ITV Racing is back Easter Monday with action from Plumpton, Kempton and, weather permitting, Fairyhouse. Here’s Matt Chapman with his tips for what promises to be a dramatic day across the UK and Ireland.

Matt Chapman’s Monday ITV Racing tips

Plumpton 14.35 – JPR One
Kempton 14.55 – Okeechobee
Kempton 15.30 – Sky Safari
Kempton 16.05 – Dancing Magic
Kempton 16.40 – Hierarchy
Fairyhouse 15.15 – Hamsiyann
Fairyhouse 15.50 – Colonel Mustard
Fairyhouse 16.20 – Heart Wood
Fairyhouse 17.00 – Will Do

*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.


14:35 Plumpton – JPR One

We start here with a handicap chase over 2m1f. JPR ONE ran better at Cheltenham than it looked on paper (eventually behind re-opposing Martator), having been up with the pace throughout in the Grand Annual won by Jazzy Matty, before a mistake out knocked the stuffing out of him. A strong gallop here should suit and he’s got ‘each way’ claims for Brendan Powell and Joe Tizzard.

14:55 Kempton – Okeechobee

Flat racing at Kempton starts with this Listed Magnolia Stakes over 1m2f. OKEECHOBEE was second in this last year to Dubai Honour with Lion’s Pride back in third. I suspect he’s the most talented horse in the field but he’s clearly hard to train. The form with Lion’s Pride is also not straightforward, as the latter is 3lb better off and has been gelded. He may well improve. That all said, I’ll stick with the Gordon Richards Stakes winner for Harry Charlton and Oisin Murphy, even after a 360-day absence.

15:30 Kempton – Sky Safari

Now a fillies’ handicap over 1m. This is not a great race and SKY SAFARI is pretty obvious having won two of her three starts so far. She battled on well at Wolverhampton last time and a 3lb rise looks fair enough with an extra furlong likely to suit. James Fanshawe trains with Danny Muscutt on top.

16:05 Kempton – Dancing Magic

Here’s a handicap over 7f. Maybe this is the day for DANCING MAGIC, who is chucked in on his best form off 84 but who has yet to win in 17 starts! Once rated 106, my selection ran a cracker when sixth in the Spring Cup last season rated 96, and if he wants to, he could back up here for Roger Teal and Joe Leavy, who takes off 3lb. From stall 1, he’s a decent each way bet.

16:40 Kempton – Hierarchy

A handicap over 6f. HIERARCHY is another who doesn’t win very often. He has just three victories to his name, but that all said, he (rated 71) has every chance here of hitting the frame at least for trainer Jamie Osborne and his daughter-jockey Saffie. Stall 6 should be no issue.


15:15 Fairyhouse – Hamsiyann

A handicap hurdle over an extended 2m5f, this is a wide-open event. HAMSIYANN was down the field at Aintree, but was badly hampered by fallers so you can ignore the run. He was a good winner at Cheltenham earlier in the season, and there might still be a bit more to come for Tony Martin and Rachael Blackmore.

15:50 Fairyhouse – Colonel Mustard

Up in class for a Grade 2 hurdle over 2m4f. COLONEL MUSTARD will more than likely find something to beat him, but he’s bang in the mix here rated 145 with 11st 3lb to carry. Lorna Fowler’s consistent type has come up against some decent types this term, including Lucky Place, and placed a respectable fifth in the Coral Cup last month. He’s worth a small each way bet with JJ Slevin a decent booking. Bottomless ground is no issue.

16:20 Fairyhouse – Heart Wood

This is a Grade 2 chase over 2m4f, and there’s not much between most of these on current marks, but HEART WOOD comes in here on the back of a fine second to Fact to File in the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham. He will take some beating for Henry de Bromhead, and Rachael Blackmore is on top of a horse who has no issue with very soft ground.

17:00 Fairyhouse – Will Do

The big betting race of the day in the Irish Grand National Handicap Chase over 3m5f. In the conditions, this is going to be a right slog. I’m going to have a few quid each way on WILL DO for Gordon Elliott and Harry Sexton, whose 7lb claim means my boy will carry less than 10st in the bog.

Will Do was behind Haiti Couleurs when third in the National Hunt Chase at Cheltenham last time where jumping left didn’t help him. Going right-handed here might not be ideal, but he was fine this way with a second-placed finish at Punchestown in February, and he’s a slow horse who can keep plodding away.

He’s too big a price for me and has every chance of hitting the frame at the very least.

So best of luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. You hear me Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s Saturday ITV Racing tips

Plumpton 14.35 – JPR One
Kempton 14.55 – Okeechobee
Kempton 15.30 – Sky Safari
Kempton 16.05 – Dancing Magic
Kempton 16.40 – Hierarchy
Fairyhouse 15.15 – Hamsiyann
Fairyhouse 15.50 – Colonel Mustard
Fairyhouse 16.20 – Heart Wood
Fairyhouse 17.00 – Will Do

*All prices are bang up to date with our snazzy widgets, while odds in copy are accurate at the time of publishing but subject to change.

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