Matt’s keen on Distant Storm in the big one at 15:35 at Newmarket.

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

13:30 Goodwood – Fitzella
13:45 Newmarket – Double Rush
14:05 Goodwood – Blue Bolt
14:20 Newmarket – Ancient Rome (each-way)
14:40 Thirsk – Sea Force
14:55 Newmarket – Quinault (each-way)
15:35 Newmarket – Distant Storm

*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 for 2000 Guineas day at Newmarket and bring racing from Thirsk and Goodwood, starting here with a Listed event for 3yo fillies over 6f.

A big chance for FITZELLA on her second run of the season, as long as she has retained the toughness she showed as a juvenile. Big runs last season included a fourth in the Albany at Royal Ascot, and although she had run over the trip before the 7f of the Nell Gwyn on her return, she just seemed to stretch her. Dropped back to 6f here, she has every chance to make all under David Probert for Hugo Palmer.

Here’s a handicap for older horses over 6f. Hard to oppose DOUBLE RUSH, who looked like a monster when hacking up on seasonal debut at this track for Andrew Balding and Shane Foley. He’s up 5lb for that, which looks generous, and if he is a Group performer in the making, it should be too good for this lot. A young horse is open to loads of improvement.

Now the Listed Conqueror Stakes for fillies and mares over 1m. She’s Perfect would have every chance if she can do here what she did under Kieran Shoemark last season, but with her absence after injury, BLUE BOLT will take plenty of beating for Andrew Balding and Colin Keane. The filly holds a Lockinge entry and progressed all of last season, ending up with a second to Fallen Angel in the Sun Chariot. That gives her every chance as a filly who might still have more to give.

A heritage handicap over 1m1f. ANCIENT ROME will be a massive price, but his run at Newbury last time is worth a watch. He basically finished out the back on the bridle in the Spring Cup, won by Linwood, who also races in the same colours.

My selection is hard to predict, but he has back class, having finished fourth in a French Guineas and won at Glorious Goodwood off 105. He’s down to 97 now, and while not many will give him a chance, he might just run better than the odds suggest. Kieran Shoemark will ride him out the back for luck for Charlie Hills.

A decent betting heat in the Thirsk Hunt Cup over 1m. Easy to go with SEA FORCE, even though he was well behind the re-opposing Mirsky at Musselburgh last time. The William Haggas runner was a strong favourite that day and didn’t get home, but this trip holds no worries for him, judged by form last season, including a sixth in a big field at York, where he kept on well.

I suspect he just needed his seasonal debut, and Musselburgh is not always easy for a young horse. Oisin Orr rides from the perfect draw in stall 3. Nice off the handicapper to drop him 1lb as well.

Now the Group 3 Palace House Stakes over 5f. The solid horse who will be hard to kick out of the frame if the fabulous QUINAULT, who has been a legend for Stuart Williams, and gets Marco Ghiani on top, who knows him well. He’s had three runs this season, so he should be super fit, and his third last time was a good one behind Run to Freedom in the Abernant. That puts him back in the mix, and while he’s probably better over a furlong further, he’s got every chance on ratings. An each-way play.

The first British Classic of the season, the 2000 Guineas over 1m. The best here is DISTANT STORM for Godolphin and Charlie Appleby. My hope makes his seasonal debut, but William Buick’s mount was impressive two runs ago when landing the Group 3 Tattersalls Stakes, having pulled too hard when a beaten favourite in the Acomb at York.

In the Dewhurst, he was a place behind the now re-opposing Gstaad, but he looked in need of stepping up to the Guineas trip of a mile. Appleby goes for a Guineas hat-trick having sent out Notable Speech to score in 2024 and Ruling Court twelve months ago. He also took the prize with Coroebus in 2022. No one gets a horse ready for this better than Appleby.

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

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing Tips

13:30 Goodwood – Fitzella
13:45 Newmarket – Double Rush
14:05 Goodwood – Blue Bolt
14:20 Newmarket – Ancient Rome
14:40 Thirsk – Sea Force
14:55 Newmarket – Quinault (each-way)
15:35 Newmarket – Distant Storm

*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.

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