 1 success. The ground might be key to this horse, as he won well on debut with juice at Goodwood. Next time at York my hope was behind Royal Patronage but was staying on well over the 7f and then he chased home Coroebus at Newmarket. He’s clearly a very strong stayer and will be hard to keep out the frame again.
15:30 Cheltenham – Belargus
A handicap chase over 2m. BELARGUS might have a bit more to come for Nick Gifford and Niall Houlihan. My selection scored twice at Sandown last season, and might have got a hat-trick but for falling in between those wins at the same track. He’s got some left handed form so Cheltenham should not be an issue and likely favourite Sky Pirate keeps the weights down for some of the opposition.
15:50 Doncaster – Flaming Rib
A Listed race here for juveniles over 6f. It’s hard to oppose FLAMING RIB for Tom Dascombe and Pierre-Louis Jamin. Rated 108, my selection is on a four-timer after wins at Thirsk, York and at Chester last time. Those were handicaps, but he goes out fast and will be very hard to catch unless Deodar is something special.
16:05 Cheltenham – Tobefair
A handicap hurdle over 3m. Not all of these are strong stayers on paper. At a huge price I’ll have a little on fan-favourite TOBEFAIR who loves Cheltenham and is back on a good mark of 135 now having scored at Cheltenham when 149 in October 2019. Of course he’s 11 now and it might just be he’s lost his way for Debra Hamer but Tom Bellamy is a good booking and he might just spark the old boy into action one more time.
16:20 Doncaster – Illusionist
Finally a handicap over 5f. ILLUSIONIST might be able to follow up a win at York on this more testing track which will suit his closing style. The ground seems to be the key to this horse and he loved the soft last time. Sam James is on board and they should go hard here which will be absolutely ideal for the Grant Tuer hope. Fingers crossed for a blitzing finish.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s best bets:
13:45 Cheltenham – Samba Dancer
14:00 Newbury – Noble Truth
14:20 Cheltenham – Truckers Lodge
14:35 Newbury – Siskany
14:55 Cheltenham – Tritonic
15:15 Doncaster – Imperial Fighter
15:30 Cheltenham – Belargus
15:50 Doncaster – Flaming Rib
16:05 Cheltenham – Tobefair
16:20 Doncaster – Illusionist
* All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at time of publishing but subject to change.
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