. Brian Healy looks ahead to Saturday’s televised horse racing action and gives his ITV Racing best bets and tips for all eight live TV races.
The ITV Racing cameras are back in action on Saturday where eight races will be shown live across the afternoon from three of the day’s fixtures going to post.
Kempton will feature five of the day’s races where a trio of Grade Two races will head to post including the rearranged Kingwell Hurdle from Wincanton’s abanonded fixture last Saturday. There is also classy all-weather action from Lingfield where two races will be shown live including the Winter Derby.
Completing the Saturday line-up of televised racing action is Newcastle where the Eider Handicap Chase is the main event of the afternoon at Gosforth Park.
ITV RACING FULL SCHEDULE
1:15 Kempton – Betway Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f
1:50 Kempton – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo) 2m
2:05 Lingfield – Betway Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 5f
2:25 Kempton – Betway Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m
2:45 Newcastle – Vertem Eider Handicap Chase Cl2 (5yo+) 4m1½f
3:02 Kempton – Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m
3:15 Lingfield – Betway Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3) (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2f
3:35 Kempton – Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m
ITV RACING BEST BETS AT A GLANCE
1:15 Kempton – MASTER TOMMYTUCKER (5/2, Betway)
1:50 Kempton – FUJIMOTO FLYER (15/8, William Hill)
2:05 Lingfield – GOOD EFFORT (6/4, Betway)
2:25 Kempton – SONG FOR SOMEONE (11/4, Betway)
2:45 Newcastle – HUGO ‘N TAZ (13/2, 888Sport)
3:02 Kempton – BUZZ (7/4, 888Sport)
3:15 Lingfield – BANGKOK (8/11, Betway)
3:35 Kempton – DOUBLE SHUFFLE (8/1, Betway)
Brian Healy takes a race-by-race look through all eight races and gives his live TV tips and ITV Racing best bets for Saturday’s telly action.
1:15 Kempton – Betway Pendil Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 (5yo+) 2m4½f
This contest has been a Paul Nicholls benefit in recent years and the Ditcheat handler sends out another strong team in the race headed by MASTER TOMMYTUCKER (5/2, Betway) who was yet to be asked for effort when falling here over Christmas in the Kauto Star Novices’ Chase.
The Kayf Tara gelding was unbeaten in two starts over hurdles prior to switching to fences where he fell on his only start last campaign at Chepstow. However, he made a big impression when returning from a long break to beat Who Dares Wins – who reopposes – by a half-length.
He wore a hood that day and he won easier than the official half-length winning distance suggests. He’s likely to be suited by this longer trip and he was still travelling well at the head of affairs here on Boxing Day when falling fall out.
It is debatable whether he’d have won and it is a shade concerning that he has bit the dust on two of his three chase starts; but if he can put in a clear round here and show he’s none the worse for his recent tumble then he could prove the one to side with in this contest.
ITV Racing best bets. Trainer Paul Nicholls can win another Pendil Novices’ Chase with Master Tommytucker.
1:50 Kempton – Weatherbys Cheltenham Festival Betting Guide Adonis Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo) 2m
Solo sets the standard on his form in France but Paul Nicholls’ Kapgarde gelding could struggle to give 5lbs to the unbeaten FUJIMOTO FLYER (15/8, William Hill) who is 2-2 since switching her attentions to this discipline.
The Admire Moon filly was only a fair sort on the level but she found improvement at the first attempt over hurdles to run out a wide margin winner over Harvest Bow at Killarney. That success was followed up with another impressive effort in a French Listed contest where she struck by nine lengths. That form looks strong with the runner-up since winning three of four subsequent outings in Graded company over hurdles and fences; while the fifth horse home won a Grade Three next time out.
A first-time hood could offer further improvement and she can post a big performance here from her low weight where she can boost her Triumph Hurdle claims with a third straight win.
2:05 Lingfield – Betway Hever Sprint Stakes (Listed Race) Cl1 (4yo+) 5f
GOOD EFFORT (6/4, Betway) is thriving at present and could take another forward step to extend his winning run to four in this Listed prize.
The Shamardal horse has won his last three starts which includes a defeat of Soldier’s Minute in a Listed contest over six furlongs at this venue, scoring by two lengths, and there could be better still to come from him.
He had won over this trip the time before so this drop back to the minimum distance will hold no fears where he could make all the running from his draw against the far rail. He had a few of these behind him in that last success and he can uphold that form here with another success.
2:25 Kempton – Betway Kingwell Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m
SONG FOR SOMEONE (11/4, Betway) can find another jolt of improvement to get back on the winning trail and collect what could be a relatively weak Grade Two contest.
Tom Symond’s charge has proven to be highly progressive over hurdles, winning at Newbury and Warwick last term prior to posting a solid sixth behind Pentland Hills in a Grade One at Aintree on his final outing.
The Medicean gelding made a winning reappearance at Fontwell and he has since acquitted himself well in defeat in Listed and Grade Three company latest where he was denied only by one length behind Champion Hurdle-bound Thomas Derby having tried to make all.
He stuck on gamely however and that form has been franked. He should have no issue dropping back in trip here so it wouldn’t come as a surprise if he were to put on a bold show from the front
ITV Racing best bets. Song For Someone can win the rearranged Kingwell Hurdle.
2:45 Newcastle – Vertem Eider Handicap Chase Cl2 (5yo+) 4m1½f
This is likely to prove attritional and a chance is taken on HUGO ‘N TAZ (13/2, 888Sport) to improve on his reappearance success at Market Rasen on Boxing Day where he looked all about stamina.
David Pipe’s charge was a fair sort in Ireland when trained by Denis Hogan, reaching a mark of 116. His best effort probably came when finishing sixth in the 2018 Cork National prior to his switch.
Following wind surgery after joining the Pipe team he ran out a ready winner following more than six months off in the Lincolnshire National and a subsequent 8lbs rise in the weights may well be lenient given he has the potential for better to come on the back of his reappearance.
A big, imposing sort he has proven himself in testing ground and this extreme test of stamina could suit so every chance he can post a big effort here where he should be sharper for his winning return.
3:02 Kempton – Sky Bet Dovecote Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m
This looks a wide-open contest and the unbeaten BUZZ (7/4, 888Sport) can make it a winning hat-trick of starts for Nicky Henderson.
The Motivator gelding was a useful sort on the flat where he won four times for Hughie Morrison; but he threatens to make up into a very nice hurdler judging on his two starts to date. He was a ready winner over Galahad Quest at Taunton on his first attempt over hurdles, and that form has been boosted.
Value for more than the official winning margin of a neck, he repeated the dose with a similar margin defeat of Glory And Fortune at Doncaster earlier in the month where he appeared to idle but was always just doing enough.
He could have more in the locker still to come, while the bare form of his two wins demands a further jolt of improvement raised significantly in class; but he’s going the right way and looks worth chancing to take the step up in grade in his stride to land a winning hat-trick here.
3:15 Lingfield – Betway Winter Derby Stakes (Group 3) (All-Weather Championships Fast-Track Qualifier) Cl1 (4yo+) 1m2f
This is likely to boil down to a match between Dubai Warrior and BANGKOK (8/11, Betway) with preference for Andrew Balding’s charge who can follow up his recent course and distance win.
The Australia colt brings the best form to the table, acquitting himself with credit last term in Graded company. He got back on the scoresheet with an impressive victory over a few of these rivals to take the Winter Derby Trial back at the beginning of the month and can confirm that form.
Balding’s stable star arrives here fit as a result and he could make that advantage tell in this race where he can compete here from level weights despite being rated 4lbs and more superior to his rivals, several of whom he has already beaten in that last outing so every chance he can repeat the dose.
He is likely to take plenty of beating here with Sylvestre De Sousa back in the saddle.
ITV Racing best bets. Bangkok can win the Lingfield Winter Derby
3:35 Kempton – Betway Handicap Chase (Grade 3) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m
He’s not won for a while but it might be worth chancing on DOUBLE SHUFFLE (8/1, Betway) to snap his long losing run which now stands at 15 runs without success.
Tom George’s charge posted his last success over this course and distance back in December 2016 where he beat Go Conquer. He largely contested in Graded company since where he has held his own for the most part including when finding only Might Bite too strong in the 2017 King George VI Chase.
The Milan gelding turns out here on the back of a couple of runs which have been below his best. He latterly failed to land a blow in heavy ground at Ascot behind future Grade One winner Riders Onthe Storm although the trip and ground were both probably against him.
Back on a better surface and returning to a more suitable trip he could bounce back from that effort here. He often shows up well at the Sunbury venue and no surprise to see him run well.
Rated 150 for this contest he is clearly well-handicapped on his best form and while perhaps not the force of old he can get competitive back at this venue.