Matt likes the look of Transmission in the 14:20 Handicap Chase at Cheltenham.
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips
13:10 Cheltenham – Darcys Friend
13:30 Doncaster – Jer Batt
13:45 Cheltenham – Pour Les Filles
14:05 Doncaster – Oxagon
14:20 Cheltenham – Transmission
14:40 Doncaster – Spanish Waltz
14:55 Cheltenham – Chance Another One
15:10 Newbury – Pandemonium
15:30 Cheltenham – Give It To Me Oj
15:45 Newbury – Hamish
16:05 Cheltenham – Intense Approach
*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 returns Saturday with action from Cheltenham, Doncaster and Newbury, starting here with a novices’ limited handicap chase over 2m4f. Many of these could improve for fences, so it’s a bit of a guessing game.
DARCYS FRIEND probably would have won on chasing debut at Killarney but for a bad mistake in the closing stages, and I’d have thought he would have learnt plenty from that.
He comes from the point-to-point field, so he should be able to jump, although off 121, he’s going to have to be a lot better over fences than he was hurdles, where he only got up to 105. The horse that beat him last time was rated 114 at that point. So 121 looks extreme. Emmet Mullins trains with Donagh Meyler.
A handicap over 5f. JER BATT has been running well in defeat and has been dropped 1lb, gets cheekpieces, and the champion Oisin Murphy on top.
That’s enough to hopefully allow him to bring out a bit more and get his first win on the board since August of last year, when he was on exactly this rating of 87. A third here, three runs ago was a fine effort.
Now a novices’ hurdle over 3m. Some promising types here, but no surprise if POUR LES FILLES rips this field apart for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott.
With a mark of 132, he’s already pretty good, and he’ll be fit after a romp at Downpatrick last time at very short odds. Has a big opportunity to make it all and will jump a fence one day.
The big flat race of the day in the Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes over 1m. The chances are Aidan O’Brien will win this, but I’m not losing faith with OXAGON, who still left me with the impression in his Dewhurst run that there is more for this colt to give.
O’Brien, of course, knows exactly where he is as he had the Dewhurst second in Gstaad, with Octagon back in fifth place looking like a horse in need of a step up to a mile. Some will say Oxagon weakened at Newmarket, but I just think he didn’t have the speed to keep going. Oisin Murphy rides for John & Thady Gosden.
A handicap chase over 3m1f. TRANSMISSION goes on most ground and was most progressive last season over fences and ran a fine fifth at Cheltenham in the National Hunt Challenge Cup.
He was rated 133 then and comes into this on his return off 132, so the handicap mark is workable. He might just outstay a few of these late on under Conor O’Farrell for Neil Mulholland.
Here’s a Listed contest over 6f. Lam Yai stands out on this ground and form, but the one who might improve the most is SPANISH WALTZ, for Ralph Beckett and Hector Crouch. My hope started on heavy ground at Ffos Las over nearly a mile and weakened close to home.
Back at 6f last time on juicy ground, he hacked up at Pontefract, getting going late, and stamina will be key here. Will stay on better than most in these conditions.
A handicap hurdle over 3m. Quantum Quest and CHANCE ANOTHER ONE could both be well in here despite higher marks than they have been off in Ireland, and I’ll go with the latter, another for Emmet Mullins and Donagh Meyler.
My hope has a first-time hood after keeping on well enough at Ballinrobe last time, and looked a strong stayer when second at Galway in a big field. Once landed a 3m point, so probably has more to give.
A big juvenile event here in the Group 3 Horris Hill over 7f. On form, Time to Turn is easily the best of these, but I’ll chance PANDEMONIUM, who looked a monster on debut at Yarmouth and went on to Redcar to land short odds under a penalty.
He settled matters in a few strides there, and it’s hard to think he’s not Group class for the stable that had the talented Vandeek a couple of seasons ago. James Doyle is popped up for the excellent outfit of Simon and Ed Crisford.
A hurdle over an extended 2m. Hard to get away from GIVE IT TO ME OJ for Gary, Josh Moore, and Caoilin Quinn. My hope has a mark of 143 and comes in here off the back of a fine victory at Epsom on the Flat.
When last seen over jumps, he took a decent prize at Sandown, and he’s an exciting prospect for this term.
Another Group 3 in the St Simon Stakes over 1m4f. HAMISH wasn’t at his best when third last time at Ascot, and of course, at any point in time, he could catch up with him at the age of nine.
However, the ground is perfect for him to make a splash here, and he loves this track. Was second to Max Vega in this in 2022. A big effort, hopefully, for Tom Marquand and William Haggas.
Finally from Cheltenham a novice chase over 3m1f. I can’t have Pied Piper at this trip.
The one for me is INTENSE APPROACH for Alex Harvey and John McConnell. He won a little beginners chase at Galway in good style and stayed on really well that day. He’s going to be hard to pass here, and a mark of 137 puts him right in the mix talent-wise.
So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me, Paddy?
Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips
13:10 Cheltenham – Darcys Friend
13:30 Doncaster – Jer Batt
13:45 Cheltenham – Pour Les Filles
14:05 Doncaster – Oxagon
14:20 Cheltenham – Transmission
14:40 Doncaster – Spanish Waltz
14:55 Cheltenham – Chance Another One
15:10 Newbury – Pandemonium
15:30 Cheltenham – Give It To Me Oj
15:45 Newbury – Hamish
16:05 Cheltenham – Intense Approach
*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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