Cheltenham and Doncaster host ITV's live racing with Cheltenham hosting their second day of the October meeting over the jumps and Doncaster showcasing their Group One Futurity trophy card, with the feature race revealing big clues for next season's classic generation.
We've gone through all the live races on ITV1 to pick out our selections and tips for the afternoon.
Springs A Girl 14/1
A decent enough handicap hurdler last season, Springs A Girl made pleasing debut in the chasing sphere when coming 2nd to an in form Breaking Cover at Worcester over and inadequate 2 miles.
Only beaten a length on chase and seasonal debut, she’ll likely take a step forward for that and the in form Sean Bowen retains the ride. Can prove much better than a mark of 117 now upped in trip as a chaser.
Jer Batt 11/2
Jer Batt is backing up quickly after his run at Haydock only 8 days ago but conditions look ideal here and he was a good 3rd at this venue on soft ground in a lower grade off a higher mark last month.
Is well enough handicapped off a mark of 87 and Oisin Murphy gets the leg up in the saddle. If able to back up his recent run, he’s treated to have a big say.
Pour Les Filles 10/3
A step up in trip brought out improvement in Pour Les Filles and she won well for Gordon Elliott at Down Patrick last time out.
She has plenty of hurdling experience in the books and looks like she’ll improve again for this stiffer test of stamina. Should be hard to beat for top connections.
2.20 - The Short Go 7/1 - Ran well to be 2nd in this race last year and with Henry De Bromhead winning the last two renewals of the race it’s worth keeping his runners onside.
Benvenuto Cellini 11/10
Looks the pick of the Aidan O’Brien trio that make up half the field for the Futurity Trophy as Christophe Soumillon takes the ride as a the stables’ current number one jockey.
A winner in 2 of his 3 career outings and powered home over a mile to win a Group two easily at Leopardstown last time out. Looks the one to be with.
The Short Go 7/1
Ran well to be 2nd in this race last year and with Henry De Bromhead winning the last two renewals of the race it’s worth keeping his runners onside.
Wasn’t disgraced in 5th at the Cheltenham Festival in the Ultima and still doesn’t look badly treated off a mark of 132. Can get in the mix again.
Lam Yai 9/4
Looks the best equipped to cope with the testing conditions at Doncaster, winning a maiden on deep ground at Carlisle earlier in the season and coming a close 2nd in a good Group Three race at Ayr last time out.
Karl Burke has a fantastic strike rate with his juveniles and looks to have found a good opportunity for Lam Yai to score listed honours. Should be incredibly hard to beat on slow ground with her fillies allowance.
Long Draw 13/2
It’s hard not to like the chances of Long Draw at the top of the market for the in from duo of Sean Bowen and Olly Murphy.
The 6 year old lines up off a career high mark of 138 but won twice over Course and distance last season and goes well fresh. There’s likely still some improvement to come and the stable’s form is hard to ignore.
Give It To Me OJ 8/13
It’s not worth taking on Give It To Me OJ in what looks a weak renewal of the Materson Holdings Hurdle.
Only 5 are going to post and the talented juvenile won the Novices’ Championship Final at Sandown at the end of the season. Fully fit from runs on the flat recently, winning at Epsom twice, he’ll be hard to beat here.
Intense Approach 3/1
Anyway heads the market for this 3 mile novice chase but I’m not convinced he’s going to have the stamina for this kind of test and would rather side with John C McConnell’s Intense Approach.
A winner at Cheltenham over 3 miles over hurdles and a winner on chase debut at Galway back in August, he has chase experience in the bag and proven stamina to get up the hill to the finish. Can go well here again if fully fit after an 85 day break.
Below we've put together some of the best free bet and bookmaker promotions ahead of this weekends racing.
Other specific tips available include:
