Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing shouts – Paddy Power News

It’s a bumper Saturday on the tellybox and Matt is keen on Bethpage in the 13:45 at Wincanton.

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

12:55 Aintree – The Lord Maid
13:10 Wincanton – Abingworth
13:25 Doncaster – Montassib
13:45 Wincanton – Bethpage
14:23 Wincanton – Blueking Doroux
14:40 Aintree – Gaboriot (each-way)
14:55 Wincanton – Rubaud
15:10 Doncaster – Elwateen
15:30 Wincanton – Threeunderthrufive
15:45 Doncaster – Stressfree

*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

ITV Racing is back with a marathon show and a bit of everything Saturday thanks to meetings at Aintree, Doncaster and Wincanton, starting here with a Pertemps Handicap Hurdle Qualifier over an extended 3m. Has to be one of the smallest fields ever for a race like this. I don’t really fancy any of these over hurdles. Most of them are chasers and the race is being used as a prep run. On that basis the only selection can be THE LORD MAID, who has been off the track 210 days since landing a mares hurdle at Ayr off 126. Now she has to do it against boys off 132 on seasonal debut which won’t be easy. Stan Sheppard rides for Tom Lacey.

Action at Wincanton gets under way here with a handicap chase over 2m4f. ABINGWORTH doesn’t do much wrong on the Flat and over jumps and might still be well enough handicapped here to win for James Owen and Harry Cobden. Ground and distance are perfect for the gelding who scored off 110 at Market Rasen in June. 113 seems reasonable enough to me.

13:25 Doncaster – Montassib

If Flat racing is your thing then it gets a showing here for the Listed Wentworth Stakes over 6f. I’ll be stunned if MONTASSIB doesn’t win this for James Doyle and William Haggas. After injury he returned with a lovely run over 5f at Newbury and then he was a reasonable seventh in Group 1 company at Ascot. He went well at this track when last here and should get a gallop to run at in perfect conditions. Basically ‘Doyler’ just have to be Jamie Spencer for just over a minute. Sit behind and pounce late.

13:45 Wincanton – Bethpage

Now a mares’s handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f. BETHPAGE is much improved since wind surgery and might just be able to outstay Jubilee Alpha if fit on return. She can wind things up from close to the pace while Jubilee Alpha I suspect will be held up for a turn of speed. Emma Lavelle trains and she’s started in good shape this season, with Rex Dingle taking the mount.

Up in class for the Grade 2 Rising Stars Novices’ Chase over 2m4f. On paper this is a no brainer, and BLUEKING D’OROUX should be able to walk around for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden. My selection was, of course, beaten at 2-9 on chasing debut at Newton Abbot where his jumping wasn’t great. But on the basis he has been extensively schooled since he should just be too classy for this lot. He did keep on well enough at Newton Abbot despite the shock defeat.

14:40 Aintree – Gaboriot (each-way)

Here’s the Sefton Handicap Chase over the Grand National fences and a distance of 2m5f. Hoping for a big field here and each-way betting 1-2-3-4. GABORIOT was a fine third in this off 127 this time last year and can go from a mark of 124 this time. A racing weight of 10st 6lb is perfect and I’m sure Greenall & Guerriero will have the horse fit for a race that clearly suits. The only worry about going strong each-way is that I think this is a much better race than last year. Robbie Dunne rides with Henry Brooke sidelined.

14:55 Wincanton – Rubaud

The Grade 2 Elite Hurdle over 1m7f. A desperate renewal. Not much to say other than RUBAUD will have to fall not to repeat his success in this event last season when rated 147. He’s now on 149 in a lesser field. Will be no sort of price for Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls.

15:10 Doncaster – Elwateen

Another Listed race in the Gillies Fillies’ Stakes over 1m2f. Lot’s of ridiculous horses in this. The most interesting runner for me is ELWATEEN for Saeed bin Suroor and Kevin Stott. The 1000 Guineas fourth stayed on well last time at Newmarket over 1m and while she made no impression in the Oaks this might be her trip. The ground is a guessing game, but I’d always want to take on likely favourite Danielle who was oddly punted hard in Group 1 company last time. Very odd.

The Badger Beers Handicap Chase over 3m1f. Art of Diplomacy is raring fit and should have won at Chepstow last time. Connections were gutted when he fell. He can win this, but I’ll chance THREEUNDERTHRUFIVE with Paul Nicholls surely meaning business on a first run since a wind operation. My hope ran well in this in 2023 when chasing home Blackjack Magic off 147 and he can race here off just 5lb higher. He was lightly raced last season and ended up pulled up twice. But he went up to a mark of 156 and if he simply couldn’t breathe he might be worth chancing under Harry Cobden whose confidence may well be high by this race!

For many the big betting race of the day in the November Handicap over 1m4f. STRESSFREE is not a well handicapped horse. But he’s been running well all year and hasn’t always had soft ground which suits him well. He stayed on into seventh in this last year and I suspect he will be very hard to keep out the frame again after a perfectly decent run at Newbury last time where he was never placed to challenge. David Noland rides for David O’Meara.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

*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

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing shouts – Paddy Power News

Tags: