Horse Racing tips: Your ITV Racing Cheat Sheet for Saturday’s action

Paddy's Pundits are back with your picks for a huge day at Cheltenham and Doncaster.

ITV Cheat sheet header Dec 9

* 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.

There’s a feast of ITV Racing from Cheltenham and Doncaster on Saturday’s tellybox with seven super races across the two tracks. It’s never easy, so we’ve drafted in racing’s brain-trust of Ruby Walsh, Mick Fitzgerald, Matt Chapman, Frank Hickey and the boffins at Timeform to hopefully bang us in a few winners!

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Matt Chapman

Ruby Walsh

Mick Fitzgerald

Timeform

Frank Hickey

Matt Chapman

DOSTAL PHIL was a staying on fourth in the fabulous Paddy Power Gold Cup and is worth backing each-way to go three places better now.

Ruby Walsh

MIDNIGHT SHADOW  impressed when winning the Paddy Power Gold Cup but has been hit with a 7lb rise. He’s good enough to win again though.

Mick Fitzgerald

The Charlie Hall Chase winner FUSIL RAFFLES is being overlooked. He was second in the Marsh Chase at the Festival over this course and represents good value.

Timeform

The unexposed ex-French chaser FARINET returns on a good mark and is taken to continue Venetia Williams’ fine recent run by claiming his biggest prize yet.

Frank Hickey

SIRUH DU LAC is well treated and looks to have been laid out for this. He is an appealing each-way proposition.

Matt Chapman

TAKEIT EASY ran well at Ludlow, Stratford, Wetherby and Huntingdon suggesting the  current mark is still workable. Will give us a run for our money.

Ruby Walsh

I fancied TOMMYS OSCAR at Haydock last time out and he impressed there. He drops down to 2m here and that’s more suitable for him. I’ll ride with Tommys Oscar again.

Mick Fitzgerald

TAKEIT EASY has already beaten Tommy’s Oscar at Wetherby and can confirm that form again.

Timeform

TAKEIT EASY, who has progressed in 2m handicaps this term and typically gave his running when second at Huntingdon last month.

Frank Hickey

TAKEIT EASY beat Tommy’s Oscar at Wetherby and should uphold that form on 6lb better terms.

Matt Chapman

I’ll take a chance with GELINO BELLO for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He didn’t look to stay last time but his trainer says that won’t be an issue for him now.

Ruby Walsh

I’m all over BLAZING KHAL. as I don’t think he jumped well last time out but he still got the job done. He’ll have improved since then and the step up in trip will suit him.

Mick Fitzgerald

BLAZING KHAL won a Grade 2 contest over 2m 5f at this venue last month. The step up in trip to 3m shouldn’t be a problem for this progressive runner.

Timeform

BLAZING KHAL shoulders a 5 lb penalty for his Grade 2 success here last month, but he was well on top at the finish that day and is taken to uphold the form with Gelino Bello.

Frank Hickey

BLAZING KHAL looks sure to relish the step up to 3m. He will take an awful lot of beating.

Matt Chapman

PORTICELLO looked decent on British debut for Jamie and Gary Moore and I’ll stick with him to carry on the good work.

Ruby Walsh

I’ve no real fancy in this race and am happy to watch it.

Mick Fitzgerald

IMPULSIVE ONE  looks a bit of value against Porticello as he’s had a wind op and this flat track and trip will suit him.

Timeform

Paul Nicholls has an excellent record in this so it might be worth siding MAGISTRATO to turn around last month’s Cheltenham form with Knight Salute in receipt of weight this time. 

Frank Hickey

KNIGHT SALUTE looks to be underestimated and can make it four from four over hurdles.

Matt Chapman

The improving five-year-old GUARD YOUR DREAMS was a fair third behind Buzz at Ascot looking as though he would enjoy this slight drop in trip. This is winnable.

Ruby Walsh

This race could be set up for a ‘closer’ and I hope Daryl Jacob just sits behind Heaven Help Us and Song of Someone on SCEAU ROYAL. He can move late on and win.

Mick Fitzgerald

SONG FOR SOMEONE has had a good run under his belt when second to Buzz at Ascot last time and won this race last year.

Timeform

SONG FOR SOMEONE probably ran as well as he’s ever done when attempting to concede 6 lb to Buzz on his Ascot reappearance so is fancied to repeat last year’s success in this.

Frank Hickey

HEAVEN HELP US was an impressive winner of the Coral Cup and this is a weak Grade 2. She may well get away from the front.

Matt Chapman

FIDUX has little in hand on handicap ratings but he’s going well. His effort at Haydock last time was decent and he stays well.

Ruby Walsh

I fancy TWO FOR GOLD for David Bass and Kim Bailey. The small field will suit him and he’ll have more than enough.

Mick Fitzgerald

TWO FOR GOLD has a good record when fresh and the track and trip will suit.

Timeform

TWO FOR GOLD has been given a chance by the handicapper (dropped 3 lb) since unseating in the Topham chase last season and  saves his best efforts for his seasonal debut.

Frank Hickey

KAUTO RIKO is very well handicapped off 138 in a race where everything has a question mark over it.

 

Matt Chapman

I’ll stick with the class top weight INDEFATIGABLE. She started this season in great style when scoring at Wetherby but ran no race behind Thomas Darby but is clearly much better than that.

Ruby Walsh

It’s between MARTELLO SKY and Indefatigable but make sure the latter wants to be there and is willing to go forward because she definitely didn’t want to be there at Newbury in November!

Mick Fitzgerald

MARTELLO SKY ran a very good race against some smart rivals at Aintree and we can expect improvement now after that run.

Timeform

TRAPISTA was went clear in impressive fashion to land a Huntingdon novice last time and he’s likely better than an opening mark of 131, so he’s a confident selection to go in again.

Frank Hickey

MARTELLO SKY will appreciate the drop in grade and going back to mares’ company. She should prove to be well handicapped off a mark of 140.

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