Saturday ITV Racing best bets
The ITV Racing cameras are back in action on Saturday and while the day’s coverage won’t be as previously planned there are still eight races for punters to enjoy through the afternoon. We’ve picked out our Saturday ITV Racing best bets and tips for the day’s TV action.
Saturday’s ITV Racing schedule has a very different look to what had been originally planned for the afternoon with the forced abandonments of both Newbury and Warwick leaving no jumps racing to go to post in the UK.
Stepping into the TV breach however is all-weather racing action as well as jumps racing from Ireland and the cameras instead head to the all-weather fixture at Lingfield as well as Naas for four races apiece where some competitive handicap and Listed chase action awaits.
Ed Chamberlain and the team will have all their usual expert racing tips, insights and post-race analysis on the Saturday action and we’ve picked out our Saturday ITV Racing best bets for the day’s TV coverage.
Saturday ITV Racing best bets – TV tips at Lingfield and Naas
1:40 Naas – BBA Ireland Limited Opera Hat Mares Chase (Listed Race) (5yo+) 2m
ELIMAY found only the top-class Allaho too strong at Thurles last month and the Montmartre mare ought to prove tough to beat here.
Willie Mullins’ charge proved hugely progressive over fences last term, winning both starts in Graded company at Cork and Thurles having also struck twice the previous season over hurdles as well as compete behind Roksana at the Cheltenham Festival.
Having found only the smart Buildmeupbuttercup too good on her reappearance over hurdles at Punchestown in November she was beaten just three lengths latest back over fences behind her classy stablemate and a repeat of that effort could be good enough to see her collect the win here dropping down in class.
She does have to concede 5lbs to this field while the drop back to the minimum trip isn’t sure to be entirely suitable; however she sets the standard on that latest run and she can cement her place at the head of the ante-post betting for the new mares’ Chase at the Cheltenham Festival with a win.
Saturday ITV Racing best bets. Trainer Willie Mullins can win the day’s feature race at Naas.
2:00 Lingfield – Get Your Ladbrokes Daily Odds Boost Handicap Cl3 (3yo 0-95) 6f
WATER OF LEITH won a shade comfortably when last seen scoring over this trip at Wolverhampton and Jim Goldie’s charge can land his hat-trick here.
The Kodiac gelding had shaped well on his turf debut over the summer at Ayr last July but he’s since won both his subsequent starts at Wolverhampton and switching now to polytrack he can continue to progress.
He only needed to be pushed out for a half-length verdict over Warrior Brave when last seen where the front two pulled some five lengths clear of the remainder and the runner-up won next time out to give the form a boost.
Now switching to the handicap ranks for this latest outing he could be up to the task of defying an opening rating of 91 given he’s still very much an unexposed type who could well have more to offer.
2:15 Naas – Naas Handicap Chase (5yo+ 0-130) 2m4½f
DRUMACOO ran better than the bare result when finishing sixth to Jukebox Jive at Navan in December and it might be worth chancing Michael Hourigan’s charge to bounce back to winning form here.
The Oscar gelding travelled well into that contest before finding less than expected under pressure; but he had won the time before at Listowel with a defeat of Grange Walk and a reproduction of that effort could see him go close.
He has plenty of solid placed form from seasons past over hurdles and fences including a win when trained by Ben Pauling and returning to chasing from a mark of 121 he looks handicapped to deliver a big run if a break hasn’t taken the edge off him.
2:35 Lingfield – Bombardier British-Hopped Amber Beer Handicap Cl4 (4yo+ 0-80) 1m
ACCOMPLICE has a decent record around these turns with six course and distance wins to his name and Michael Blanshard’s charge can add to her tally here.
The Sakhee’s Secret mare has won two of her last three course and distance outings, most recently getting the better of Thrill Seeker by a short-head where she got up in the last strides for the win. She’s not been winning by far which may make it hard for the handicapper to get a grip of her while in her current vein of form.
A further 3lbs rise applies a little more pressure to her chances of a follow-up with a career-high mark now to overcome; but while in her current good spell she is hard to overlook and she can get her head in front again.
2:50 Naas – Naas Rated Novice Hurdle (4yo) 1m7½f
DRUID’S ALTAR has been highly tried this term over hurdles following his debut success at Punchestown and this easier contest could see Joseph O’Brien’s charge get back to winning ways.
A winner on heavy ground on the flat he struck by four lengths on his hurdles debut prior to tackling Graded company in his next two runs where he came up short behind Zanahiyr both times at Fairyhouse and Leopardstown respectively.
He bumped into another smart sort latest in Teahupoo back at Fairyhouse latest but he had the reopposing Autumn Evening behind him in that contest and he can confirm that form here with Hugh Morgan taking a handy 5lbs off his back now.
That concession swings the balance in his favour and he ought to go close in this contest.
Saturday ITV Racing best bets. Jockey Ryan Moore can get amongst the winners at Lingfield.
3:10 Lingfield – Betway Casino Handicap Cl5 (4yo+ 0-70) 1m2f
A winner on the Redcar turf back in November it might pay to side with CONVERTIBLE who has made the frame in each of his past two starts over this course and distance and Hugo Palmer’s charge can get back to winning ways.
The Helmet gelding saw off the useful Jewel Maker to register that win and since being stepped up to ten furlongs in his recent outings he has finished runner-up and third respectively, latterly beaten just over one length by Noble Peace where he possibly just did too much in front.
He can race off the same mark for this latest outing where the booking of Ryan Moore catches the eye and the pair can combine for the win where he can overturn the form with Stopnsearch who finished one place ahead of him in that last outing and now has to give the selection 2lbs.
3:25 Naas – Adare Manor Opportunity Handicap Hurdle (4yo+ 80-109) 1m7½f
Placed in the point-to-point ranks prior to joining this yard JUNIOR RATTLER found a jolt of improvement fitted with a tongue-tie to finish a good third at Limerick over Christmas and the Arakan gelding might be worth chancing to get off the mark now.
Oliver McKiernan’s charge was beaten a fair distance but it was an improved effort nonetheless and while he didn’t look altogether straightforward the lightly-raced sort could improve again.
The return to the minimum trip is unlikely to present a problem and switching to handicaps from an opening 95 rating he could make his presence felt here if building on that latest outing which was a step in the right direction.
3:45 Lingfield – Betway Handicap Cl5 (4yo+ 0-75) 6f
This could be run at a decent pace which will suit DESERT LAND and the Kodiac gelding can get back to winning ways here.
Jim Boyle’s charge is a two-time course and distance winner and he’s also placed on three other occasions at this venue with the last of his wins coming here in January when getting the better of Hey Ho Let’s Go by a head and he wasn’t suited by the slow pace latest when only fifth back over course and distance behind Power Over Me.
That winner has gone in again since though and the selection can do better here provided they go at a decent gallop.