Mick Fitzgerald’s Saturday ITV Racing tips
13:15 Cheltenham – East India Dock
13:30 Doncaster – Calico
13:50 Cheltenham – Ginny’s Destiny
14:05 Doncaster – Ma Shantou
14:25 Cheltenham – L’Homme Presse
14:40 Doncaster – Kateira
15:00 Cheltenham – Constitution Hill
15:15 Doncaster – Forward Plan / Snipe (each-way)
15:35 Cheltenham – Strong Leader
*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.
13:15 Cheltenham – East India Dock
James Owen’s four-year-old East India Dock is the best UK juvenile we’ve seen so far from those who raced on the Flat. He’s a very slick jumper and he should enhance his Triumph Hurdle claims again by winning this. Stencil could be worth a check in the market as he had been gelded just five weeks before his defeat in France last time and can improve on that now on what is his UK debut.
13:30 Doncaster – Calico
Calcio finished third to Matata (who won well at Windsor last weekend) at the Cheltenham November meeting and was a little disappointing on the day. His trainer Dan Skelton had put him up as his best chance as he’d beaten that stablemate at this same venue a month earlier. He’s a course winner at Doncaster, will appreciate the ground and still looks reasonably handicapped.
13:50 Cheltenham – Ginny’s Destiny
I really like course specialist Ginny’s Destiny for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. He blotted his copybook when pulled up in the Paddy Power Gold Cup on seasonal debut but that was a untypical performance from him – especially at this venue. He then ran third to Djelo and Protektorat in the Peterborough Chase at Huntingdon. Iroko is worth watching but may take another step forward from this run.
14:05 Doncaster – Ma Shantou
The going could play a huge part in this Garde 2 novices hurdle over 3m. Ma Shantou has a chance having won very nicely at Windsor and the form ties in with Western Knight as both have beaten Excello in this division. He should have no problem stepping up in trip. Jig’s Forge is the unknown quantity in the field.
14:25 Cheltenham – L’Homme Presse
Venetia Willaims’ runner L’Homme Presse put in a smart performance when third to Banbridge in the King George VI Chase at Kempton last month and the conditions of the race suit as he gets weight off Gentlemansgame and Stage Star. Chantry House may be the one to chase him home in this six-runner field or the one to chance in the ‘without the favourite’ market.
14:40 Doncaster – Kateira
A 3m mares’ race where Kateira should take all the beating. She won’t want a slog over this 3m trip but if there’s a strong pace, she can sit in behind as she travels strongly in her races. Jetara looks the danger.
15:00 Cheltenham – Constitution Hill
Nicky Henderson’s former Champion Hurdler Constitution Hill should be rubber-stamping his claims to regain his crown at the Festival in mid March. On all known form – nothing in this field can beat him.
15:15 Doncaster – Forward Plan / Snipe (each-way)
The Great Yorkshire Chase is the most competitive race of the day. Forward Plan is ridden by 10lb claimer Chad Bament and that will ease his weight burden considerably. He was beaten a nose in the race last year and the jockey is good value for his claim. Snipe looks an each-way play as he’ll be ridden to pick up the pieces and this contest should be run to suit his style.
15:35 Cheltenham – Strong Leader
The Grade 2 Cleeve Hurdle over 3m and I’m keen to support Strong Leader. He bombed out when well fancied for the Long Walk Hurdle at Ascot las time, that the re-opposing Crambo won. Olly Murphy’s charge has a wind operation since then and while you can always forgive a horse one poor run, I really hope he bounces back to the form he showed last season.
Mick Fitzgerald’s ITV Racing tips
13:15 Cheltenham – East India Dock
13:30 Doncaster – Calico
13:50 Cheltenham – Ginny’s Destiny
14:05 Doncaster – Ma Shantou
14:25 Cheltenham – L’Homme Presse
14:40 Doncaster – Kateira
15:00 Cheltenham – Constitution Hill
15:15 Doncaster – Forward Plan / Snipe (each-way)
15:35 Cheltenham – Strong Leader
*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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