Horse Racing tips: Your Saturday ITV Racing Cheat Sheet for Cheltenham & Doncaster

A seven-race smash up on the Saturday tellybox and the in form cream of the Paddy Power News tipping pool are on hand.

* 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.

We’re hurtling towards the 2022 Cheltenham Festival and Saturday’s Trials day at the track should unearth a few more clues in solving the mid-March puzzle.

So we’ve enlisted the services of Matt ‘I tipped 7 from 8 winners last Saturday’ Chapman, Nicky Henderson’s No. 1 fan Mick Fitzgerald, shrewdie extraordinaire Frank Hickey, the lab coats at Timeform and everyone’s favourite mischief maker, Paddy Power Esq for an ITV Racing Cheat sheet. Harrumph!

WELCOME TO PADDY POWER NEWS!

And what does this mean for you? Well basically the collective musings, knowledge and waffle – yes Paddy, we’re looking at you – for both meetings on the Saturday ITV tellybox.

And not only that, Paddy actually sponsors two races on the Cheltenham card. Huzzah!

So whether the 11-runner Paddy Power Podcast Handicap Chase smash-up at 13.55 is your bag or the more sedate Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle at 15:05 floats your boat, our top tipsters are here to mark your card and hopefully make finding a winner that little bit easier.

No promises mind ..

Matt Chapman

Mick Fitzgerald

Frank Hickey

Timeform

Paddy Power

Matt Chapman

This is the big chance for SPIRITOFTHEGAMES to bounce back to form and he might just be a corking each-way bet.

Mick Fitzgerald

MAGIC SAINT put in a really solid run when fourth behind Venna Court over course and distance last time. Drier ground will help him now.

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Frank Hickey

WHATMORE hasn’t run for 15 months but goes very well fresh, seems well handicapped and trainer Henry Daly’s yard is in good form.

Timeform

FARINET had excuses when pulled up in the Racing Post Gold Cup here on return. He gets the vote in a race lacking in progressive types.

Paddy Power

If you ignore the ‘P’ from his last run at Haydock TORN AND FRAYED has put in some solid runs, has good course form and can hit the places at a price.

Matt Chapman

MIRANDA has to give weight away but this should be a simple task for the champion trainer Paul Nicholls’ challenger with Bryony Frost up.

Mick Fitzgerald

MIRANDA won this race last year and beat a subsequent winner at Ludlow last time that has boosted the form.

Frank Hickey

ANNA BUNINA had the likes of Tommy’s Oscar, Glory And Fortune and Thyme White behind her at Ayr last April and looks a bit of value to upset market leader Miranda.

Timeform

WESTERN VICTORY thrived in Ireland late last year and, while her stable debut at Ascot was a touch underwhelming, she’s capable of getting back to winning ways

Paddy Power

MIRANDA is tricky but not ungenuine and the conditions of the race favour her. Not one to go mad with though.

Matt Chapman

CHANTRY HOUSE really should take this if anywhere near his Grade 1 Aintree winning form.  He’s the class act and should get back to winning ways with cheekpieces on.

Mick Fitzgerald

CHANTRY HOUSE should bounce back to form now with the cheekpieces on after his King George flop. He won at both the Cheltenham and Aintree Festivals last season so has the class to do it.

Frank Hickey

He wears cheekpieces now after being pulled up in the King George VI Chase and I’d be disappointed if CHANTRY HOUSE can’t get back in the winning groove.

Timeform

CHANTRY HOUSE ran no sort of race when favourite for the King George at Kempton on Boxing Day but he was one of the leading novice chasers last season and this looks a good opportunity for him to get back on track with headgear applied.

Paddy Power

If CHANTRY HOUSE doesn’t win this he can probably forget about winning a Cheltenham Gold Cup in a little over six weeks’ time.

Matt Chapman

MY BOBBY DAZZLER stays well and with a win at Aintree and good runs twice at Cheltenham makes plenty of appeal.

Mick Fitzgerald

UNANSWERED PRAYERS is unlucky not to be a three-time winner this season already. The step up in trip will help.

Frank Hickey

BRIDGE NORTH is bred to come into his own over these staying trips and this looks a weak race. Not at Present looks the danger in a race Ben Pauling has won three times recently.

Timeform

COOLBANE BOY gets the nod. He put up a much-improved performance on just his second start for a new yard when landing a Musselburgh handicap in good style four weeks ago. 

Paddy Power

THE REAL WHACKER is unexposed, looks a strong stayer and the booking of Harry Skelton is interesting in an open-looking contest.

Matt Chapman

In soft or heavy ground I might have fancied Paisley Park to gain Long Walk Hurdle revenge over CHAMP. However, he’s likely to travel too well for this lot. Needs to settle early though.

Mick Fitzgerald

CHAMP really enjoyed being back over hurdles when winning at Ascot and the drying ground shouldn’t be a problem as he looks to cement his Stayers’ Hurdle credentials.

Frank Hickey

Despie being a 10-year-old CHAMP has only had 16 career starts – half of which have been in hurdle races. He should win this and we’ll worry about the Stayers’ Hurdle later.

Timeform

If CHAMP is in the same form as when accounting for Thyme Hill and the re-opposing Paisley Park in the Long Walk Hurdle then it’s hard to see past him.

Paddy Power

A small but very select field with two previous Stayers’ Hurdle winners in it with Paisley Park and Lisnagar Oscar. CHAMP is a 10-year-old now so if ever he’s going to win a Stayers’ Hurdle it’ll have to be this year and he can take another step along that road now.

Matt Chapman

CAP DU NORD ran a terrific fifth behind Potterman at Sandown off a mark of 140. He is now down to 129 after a poor effort at Kempton last time. Big each-way claims.

Mick Fitzgerald

I like MIDNIGHT SHADOW’S  claims each-way. He’s been very consistent this season and the drying ground will help his chances.

Frank Hickey

STORM CONTROL looks a good each-way play as he likes to front run and could get away from these. He’ll appreciate the better ground more than most.

Timeform

DEBECE shaped like a well-handicapped horse on his first start for Dan Skelton when second at Sandown last March so could be up to defying a 10-month absence now.

Paddy Power

CAP DU NORD tends to win less than Watford but is 10lb lower than when third in this contest last year and claimer Jack Tudor takes another 3lb off on top of that. What’s not to love?

Matt Chapman

BALCO COASTAL gets what could be a crucial 5lb from the giant, Hillcrest. He wasn’t amazing in bumpers but is going the right way over timber.

Mick Fitzgerald

It could be a good afternoon for Nicky Henderson and BALCO COASTAL can cap it. He steps up in trip but the drying ground will help him see it out.

Frank Hickey

HILLCREST jumps away in front and unbeaten in his last three hurdle starts. A tricky race with multiple winners but he can bring up the four-timer.

Timeform

HILLCREST has to concede weight all round to some promising types and can maintain his unbeaten record over hurdles. Balco Coastal is the main threat.

Paddy Power

Hillcrest sets the standard and no doubt will be the last leg of loads of multiples on this card. I’ll put him in mine, but take NORTH LODGE in a single as he looks like a big improver to me.

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