ITV Racing Saturday Kempton, Lingfield and Newcastle Preview

The first race of the afternoon on ITV is the Listed Hever Sprint Stakes on the flat at Lingfield over five furlongs and we are giving a chance to Arecibo for Robert Cowell.

A smart sprinter on his day, this guy is not easy to train at all but when on a going day has put up strong performances in better races than this.

Having lost his way a few times in his career, he now seems to be coming back to form if picking up from where he left off in August when second at Beverley to Tis Marvelous in the Listed Beverley Bullet.

He is eight years of age but if running to his old form from stall 2 he could go close under Jamie Spencer.

The first race of the afternoon at Kempton is the classy Grade Two Adonis Juvenile Hurdle over two miles and we are taking on the favourite with the Irish raider Nusret.

A decent flat performer on the level for Joseph O'Brien getting a rating of 91 at his peak, this season he has been sent hurdling and looks to have a lot of ability.

On hurdles debut at Punchestown in November he made an emphatic start to life over timber when bolting up in a 3-Y-O Hurdle over 2m 1/2f.

Upped in class at Leopardstown over Christmas in the Grade Two Juvenile Hurdle he finished a good third behind two start juveniles in Lossiemouth and Gala Marceau for Willie Mullins.

Last time out again he bumped into another star for Willie Mullins in Blood Destiny when not handling the heavy conditions to finish 18 lengths back in third and maybe that day he was saving his mark.

Getting back to good ground on Saturday in what looks an easier Grade Two he looks the value in the market with him maybe not being a Cheltenham festival horse and getting 5lb off Scriptwriter he should go close.

The feature race of the afternoon at Lingfield on Saturday is the Group Three Winter Derby Stakes and Lord North although getting on slightly should have far too much class for this field.

A superb horse throughout his career winning races like the Cambridgeshire Handicap, Brigadier Gerard Stakes, Group One Prince Of Wales's Stakes, Group One Dubai Turf on two occasions and also second in the Balmoral Handicap.

Second in this race last year before going to Meydan and winning he then contested the Group One Tattersalls Stakes, Prince Of Wales's Stakes and Coral Eclipse without really getting involved but still not finishing all that far behind the winners.

Having his first run of the campaign in this again, even at 80% he should be winning this race and looks tough to beat.

One of our best bets of the day at Kempton on Saturday comes in the Grade Two Pendil Novices' Chase over 2m 4 1/2f and Boothill up in trip should go close.

The Harry Fry trained eight year old was a decent hurdler, but has turned out to be a much better chaser this season, showing some solid form in good races.

Making his seasonal debut at Newton Abbot when beating Datsalrightgino by just under a length, looking to have more in hand with the second favourite in this race than the winning margin suggested.

Sent into the Grade One Henry VIII Novices' Chase at Sandown next time out he gave Jonbon a good run for his money but was ultimately outclassed by the superstar to finish second by eight lengths.

Seen twice more since then, he got back to winning ways next time out at Kempton over two miles when getting up late to land the Grade Two Wayward Lad Novices' Chase from Betfair Hurdle winner Aucunrisque.

Under a penalty last time out he was beaten by Tommy's Oscar at Doncaster where he looked to need a step up in trip and he gets that today and although under a penalty again this looks much easier and he should resume to winning ways.

We are staying at Kempton for our next event it sees our first Handicap of the afternoon with the Coral Trophy Handicap Chase over three miles and we think Our Power for Sam Thomas can go close.

A very classy handicapper at this level having not been overused throughout his career he was seen finishing third in this race last year off 136 behind the well handicapped Cap Du Nord and Kitty's Light for Christian Williams.

Off the back of that he was sent into the Ultima Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham festival off 2lb higher and he ran a cracker to finish a good fifth of 24 runners.

Seen just the once this term in the Grade Three Bateaux London Gold Cup over three miles at Ascot he was a good winner of the event.

Only 5lb higher for this event and being fresher than most he looks to have a big chance, having course form and getting his preferred good ground.

Looks overpriced.

The only race of the afternoon from Newcastle on Saturday on ITV sees the 4m1f Eider Handicap Chase and with a big field going to post we have picked out two selections.

From a win perspective we think the Christian Williams trained Kitty's Light is too well handicapped to not put him up, especially with the yard firing in a big race winner last week with a similarly well handicapped horse.

A superb stayer at these trips, seen to date finishing second and third in a bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown the first time by a short head over 3m5f and second in a Scottish Grand National over four miles.

This season his mark of 144 looked to be beyond him and he has ran poorly on his first four occasions in what was maybe a ploy to get his mark down.

Last time out off a mark of 135 he ran a better race to finish third behind Annsam at Kempton in a competitive Handicap Chase over three miles.

Dropped a further 3lb to a mark of 132 for this event, getting back to a trip he excels at on drying ground, he now sees himself handicapped 11lb lower than his second in the Scottish National and that has to make him a player.

At a much bigger price No Cruise Yet for trainer Sam England looks to be progressing impressively this season and still only on a mark of 116 could have more to offer at 20/1.

A highly consistent animal, not finishing outside the top three in all of his last nine races, going on to win four of those events, he has a perfect profile for this race.

Winning two Handicap Chases at the back end of last term at Carlisle, seeking a hat-trick on his return at the same track he finished a short head second, not disgracing himself at all.

Upped 1lb for his next run at Haydock off 109, he managed to see off Poppa Poutine by a head over 3m 4 1/2f to get back to winning ways.

Last seen at Bangor in the North Wales National Handicap Chase over 3m 5 1/2 he finished a good second to Bretney for Henry Daly giving a stone away.

Upped 4lb to a mark of 116 for this event, getting his ideal conditions and obviously still improving, at 20/1 he is a big price to hit the frame.

The final event of the afternoon on ITV from Kempton is the Grade Two Dovecote Novices' Hurdle over two miles and we are taking on the favourite again with Ukantango for Olly Murphy.

A smart six year old that thrives on good ground the gelding made his rules debut in March last year when winning a bumper in good style at Stratford.

Sent hurdling next time out in May at Aintree he went on to bolt up by nine lengths, taking to the switch to timber well and again showing he acts best on quicker ground.

Making it 2/2 at Wetherby next time out under a penalty this time on good to soft ground he showed good determination to get the job done, going away from the field in the end.

Sent to Cheltenham in November he ran a cracker to finish second to the smart Fennor Cross in the Grade Two Supreme Trial on good ground.

Stepped up to the Grade One Tolworth Hurdle when last seen at Sandown, the ground turned extremely soft before the off and he did not handle it at all being pulled up before two out.

Forget that run, getting back to a sound surface in calmer waters can get him back on track.