Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s Saturday shouts – Paddy Power News - Ireland News Beep

Matt had three winners last Saturday and he’s excited for Christmas Day in the 15:35 at Doncaster.

Matt Chapman’s Saturday Racing Tips

13:30 Chester – Dubai Honour
13:45 Doncaster – Desert Castle
14:05 Chester – Spirit Mixer (each-way)
14:20 Doncaster – Desert Falcon (each-way)
14:55 Doncaster – Never So Brave (each-way)
15:35 Doncaster – Christmas Day
15:55 Leopardstown – Fallen Angel (each-way)
16:15 Doncaster – Cash (each-way)

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change. All of today’s latest horse racing results and odds are over on PP.com.

Saturday action on ITV Racing comes from Chester and Doncaster, starting here with a Listed contest over an extended 1m4f. At the age of 8, DUBAI HONOUR is not getting any younger, but this is a huge chance for him to get back to winning ways for William Haggas and Cieren Fallon. The old boy was not at his best at Newbury last time when third to Wine Dark Sea in the Geoffrey Freer, but that came after a long break, was tactical, and I’m sure he will improve a bundle for the effort. Easier ground here will also help. Should take all the beating with a mark still of 117.

A top juvenile event in the Group 2 Champagne Stakes over 7f. All eyes are on DESERT CASTLE here for Charlie Appleby and Billy Loughnane. The son of Frankel out of a Dubawi mare was a 1-2 shot on debut and hacked up. He’s a sizable sort and was green on debut, so he should improve a bundle. Well regarded by connections, he could easily turn into a leading 2000 Guineas hope for 2027.

14:05 Chester – Spirit Mixer (each-way)

A handicap in the Watergate Cup over 2m. Another old boy might run well here in SPIRIT MIXER for Andrew Balding and Alfie Redman, who takes off a useful 7lb. My hope flopped badly at Ascot last time and basically has been out of sorts most of the season. That’s seen his mark drop from 96 in March to 92 now, and plus the claim he technically runs from 85. With all that in mind, if he’s ever going to bounce back, this is a big chance. Won this race last year off 93, so let’s just hope for a repeat. An each-way play.

14:20 Doncaster – Desert Falcon (each-way)

One of the great sprint handicaps in the Portland over the specialist trip of an extended 5f. This trip is on the short side for DESERT FALCON, but I suspect he has every chance, provided stall 3 is not a big worry on the day. His second off this mark in the Ayr Gold Cup is top handicap form, and having gone up to 97, he’s back on the same mark of 93 as he was in Scotland. Having had a wind operation, he was then 9th last time in a big field at York, and I suspect he’s been laid out for this with a visor now added. Can go forward and make the running if he wants, and was a winner here this month last year when he made all over another furlong. The ground is perfect. I’ll chance a few quid each-way. This is the shortest trip he has ever run over, so it will be fascinating to see how he gets on. Ryan Sexton rides for Julie Camacho.

14:55 Doncaster – Never So Brave (each-way)

The Group 2 Park Stakes over 7f. More Thunder is the one to beat and might well bounce back to winning ways. However, if eight go to post, I have to chance a few quid each-way on NEVER SO BRAVE for Andrew Balding and Danny Tudhope, who rides for the first time. The former Group 1 City of York winner tries this track for the first time and has been below form this term, despite a fair second at York in June. His mark has come down from 117 to 114, which reflects that, but he’s overpriced now to get a place at least.

History in the big race of the day, the Group 1 and 250th St Leger for 3-year-olds over an extended 1m6f. CHRISTMAS DAY won’t get the deep ground he loves, but it won’t be fast either, and he’s been crying out for this distance since Epsom. The Derby hero is, in my opinion, a very decent Classic victor, having also finished second in the Irish equivalent. At York last time, he led 3f out, was headed, but then kept on again inside the final furlong, and it’s worth remembering he was giving 5lb to Pierre Bonnard. The Voltigeur winner Maltese Cross heads to the Arc, and the form is very solid. He’d be the best winner of this race in its 250th year, and I really hope he does it for Aidan O’Brien and Ronan Whelan, who was on top at Epsom, a massive result for this column on the day.

15:55 Leopardstown – Fallen Angel (each-way)

A right old smash-up for the Group 1 Matron Stakes for fillies and mares over 1m. FALLEN ANGEL is the value as she always improves at this time of year for Karl Burke and James Doyle. Last year’s heroine showed a little bit more than on debut when third at Haydock last time, and while the handicapper has her running 2lb below form right now, she’s not fallen off a cliff. I think she has a chance to get a good position from stall 8, and while of course Blue Bolt will be hard to beat, I’ll back her each-way.

16:15 Doncaster – Cash (each-way)

A handicap over 1m. This is a shot in the dark, but let’s risk a couple of quid each-way on CASH for Dave Simcock with Silvestre de Sousa on top for the first time. Once rated 109 and second to Westover in a Classic Trial at Sandown, Cash has done nothing this season in only one outing and is clearly hard to train. But last term was second to Treble Tee in this very handicap off a mark of 101. If he’s going to show anything, it’s here, and he’s a massive price.

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

Matt Chapman’s Saturday Racing Tips

Horse Racing Tips: Matt Chapman’s Saturday shouts – Paddy Power News

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