The ITV Racing cameras spotlight Doncaster, Kelso and Newbury on the penultimate Saturday before the Cheltenham Festival and punters certainly aren’t being short changed, with 10 races to be broadcast.
Kelso’s valuable card has enticed a runner from reigning Irish and British champion trainer Willie Mullins that looks well worth supporting, while there are backable market leaders in the big handicap chases at Donny and the Berkshire circuit.
ITV Racing Tips – Saturday March 1
2.55 Kelso – Chart Topper to win @ 3/1
3.15 Doncaster – Some Scope to win @ 5/1
3.45 Newbury – Billytherealbigred to win @ 5/1
Bet on the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Classy Closutton raider to prove top of the pops in Grade 2 hurdle
The bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (2.55) looks a really competitive affair, with seven last time out winners entered up, five seeking hat-tricks and one, Vanderpoel eyeing a potential four-timer.
However, a closer look at the quality of the horses they’ve beaten narrows down the field a fair bit – highlighting precisely why Willie Mullins has sent CHART TOPPER over to sing for his supper.
The six-year-old is 12lbs clear of the field on RPRs, after comfortably handing the 125-rated Peso a four-and-a-half-length beating at Wetherby last time to extend his winning run over hurdles to two races.
Tip: 2.55 Kelso – Chart Topper to win @ 3/1
Hobson horse has scope to go one better after last year’s silver medal
Last year’s running of the Grimthorpe Chase (3.15) was a tortuous soft ground affair in which only two of the 10 runners finished.
SOME SCOPE finished runner up behind Does He Know on that occasion and looks sure to go closer again this year off just a 2lb higher mark, with the expected going far more his cup of tea this time around.
The Richard Hobson gelding’s five career wins have all come on good-to-soft ground or better, whereas last season’s runner-up effort is the only time he’s got within 12 lengths of a winner on soft or worse.
Town Moor is undoubtedly a track that plays to his strengths as he won a 3m chase by seven lengths on good going in January 2024. There’s also reason to believe he should be a stronger animal as he bids to land the Grimthorpe at the second attempt given he was only six years old for his first tilt 12 months ago.
Tip: 3.15 Doncaster – Some Scope to win @ 5/1
Upwardly mobile Billy weighted to sink the Grand National preppers
Grand National hopefuls Iroko and Kandoo Kid feature prominently in the ante-post betting for the BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (3.45).
However, the Premier Chase at Kelso is the first preference for the former, while both have been allotted a 12st burden for this contest.
Whether Iroko ends up north of the border or not, his Oliver-Greenall-and-Josh-Guerriero-trained stablemate BILLYTHEREALBIGRED makes more appeal on just his fourth run over fences.
The five-year-old won well on his first two tries over the larger obstacles before running a strong second to Jagwar on Cheltenham Trials Day – that opponent is now favourite for two handicaps at the Festival.
Unexposed compared to the majority of the field, he can improve again to take this off a manageable weight of 10st 8lbs. Claimer Toby Wynne comes in for the ride, with the conditional’s 3lb allowance neutralising the 3lb rise the selection received for his most recent effort.
