Matt is keen on Teddy Blue in the 14:20 at Musselburgh on a bumper Saturday of action!

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

12:55 Sandown – Bollin Thou
13:10 Musselburgh – Secret Force
13:25 Sandown – Risk De Pluie
13:43 Musselburgh – Wise Eagle (each-way)
14:02 Sandown – Dr T J Eckleburg (each-way)
14:20 Musselburgh – Teddy Blue
14:40 Sandown – Kala Conti
14:55 Leopardstown – Romeo Coolio
15:10 Sandown – Henri The Second
15:30 Leopardstown – Galopin Des Champs
15:42 Sandown – Nassalam

*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.

**Since publication, Saturday’s meeting at Leopardstown has been postponed until Monday

It’s an absolute marathon on ITV Racing Saturday with no less than 11 races crammed into the show, starting here with a novices’ handicap hurdle over 2m4f. BOLLIN THOU stays strongly which will be a useful weapon in testing conditions and he can get a four-timer up for Nick Schofield and jockey Harry Cobden. His three wins on the bounce have come from marks of 76, 83 and 90, and he’s up to 103 now. But of course he’s still at the right end of the handicap and just being on great form is a massive plus.

Scottish coverage starts here with a juvenile hurdle over nearly 2m. Happy to stick with SECRET FORCE here who won on debut at Punchestown and then was only a fair fourth at Cheltenham behind One Horse Town. That form is fairly useful and this is easier for Brian Hughes and the back-in-form Gavin Cromwell.

Now a novices’ limited handicap chase over 2m4f. An open event. RISK DE PLUIE goes in soft ground and has a chance to make all here off a mark of 115. Sam Twiston-Davies is a good jockey booking for a horse who can be given an aggressive ride from the front, and he looked in need of this trip when staying on in third over shorter at Exeter last time. Could easily get a second career success.

13:43 Musselburgh – Wise Eagle (each-way)

The Scottish County Handicap Hurdle over nearly 2m. WISE EAGLE might just be well handicapped here for Adam Nichol with Joshua Thompson taking off 5lb. The 100+ rated Flat performer has shown talent over hurdles but was only down the field when last seen over hurdles here in January. He didn’t jump well that day and hopefully some cobwebs have been blown away. An each-way chance.

A handicap chase over nearly 2m. Another open contest. DR T J ECKLEBURG goes well with juice in the ground and comes into this off a huge run at Windsor off this mark last time. His rating of 120 should be workable and he can work away off the pace before delivering a late run under Conor Ring. Each-way claims for Evan Williams.

14:20 Musselburgh – Teddy Blue

The Scottish Champion Chase, which rather oddly is a handicap just over 2m4f. Wide open. TEDDY BLUE is not a horse I like much but he does have ability and he might go well for Harry Derham and Paul O’Brien. The former Betfair Hurdle third was fifth in this last year off a mark of 124 and is up to 135 now so it won’t be easy but he did well to score at Ascot in November.

The class race of the day in the Grade 1 Scilly Isles Novices’ Chase over 2m4f. On ratings not much between this lot, and every chance Kitzbuhel and Sixmilebridge will take each other on up front. That might set it up for KALA CONTI, who is unbeaten this season and did well to beat Kargese at Cork last time. She needs a good test of stamina and appears a better chaser than she was hurdler. James Bowen rides for Gordon Elliott.

The Grade 1 Irish Arkle Novice Chase over 2m1f. I tipped up ROMEO COOLIO at 20-1 for the Arkle at Cheltenham a long time ago and of course I want him to bolt up here so he goes that route. In three chases he has looked a star for Jack Kennedy and Gordon Elliott and he stays strong. He has Kargese to beat and he gives her 7lb.

A handicap hurdle over nearly 3m. HENRI THE SECOND is 2lb lower than when finishing second in this last year and has every chance of getting the win this time after a decent couple of runs this term. His second at this track last time was a fine prep for this over a bit shorter. Paul Nicholls trains with Harry Cobden riding.

The Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup Chase over an extended 3m. No doubt GALOPIN DES CHAMPS is the one to beat after his comeback third to re-opposing Affordale Fury. The former dual Gold Cup hero stays strong and will act in the conditions. At the age of 10 he might not be quite as good as he once was, but a rating of 175 puts him only 5lb behind his highest mark and he remains a class act for Willie Mullins and Paul Townend.

15:42 Sandown – Nassalam

Here’s a handicap chase over 3m. Mr Vango is the one to beat, but it’s possible NASSALAM could return to form after four dismal runs as he’s now rated 145. That’s the same mark as when he won the 2023 Welsh National and this ground and trip are ideal. Could go well at long odds unless he has completely gone at the game for Caoilin Quinn and Gary & Josh Moore.

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing Tips

12:55 Sandown – Bollin Thou
13:10 Musselburgh – Secret Force
13:25 Sandown – Risk De Pluie
13:43 Musselburgh – Wise Eagle (each-way)
14:02 Sandown – Dr T J Eckleburg (each-way)
14:20 Musselburgh – Teddy Blue
14:40 Sandown – Kala Conti
14:55 Leopardstown – Romeo Coolio
15:10 Sandown – Henri The Second
15:30 Leopardstown – Galopin Des Champs
15:42 Sandown – Nassalam

*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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