ITV Racing Saturday Doncaster, Newbury And Kelso Preview

Newbury show the first race of the afternoon on ITV and it sees a Veterans' Chase over 3m2f and if running to the best of his ability Aso should win this race.

Now, 12 years old the gelding slightly lost his way after finishing second in the Grade One Ryanair Chase at the Cheltenham festival, but now in veteran races can get back to winning ways.

This term he has been seen four times, needing the run on seasonal debut in a tough race to be pitched into, but then finished a good second Haydock behind a well handicapped horse in Blaklion.

Pulled up at Sandown after that when not handling the heavy ground, he bounced back to form last time out at Exeter when third behind two smart horses.

Now down to a mark of 142 which is 16lb lower than his last winning mark the handicapper has giving him a huge chance to get back to winning ways.

The first selection of the afternoon for us from Kelso on Saturday comes in the Grade Two Premier Novices' Hurdle over 2m2f and Richmond Lake for Donald McCain has leading chances.

First seen in a bumper over in Ireland for Eugene O’Sullivan he ran quite poorly before tackling life in the point to point sphere.

Unable to win between the flags, he moved to Donald McCain’s yard to restart life under rules over here and it has changed his career.

A clear winner on debut in a maiden hurdle, he went in by 15 lengths after making all the running, he then finished a close third to North Lodge at Aintree but today is getting 5lb off the horse.

Looking to get back to winning ways he then scored over 2m4f under a penalty by a devastating 27 lengths at lowly odds of 1/7 at Sedgefield.

One of his best runs to date came last time out when a three length second in the Grade Two Supreme Trial at Haydock behind the superstar Jonbon.

This stiffer course and longer trip will suit and he’s already ran well at the grade, which many haven't.

A very tricky event for punters on the card at Newbury is the Grade Three 3 Handicap Chase over 2m4f and we are going with Farinet for Venetia Williams.

The ground is set to be fairly soft on the weekend and this trainers horses are known to revel in this sort of ground, especially this horse.

Having moved over to Williams' yard last year being a decent chaser over in France, he made his British debut over fences at Haydock when a good third behind two smart Novices'.

Given one more run last term, the gelding got off the mark for the yard, winning over course and distance at Sandown on soft ground beating Up The Straight by close to seven lengths.

Racing off a mark of 133 for his seasonal debut in the competitive Grade Three Racing Post Gold Cup at Cheltenham he was unfortunately pulled up.

However, stripping much fitter for that event he then went to Sandown and dominated off top weight in a decent handicap chase.

Up in trip to three miles last time out at Sandown he was well beaten into fifth not staying the trip, but back down to his preferred trip, in his ideal conditions, he holds big each way claims.

Talented horse.

Next up is the Class 2 Handicap Hurdle over 2m 4 1/2f and the Nicky Richards trained Famous Bridge looks to have a big chance if jumping better.

The six year old was bought for €84,000 by the late Trevor Hemmings and given to Nicky Richards and he looks a horse that oozes class.

Making his stable/British/hurdles debut at Carlisle in October he was a good second learning a lot for the experience and then used that to get off the mark next time out at Ayr, beating a decent horse for Warren Greatrex.

Next time out he was seen at Kelso over slightly further than todays trip when second to a very game stayer and looking to put that right last time out he unseated his rider near the end of the race when still in contention.

This seems to be his ideal trip and only 1lb higher than his last race where he looked to go close, he deserves another chance.

One of the feature races of the afternoon at Doncaster is the Listed Mares Novices' Hurdle over three miles and we are siding with the Hughie Morrison trained Miss Fairfax.

The six year old mare was a decent bumper horse last term finishing third on debut behind some nice horses and then a good second at Ascot.

Moved over to hurdles in December the mare made a superb debut over 2m4 on debut at Leicester when a close second behind the talented Love Envoi who has franked the form winning all three of her next races.

Another close third at Ludlow over slightly further, it was sure she needed to go up in trip again and and Exeter over 2m7f, she got off the mark in taking style.

Over 3m1f last time out at Catterick she was event more impressive winning by 20 lengths and now moving up into Listed company in her ideal conditions her stamina could be too much for some of these.

One of the feature races of the afternoon is the Listed Premier Chase over 2m7f and we are giving our final chance to Itchy Feet, who we believe has a race like this in him.

Having been a smart hurdler, finishing third in the Supreme Novices' Hurdle behind Klassical Dream, he has also been a decent chaser landing a first Grade One for the yard at Sandown in the Scilly Isles Chase.

Although not winning since then he has been knocking on the door in some good races and on both his runs this term he has shown a high level of form.

He made his seasonal debut in the Grade Two Old Roan Chase when a length second to the reliable Allmankind.

He then went to Haydock and took on Bravemansgame in a good match up and stayed on well to only finish 2 3/4 lengths behind him and he has since franked the form in a big way.

Last time out he went to Lingfield in the valuable Fleur De Lys Chase over 2m6f and ran a weird race staying on in game fashion but still on finishing fourth of six.

Back on a sounder surface in what looks an easier race, this eight year old can finally fill his potential for the season.

In the Class 2 Handicap Chase we are taking a big chance on the veteran Bun Doran for Tom George who has been a superb horse over the years and with the yard in form he is worth taking a chance on.

Known for winning races back in the day like the Grade Two Desert Orchid Chase and placing in the Grand Annual Handicap Chase and Grade Three Red Rum Chase, his mark now makes him a big player.

This season the 11 year old finished a good third in November at Cheltenham in a good handicap chase and then at the December meeting was another close fourth.

On heavy ground he gave one of his best runs of the season when second to the well handicapped Gunsight Ridge at Sandown.

He was below par last time out but has now been dropped 3lb to a mark of 131 for that run and now 25lb below his last winning mark he has to be taken seriously.

One to keep onside from an each way perspective.

The Class 2 Morebattle Handicap Hurdle over two miles is the pinnacle of Kelso's meeting on Saturday with 12 runners heading to post for glory.

We have sided with the Irish raider for Jessica Harrington with Autumn Evening looking to land a value prize across the Irish sea on his British debut.

The five year old has been a fairly consistent horse this term, winning over two miles in September at Listowel before a game second at Gowran in heavy ground.

Having a little blip in his two runs after that when unseating his rider and running no race in a big fielded handicap at Fairyhouse when Harrington's horses weren't running well, he bounced back to form next time out.

Back at Fairyhouse on soft ground he beat some smart runners in a good event including Indigo Breeze and Top Moon and then last time out gave his best run of the season.

Looking to likely winner when turning for home at the Dublin Racing Festival Autumn Evening ran a stormer to finish third in the 27 runner Liffey Handicap Hurdle.

He has gone up 9lb for that run to a mark of 147 but only being five years old he should still be improving and can go close in this.

The last race of the day from Doncaster is the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase over 3m2f and following a them of the day on ITV we are giving another chance to Mister Malarky for the Tizzard's.

A soft/heavy ground specialist over staying trips this nine year old needs to bounce back to form but has the scope to off his handy mark of 142.

Now 8lb lower than his last winning mark of 150 when winning in December 2020 in the Listed Silver Cup Handicap Chase at Ascot in heavy ground.

This season he has been seen three times, needing his debut at Chepstow, before running a much better race at Ascot when a fair fifth in the Grade Three London Gold Cup.

Last seen finishing a middle of the road 11th in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase at Newbury off 148, his mark of 142 is too attractive to let go off and we think he can run a big race.

The final selection of the afternoon from Kelso comes in the Class 3 Limited Handicap Chase over 2m1f and Seemorelights for local trainer Sandy Thomson looks weighted to go close.

Seen three times this season over fences the 10 year old needed his first run at Ayr but has come into his own after that, Winning next time out at Ayr by five lengths before going up 6lb and finishing second next time out in heavy ground.

Off the same mark of his latest run and getting his ideal conditions, he has a big chance to go close once again.