Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s shouts for Saturday’s ITV Racing

There's an early inspection at Cheltenham (7.30am) but Matt zips through the races there and at Doncaster on ITV.

Matt Chapman’s Saturday Tips

Cheltenham 13:20 – ENERGUMENE
Cheltenham 13:50 – IL RODOTO
Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE
Cheltenham 14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
Doncaster 14.40 – GRAND SOIR
Cheltenham 15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
Doncaster 15.15 – CAP DU NORD [Each-Way]
Cheltenham 15.35 – CAN YOU CALL [Each-Way]

*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

Cheltenham 13.20 – ENERGUMENE

ITV Saturday gets under way here with the Grade 1 Clarence House Chase, transferred from Ascot, over an extended 2m. I thought ENERGUMENE was an absolute good thing when this race was due to be run at Ascot last week and being here doesn’t change my mind. Can sit behind or go from the front and is just top class. Hard to stop for the champion pairing of Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

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Cheltenham 13.50 – IL RODOTO (each-way)

This is a handicap chase over an extended 2m4f with incredible sponsorship from Paddy Power. IL RODOTO will be hard to kick out the frame for champion Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. The Paddy Power Gold Cup fourth was also in that position in the Paddy Power New Year’s Day Handicap and seems to like Paddy! Dropped 1lb since that last run which looks very fair to me. Can make a mistake so just needs a proper clear round. If so, a massive chance.

Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE

ITV also go to Doncaster Saturday, as do I, for this Grade 2 Mares’ Hurdle over an extended 2m. This won’t take long. A drop in Grade for former Champion Hurdle winner EPATANTE and she will be short odds for Nicky Henderson.

Interestingly Aidan Coleman, her regular partner, goes to Cheltenham for Paisley Park so Nico de Boinville gets the leg up.

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Cheltenham 14.25 – PROTEKTORAT

Now a Gold Cup trial in the Grade 2 Cotswold Chase over an extended 3m1f. Noble Yeats is short enough in this for me and I’ll stick with class act PROTEKTORAT. I actually think this is the perfect distance for the 2022 Gold Cup third and he looked better than ever when scoring at Haydock this season for the Skelton team of jockey Harry and trainer Dan. Could be time for Harry to pull out another aeroplane moment!

Doncaster 14.40 – GRAND SOIR

Here’s a Grade  2 novices’ hurdle over an extended 3m. Irish raider GRAND SOIR should be right in the mix here for John McConnell and Ben Harvey. Unlike many of these, my hope is proven at the distance and kept on really well to score at Thurles last time against some decent sorts. Big shout.

Cheltenham 15.00 – PAISLEY PARK

Another cracker in the Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over 3m. Even though he’s aged 11 now, it’s hard to get away from the old boy PAISLEY PARK for Aidan Coleman and Emma Lavelle. The former Stayers’ Hurdle hero has returned right to his best this term, chasing home Champ at Newbury and then scoring well at Kempton last time. He’s still one of the best stayers in the business.

Doncaster 15.15 – CAP DU NORD [Each-Way]

A big betting race here in a handicap chase over an extended 2m4f. Really competitive race. CAP DU NORD is a very well handicapped horse and was a fine third in this last year when his jumping let him down. That was off a mark of 129 and he’s now rated 125. Christian Williams will have him spot on for this with a big prize up for grabs and I suspect he’s been laid out for this contest. Fingers crossed he’s back to form and I’ll have a few quid on each-way.

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Cheltenham 15.35 – CAN YOU CALL [Each-Way]

CAN YOU CALL (each-way) should stay this trip strongly and did really well to win last time after a bad mistake in the closing stages. I suspect there’s much more to come and looks solid each-way.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Saturday Tips

Cheltenham 13:20 – ENERGUMENE
Cheltenham 13:50 – IL RODOTO
Doncaster 14.05 – EPATANTE
Cheltenham 14:25 – PROTEKTORAT
Doncaster 14.40 – GRAND SOIR
Cheltenham 15:00 – PAISLEY PARK
Doncaster 15.15 – CAP DU NORD [Each-Way]
Cheltenham 15.35 – CAN YOU CALL [Each-Way]

*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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