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

Matt’s keen on Alexei in the handicap hurdle at 15:10 at Ascot.

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

13:15 Wetherby – Top Target (each-way)
13:30 Ascot – Viroflay
13:50 Wetherby – Golden Ace
14:05 Ascot – General Medrano (each-way)
14:22 Wetherby – Strong Leader
14:40 Down Royal – Spillanes Tower
14:57 Wetherby – Pic DOrhy
15:10 Ascot – Alexei
15:30 Wetherby – Max Of Stars (each-way)
15:45 Ascot – Henrys Friend (each-way)

*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 Saturday with action from Wetherby, Ascot, and Down Royal, starting here with a handicap chase over an extended 2m3f. Lightning Flash can easily keep the winning run going, but TOP TARGET should be much better than a 114 horse and is an each-way play for the in-form Tom Bellamy, Kim Bailey, and Matt Nicholls team.

My selection has only been out once since April 2023, and that was a fair effort in a handicap hurdle at Warwick back in April of this year. He started hurdling in his light career off 123 and once looked promising, scoring in a novice hurdle at this track. If fit, a big chance and fences should be the making of him as a point winner.

At Ascot, the coverage starts here with a novices’ limited handicap chase over 2m3f. Any of these could score.

VIROFLAY will probably go off in front and is a very strong stayer at this trip, so might just be hard to catch for Olive Nicholls, who takes off 7lb for trainer Paul. The hunter-chaser is a safe conveyance, and to be honest, hasn’t done a lot wrong in his career. Was last seen in May with a fine second to Its on the Line at Punchestown.

Here’s a Listed Mares’ Hurdle over 2m. This might not be a walkover for Champion Hurdle heroine GOLDEN ACE, on official ratings, she only has 5lb in hand of Kateira, and you know the latter will be fit enough from the Skeltons. Added to which, Dysart Enos is probably capable of more than her current mark of 136 and is relatively fit off the Flat.

That all said, I’d be really disappointed if Jeremy Scott’s mare wasn’t good enough under Lorcan Williams. While she was lucky to win the Champion, her second to State Man at Punchestown was another fine effort.

Here’s a handicap chase over 2m1f. A tough one to call and a good race. L’Eau du Sud brings decent novice form but wasn’t convincing at the end of last season. I think there will be a strong gallop, so I’ll chance GENERAL MEDRANO for Emma Lavelle, who should be held up off the pace.

The eight-year-old is relatively lightly raced and wasn’t disgraced at all when eighth in the Johnny Henderson at Cheltenham in March. Goes well fresh, and hopefully Ben Jones gets a tune out of him late on. An each-way chance.

Up in class now for a Grade 2 hurdle over 3m. STRONG LEADER has never been one to totally rely on, but at his best, he should mop this up for Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy.

A flat track is ideal, and my selection goes well fresh, as he did last season when scoring in style at Newbury. Has to give some weight away, but is the best of these on paper right now, and the team is bang in form. Did have wind surgery two runs ago, so fingers crossed all is all right there.

One from Northern Ireland for you on ITV, and that’s the feature Grade 1 Champion Chase over 3m. If there is one in here with more to come, it has to be SPILLANES TOWER for JJ Mangan and Mark Walsh.

He looked a proper tool last season on debut when splitting Fact to File and Galopin des Champs over shorter at Punchestown in the John Durkan, and if he repeats that performance over this trip here, I reckon he can beat the old boy Envoi Allen.

The Grade 2 Charlie Hall Chase over 3m. PIC DORHY has the ability to get plenty of these off the bridle for Paul Nicholls and Harry Cobden.

The problem, of course, is whether he sees it out to the end over 3m, but he stays 2m5f well at Ascot, so there is every chance. If he gets an easy lead and runs like he did at Ascot last seen when taking the Grade 1 Ascot Chase, then he wouldn’t be a total shock winner.

A handicap hurdle over nearly 2m. I’m happy to stick with ALEXEI here for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell. He returned this term with a fine second to Celtic Dino in the Welsh Champion Hurdle and would have been closer but for an awkward jump at the fourth flight. A mark of 127 seems fair for him right now.

A handicap hurdle over 2m. Quite a competitive heat. I’m happy to have a few quid each-way on the very much in form MAX OF STARS for Brian Hughes and Ollie Pears.

The five-year-old can still improve and is in rattling shape, having had recent form of 12124131 since June 3. She will never be fitter than right now, so really should have an each-way chance with a mark of 117, probably still just about workable.

Now a handicap chase over 3m. Competitive stuff. HENRYS FRIEND will need to be right on his game to have any chance off 143, but he stays well and has the ability to get involved. He was last in action when eighth in the 4m Scottish National and was also eighth in the Ultima at Cheltenham.

Those runs came off 145 and 144, so he’s not thrown in here at all. But has an each-way chance for Ben Pauling and Ben Jones.

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 picks – Paddy Power News

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