Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s belting best bets for Saturday’s ITV Racing

Mighty Matt Chapman goes for a Serious Operator in the 1:42 at Kelso.

By / Horse Racing Tips / 9 months ago

Matt Chapman’s ITV Saturday Racing Tips

13:20 Newbury – Fortescue
13:42 Kelso – Serious Operator
13:55 Newbury – Bill Baxter
14:17 Kelso – Personal Ambition
14:35 Doncaster – Nube Negra
14:50 Kelso – Black Hawk Eagle
15:10 Doncaster – Gaye Legacy
15:25 Kelso – Minella Drama
15:40 Doncaster – Some Scope

*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.

13:20 Newbury – Fortescue

 ITV Racing is banging out races left, right and centre on Saturday starting off with this veterans’ handicap chase over 3m2f. Stamina will be key in these conditions. I’m not giving up on FORTESCUE who stays forever even though his best form tends to come at Haydock and he couldn’t win there when I fancied him two runs ago. That said he ran well and the ground would have been too fast when flopping at Sandown when last seen. He’s dropped 3lb from Haydock and has a fine eachway chance for Henry Daly and Harry Cobden, who looks a very interesting jockey booking.

13:42 Kelso – Serious Operator

 ITV are also at Kelso on Saturday and get under way here for a handicap hurdle over 2m5f. Another tricky race to sort out. SERIOUS OPERATOR has a strong eachway chance for Lucinda Russell and Patrick Wedge, who takes off 3lb. The seven-year-old was a decent winner at Doncaster two runs ago and then ran a cracker over this trip when fifth in the Lanzarote at Kempton. He’s on the same mark here and might be better than that form suggests as he lost a right-hind shoe.

13:55 Newbury – Bill Baxter

This is a handicap chase over 2m4f and it’s wide open. That said I think BILL BAXTER has a right eachway chance for Warren Greatrex and James Bowen. The Coral Gold Cup eighth placer weakened at Cheltenham last time but the ground wouldn’t have been fast enough there and this ground and distance is ideal. The former Topham winner has dropped 8lb in the last few runs and is an eachway player.

14:17 Kelso – Personal Ambition

Now a Grade 2 novices’ hurdle over 2m2f. PERSONAL AMBITION is a horse I love and if he settles, he has a huge chance for Ben Pauling and Kielan Woods, who is back from suspension this week. I was at Doncaster when the selection scored last time and he really does look a talent. He just needs to relax as he can be a bit free. Getting 5lb from Jango Baie helps.

14:35 Doncaster – Nube Negra

 ITV are also at Doncaster on Saturday and show this handicap chase over an extended 2m. NUBE NEGRA might get some decent ground here and while it’s hard in a handicap giving weight away he’s good enough to be a player for the Skelton team of jockey Harry and trainer Dan. Cheekpieces are put on for the first time after a distance fourth at Cheltenham to Elixir de Nutz and Jonbon last time.

14:50 Kelso – Black Hawk Eagle

The Morebattle Handicap Hurdle is over 2m. BLACK HAWK EAGLE has done really well for Kerry Lee since coming from Ireland and will have every chance here under Richard Patrick. The selection is held up in his races and will be produced late just as he was when scoring at Wincanton and Hereford on his last two starts. He’s up from 111 to 122 but might still have some wiggle room.

15:10 Doncaster – Gaye Legacy

Now a Listed mares’ novice hurdle over an extended 3m. GAYE LEGACY is a confirmed stayer and is in good form so get’s the verdict for Tom Symonds and Ben Poste. She’s been in great form at a low level at Newbury and Market Rasen and while she has a few pounds to find, she seems to be improving.

15:25 Kelso – Minella Drama

Here’s a Listed Chase over nearly 3m. MINELLA DRAMA might go well at a price here for Donald McCain and Brian Hughes. I hope he has good form at this track and is likely to try and go from the front. He flopped at Aintree last time, but was second at that track to Jetoile three runs ago, in a decent effort, and crucially he now runs second time after a wind operation and tongue tied. If that makes a difference he’s a player in this small field.

15:40 Doncaster – Some Scope

A big betting event in the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase over 3m2f. SOME SCOPE has no weight on his back and is on the hat-trick so has a huge chance for Richard Hobson and Gavin Sheehan. The lightly raced six-year-old is improving quickly and up to 125 after a success at this track, when on a mark of 115 last time, he might well be up to it. 

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

Matt Chapman’s ITV Saturday Race Tips

13:20 Newbury – Fortescue
13:42 Kelso – Serious Operator
13:55 Newbury – Bill Baxter
14:17 Kelso – Personal Ambition
14:35 Doncaster – Nube Negra
14:50 Kelso – Black Hawk Eagle
15:10 Doncaster – Gaye Legacy
15:25 Kelso – Minella Drama
15:40 Doncaster – Some Scope

*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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