The ITV Racing cameras alight on Beverley, Chester and Sandown for a competitive Saturday’s equine action and there looks to be a very backable favourite to kick things off, as well as some appealing each-way plays later on in the broadcast.
ITV Racing Tips – August 31
1.30 Beverley – Quietness to win @ 7/4
2.40 Chester – Spirit Genie to win (each-way) @ 14/1
3.15 Chester – Shanroe to win (each-way) @ 16/1
Bet on the latest horse racing odds at Betzone
Tregoning revelation unlikely to have finished improving
The 1.30 at Beverley has an intriguing shape to it, with Drawn To Dream 11lbs clear of the field on official ratings and two of his four adversaries having scored four times already this season.
Taking on the handicapper’s idea of the best horse in the field is a given considering he’s yet to get within 12-and-a-half-lengths of the winner in three starts for Jamie Snowden since his arrival from the North Rhine-Westphalia yard of Prix de l’Arc de Triomphe winning trainer Peter Schiergen.
QUIETNESS and course and distance scorer Walter Hartright have both been prolific this term, but clear preference is for the former, who has progressed from a mark of 68 to 91 since joining Marcus Tregoning’s operation in April, posting form figures of 1-1-1-2-1.
The step up to 1m4f saw him deliver his best performance to date last time and there should be plenty of mileage in his current mark despite a 6lb rise for that win. Walter Hartright, on the other hand, saw his four-race winning streak over trips of around 1m4f end last time with no excuses.
Tip: 1.30 Beverley – Quietness to win @ 7/4
Spirit Genie too big given strength of recent Chester form
Chester regulars Boardman (12/1), Divine Libra (12/1), Revich (9/1) and Yanifer (13/2) are all in attendance for the Livescore Bet Handicap (2.40) and all must be taken seriously, with a liking for the track a major positive at this tight, tricky circuit.
However, at 14/1 SPIRIT GENIE feels like better value having given Yanifer 1lb and a three-quarter-length beating over 7f at Chester back in May. The pair have clashed at the course again since then with the latter exacting revenge, but the selection suffered trouble in running on that occasion.
This time around Yanifer, who rates one of the favourites for victory at the time of writing, must give the selection 5lbs in weight. That should bring Jennie Candlish’s four-year-old right into it as an each-way prospect with four places to play for.
Tip: 2.40 Chester – Spirit Genie to win (each-way) @ 14/1
Lesser-heralded member of Irish raiding party to claim Chester Stakes
At the time of writing Willie Mullins’ County Hurdle and Ebor-handicap-winning dual-purpose money spinner Absurde is 5/2 joint favourite for the listed Chester Stakes (3.15) with Caius Chorister.
However, the first named was beaten 31 lengths on his flat season return in a Curragh Group 3 earlier this month and 10-year-old fellow Irish raider SHANROE (rated just 3lbs below Mullins’ gelding) is more exciting at a huge 16/1.
Karl Thornton’s veteran landed this race last year – one of five wins from seven runs at the 1m6f trip – and is likely to have been campaigned with a repeat showing in mind ever since.
