Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Picks

MC Yeeehaaa's here to guide you through Saturday's tellybox action and fancies Il Ridoto in the big one at 14:20 at Cheltenham.

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

13:45 Cheltenham – Mister Coffey
14:20 Cheltenham – Il Ridoto (each-way)
14:36 Lingfield – Tyrrhenian Sea (each-way)
14:55 Cheltenham – Chantry House (each-way)
15:11 Lingfield – Mischief Magic
15:30 Cheltenham – Wonderful Eagle (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.

13:45 Cheltenham – Mister Coffey

ITV Saturday gets under way here with a Listed novices’ chase over an extended three miles. It’s extraordinary that MISTER COFFEY is still a novice after chasing since 2021 and running in this year’s Grand National.

In his time he’s been in Grade 1 company including when second to L’Homme Presse in a Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase, and at face value there is nothing wrong with his attitude. This is D-Day as it’s very winnable for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.

14:20 Cheltenham – Il Ridoto (each-way)

The big betting race of the day and one of the season’s most heralded betting heats in the famous Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase over two and a half miles. I have to admit there’s few more satisfying moments for me than finding the Paddy Power winner.

The is an absolute cracker with Cheltenham Festival-winning novices up against more established handicap chasers. Stage Star, The Real Whacker and Unexpected Party could all be better than their marks, but I’m happy to turn to a young horse who has already done much here in IL RIDOTO for Paul Nicholls – who has Stage Star as his main hope – and Freddie Gingell.

With the latter taking off 5lb, Il Rodoto is on a mark of 139, which is exactly what he carried when fourth behind Midnight River in a similar heat against him on January 1st of this year and only 1lb higher when scoring at the track on January 28.

Five of his last seven runs have come at this course and you can forget his last effort when pulled up over the Grand National fences. He’s a lightly-raced horse who should still have more to give. I’ll have a few quid on each-way.

 

14:36 Lingfield – Tyrrhenian Sea (each-way)

ITV also show two races on the artificial surface including this Listed Churchill Stakes over a mile and a quarter. TYRRHENIAN SEA can’t win off a mark of 103 but he often ruins better in these types of races than his rating suggests so I will chance the beauty for David Egan and Roger Varian.

A second to Lord North here in February of this year reads well and he’s still a very lightly raced animal. The draw is fine so an each-way bet.

14:55 Cheltenham – Chantry House (each-way)

A handicap hurdle over three miles. I tipped Judicial Law here when he was second last time and he ran well but the handicapper has him. I have to risk CHANTRY HOUSE each-way for Nicky Henderson and Nico de Boinville.

The one-time Gold Cup hope is chucked in on a mark of 147 if anywhere near right and he never seemed to like fences that much. His last hurdle effort was a third to Shishkin in the Supreme.

 

15:11 Lingfield – Mischief Magic

Another Listed race in the Rose Stakes over six furlongs. On all we know MISCHIEF MAGIC should be far too good for this lot for James Doyle and Charlie Appleby.

The recent Kempton winner is clearly in good shape and in June he was up against Shaquille in the Commonwealth Cup having also landed the Breeders’ Cup Juvenile Turf Sprint. From a decent birth in stall 5 he should be far too good.

15:30 Cheltenham – Wonderful Eagle (each-way)

An intermediate handicap hurdle over two miles and five furlongs. WONDERFUL EAGLE needs to jump better and is against some classy sorts, but his Flat form suggests he should be better than a 112 jumper and he only has 10st 2lb on his back.

A small field might well help his jumping stand up and juice in the ground is no problem. A horse like Springwell Boy might just outclass him but I’m happy to take a chance each-way.

 

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

Saturday’s Racing Tips

13:45 Cheltenham – Mister Coffey
14:20 Cheltenham – Il Ridoto (each-way)
14:36 Lingfield – Tyrrhenian Sea (each-way)
14:55 Cheltenham – Chantry House (each-way)
15:11 Lingfield – Mischief Magic
15:30 Cheltenham – Wonderful Eagle (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.

Saturday’s Racing Tips

READ MORE

      The latest racing odds are on PaddyPower.com now

      THE PADDY POWER GUIDE TO SAFER GAMBLING – EVERYTHING YOU NEED TO KNOW