ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 5th March – Newbury, Kelso and Doncaster

The 2022 Cheltenham Festival is less than two weeks away and that means two more Saturday ITV Racing tips articles to try and top up the betting bank ahead of the biggest four days of the National Hunt season. 

This weekend’s racing live on ITV comes from Newbury, Kelso and Doncaster and Henry has been through the bumper 10 race schedule and picked out his best bet for each race. We’ve also got some Cheltenham free bet offers below and a brand new bet £10 get £10 free bet sign-up bonus to use this weekend.

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1:15 Newbury 

A forever popular Veterans Chase opens proceedings on ITV today with plenty of familiar names lining up in the 3m1f contest.

My selection here is SAINT XAVIER (12/1). I like to look at the younger options in the veteran’s chases and this lad fits the bill having just turned 10 in January. I think he’ll go from the front as usual here and if he gets into a nice jumping rhythm, I think he’ll go well at a track that suits front runners. Nice price.

 

1:32 Kelso

The first race on ITV from Kelso is a Grade 2 novice hurdle over an extended 2m2f.

I like RICHMOND LAKE (5/2) here for the McCain yard. She’s a solid consistent performer whose form continues to stack up well. She ran a cracker last time out when beaten 3l by leading Supreme fancy Jonbon at Haydock. She gets 5lb off market rival North Lodge today and I think that could be crucial here. Tough to beat.

 

1:50 Newbury

The 1:50 from Newbury is a competitive handicap chase known as the Greatwood Gold Cup, ran over 2m4f.

The one for me here is TAMAROC DU MATHAN (9/2). The Nicholls yard is starting to return to the form we expect slowly but surely and I think the selection can add to that improvement with a bold display here. He’s very well handicapped if putting it all together and I think this race will suit him well. He ran at Sandown over 2m last time out where the market drift gave the impression he’d come on for the effort. He now steps up to his ideal trip on his second run after wind surgery and I think he’ll go close.

 

2:05 Kelso

The 2:05 from Kelso is a trappy handicap hurdle over 2m4f.

I’ve landed on FAMOUS BRIDGE (10/3) NAP here. Certainly the most unexposed horse in the race, I believe he is capable of defying a mark of 118. He was coming to win last time out here at Kelso when coming down two hurdles from home. He’s up a 1lb for that effort but I believe compensation awaits today. Lovely racing weight of 10’3 with Hughes booked.

 

2:20 Doncaster

The 2:20 from Doncaster is next and it is a mares novice hurdle over the 3m trip.

My selection here is HOLLY HARTINGO (9/2). She is improving rapidly with each start and I think she’ll be well suited to this stamina test. She’s won her last two starts well including a victory over Hillfinch decisively last time out. That horse has came out and won since and I think she is the value in the race today.

 

2:40 Kelso

Next up at Kelso is the Premier Chase, a handicap over 3m.

I like ESPOIR DE ROMAY (7/4) NB here. He’s been kept fresh for the spring campaign since blowing the cobwebs away at Carlisle behind Fiddlerontheroof at the start of the season. That was a decent effort and the form of the race has worked out well enough. The selection was arguably going to win at Aintree beaten Chantry House last season prior to falling when looking in control. A horse highly regarded, I expect him to win this before returning to Aintree in April for another crack at Grade 1 level.

 

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2:55 Doncaster 

The 2:55 from Doncaster is a handicap chase over the minimum 2m distance.

I have landed on THE BIG BITE (5/2) here. To keep it simple, he has the strongest form in the book in my opinion and often runs his best races here at Doncaster. If his jumping holds up which can be an issue at times, he should prove too good here.

 

3:15 Kelso

The competitive Morebattle Hurdle is next up on ITV, an intriguing renewal ran over the 2m distance.

I like AUTUMN EVENING (9/2) here. The Irish always have to be respected when making the trip over to the UK and Autumn Evening can be expected to go close here. He was third last time out in a very competitive handicap at the Dublin Racing Festival last month and a repeat of that effort would see him go very close in a race of this substance.

 

3:30 Doncaster 

The last race from Doncaster on ITV comes up at 3.30 and it is the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase, a decent renewal ran over 3m2f.

The one for me is CLOTH CAP (6/1). Of course, the Grand National is the main aim but I think he’s more than capable of winning a race of this nature if he’s 90% fit. He won on his National prep last season in a deeper race than this last season and off a 1lb lower mark, he is worth a win bet here if the market vibes aren’t alarming before the off.

 

3:43 Kelso

The finale on a busy day for ITV is a novice handicap chase over 2m1f.

My selection is SEEMORELIGHTS (5/1). The winner of this contest last season is back for more and it’s hard to see him not going close again here. He was a good winner two starts ago before going to Ayr last time out and running a cracker to finish second. This is likely to have been his main aim and I think he’s a good price in the finale.

 

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