Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:50 Cheltenham – Ga Law
14:05 Doncaster – Does He Know
14:25 Cheltenham – Liberty Hunter
14:40 Doncaster – West Balboa
15:00 Cheltenham – Clondaw General
15:15 Doncaster – Deploy To Spy
15:35 Cheltenham – Joyeuse
*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.
13:50 Cheltenham – Ga Law
ITV Racing Saturday comes from Cheltenham and Doncaster Saturday, starting with the December Gold Cup Handicap Chase over an extended 2m4f. GA LAW is not the best handicapped horse in the race but I’ll be stunned if he’s not bang in the box at the finish.
Jamie Snowden’s classy handicapper has run two fine races this season at Chepstow and then when second to Il Ridoto in the fabulous Paddy Power Gold Cup. He’s gone up 2lb for those efforts, but the way this race should be run will suit his prominent style, and he kept on well last time despite slipping on the home turn. Gavin Sheehan takes the ride on the horse who landed the Paddy Power in 2022. He was rated 142 then.
14:05 Doncaster – Does He Know
ITV start at Doncaster with this handicap chase over 3m. A wide-open event. Forward Plan is 12lb higher than when winning this last year. That might stop him.
I like the strong stayer DOES HE KNOW for Kim Bailey and Ciaran Gethings. He’s been dropped 3lb for two solid efforts this term at Cheltenham, and I see now reason why he can’t hit the frame here at the very least. He’s won at this track before.
14:25 Cheltenham – Liberty Hunter
Here’s a handicap chase over 2m. LIBBERTY HUNTER is a pretty classy horse and must have a great chance for Harry Cobden and Evan Williams. The eight-year-old progressed nicely last season and scored twice at Wincanton and Cheltenham before a fine second to Unexpected Party in the Grand Annual and a third at Aintree in the Grade 1 Maghull. Master Chewy was second in the latter contest, but there is a 10lb turn around here.
14:40 Doncaster – West Balboa
A Listed Mares’ Hurdle over an extended 3m. This will not take long. A good bit of placing by Dan Skelton with WEST BALBOA who with a rating of 143 should be far too good for this field and even gets 2lb from main rival Gale Mahler. West Balboa hasn’t come up to scratch in chases, but when last over hurdles, was a fine third at Aintree.
15:00 Cheltenham – Clondaw General
A Grade 2 novices’ hurdle over 3m. I have a feeling that CLONDAW GENERAL is a really good horse in the making, although only time will tell whether he’s quite ready for this right now.
He takes on a progressive horse in Skyjack Hijack, but Kim Bailey’s runner looked good at Worcester when last seen. I was at that meeting and I really got the idea Tom Bellamy thought this was a decent animal. Jonathan Burke takes the ride.
15:15 Doncaster – Deploy To Spy
A handicap hurdle over an extended 2m. Quite a tough race to sort out. I really fancied Altobelli at Sandown the other day, but the ground won’t be as soft here. DEPLOY TO SPY is not an original selection, but he’s improving all the time and scored easily at Aintree last time off a mark of 118. A big horse with size and scope, he should cope with a 7lb rise.
15:35 Cheltenham – Joyeuse
A handicap hurdle over an extended 2m4f. JOYEUSE could be chucked in here off 119. Nicky Henderson’s runner beat Tutti Quanti in a maiden hurdle at Taunton two runs ago, and that animal last won off 125, so it shows how the mark for Nico de Boinville’s mount could be very lenient. She needs to do more than when third on debut at Ascot, but that is quite possible first time in a handicap.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips
13:50 Cheltenham – Ga Law
14:05 Doncaster – Does He Know
14:25 Cheltenham – Liberty Hunter
14:40 Doncaster – West Balboa
15:00 Cheltenham – Clondaw General
15:15 Doncaster – Deploy To Spy
15:35 Cheltenham – Joyeuse
*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.
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