After two top-class days of racing on ITV Racing at Cheltenham and Doncaster, the cameras continue to roll on to Sunday with eight more races for armchair punters to enjoy over the sticks.
Ed Chamberlain and the team head to Aintree for the first meeting of the new season, where the home of the Grand National is set to host the Old Roan Chase, one of four races to be screened live from the Liverpool venue.
In addition to Aintree, there is also action from Fontwell who weigh in with two races, while Irish racing action is also on the agenda as we head to Ballybrit for two races from Galway.
SUNDAY ITV RACING TIPS
1:30 Fontwell – GALIA DES LITEAUX (SP)
1:50 Aintree – STRAW FAN JACK (9/1)
2:00 Galway – VAUREAL (15/2)
2:05 Fontwell – STATUARIO (SP)
2:20 Aintree – DANGER NAP (14/1)
2:35 Galway – BAL KAUTO (7/4)
2:55 Aintree – BOOMBAWN (4/1)
3:30 Aintree – SERIOUS CHALLENGE (11/4)
ITV RACING TIPS SUNDAY 26 OCTOBER
1:30 Fontwell – Pertemps Handicap Chase Cl3 (4yo+ 0-140) 3m2f
Assuming she takes her chances, it could pay to side with the mare GALIA DES LITEAUX (SP) who should find this a good deal easier than her previous engagements.
Dan Skelton’s charge has gone well fresh in the past, and although winless last term, she did produce some decent runs in defeat, including finishing fifth in the Welsh Grand National off 7lbs higher than her current mark.
This is her first run since failing to stay the trip in the Midlands Grand National, but she sets out for the new season in a much less competitive contest and it wouldn’t come as a big shock were she to make her presence felt if turned out for the race by her in-form yard, while any further rain would be welcome.
1:50 Aintree – William Hill Vieux Lion Rouge Veterans’ Handicap Chase Cl2 (10yo+ 0-150) 3m1f
STRAW FAN JACK (9/1) isn’t one to trust implicitly, but Sheila Lewis’ charge is on a very winnable mark and, having looked in need of the run on his recent reappearance, it might be worth chancing the Geordieland gelding to build on that outing.
The ten-year old was rated 142 at his best but features here fully 20lbs below that mark, and he struck off this rating on his final start of the campaign last term at Ludlow, beating Destroytheevidence. Returning from six months off the track earlier in the month, again at Ludlow, he wasn’t disgraced in finishing runner-up to Hold Your Fort, although he did look in need of the reappearance, and he’ll surely strip fitter now.
He made a couple of late mistakes, including a blunder at the last which might have been tiredness, but he also gave the winner 12lbs and paid the price for racing keenly. He’s worth sticking with given his last couple of runs have been solid efforts and he could post another big run here.
2:00 Galway – Brasserie On The Corner Handicap Chase (4yo+) 2m6½f
VAUREAL (15/2) ran well over this course earlier in the month, shaping as if he’d appreciate a stiffer test and the Kapgarde gelding can improve on that effort to go one better.
Ian Donoghue’s charge was beaten five lengths by Inthenickoftime, one-paced late on and no match for the easy winner. However, he was clear of the rest and the handicapper has left his mark unchanged despite that effort.
He’ll be better suited stepping back up in distance and he acts on this ground, so while he hasn’t won for a while, he should give a good account, and he’s a live each-way candidate in a tricky race.,
2:05 Fontwell – Pertemps Network Handicap Chase Cl2 (4yo+ 0-145) 2m3½f
STATUARIO (SP) is 2-3 since Mikey Bowen took over the training reins at Haverfordwest, and the Helmet gelding can strike again, assuming he’s not caught out by the return to this shorter trip.
A dual-winner last term at Perth, he snapped an eight-race losing streak back at the Scottish track on his first start for his new handler and following a lesser run at this distance at Market Rasen, he bounced back to score again at Perth latest, beaten Yeats Star by a short-head.
The ten-year-old has done all his winning at Perth aside from one hurdles success at Ffos Las in his younger days, so he has to prove he can translate his winning performances to other venues; while he likely doesn’t have a great deal of scope to manoeuvre from this sort of mark.
However, he does arrive in decent form and with Sean Bowen up he looks to hold obvious claims, although he would almost certainly prefer a stiffer test.
2:20 Aintree – William Hill Best Odds Guaranteed Maiden Hurdle Cl3 (4yo+) 2m4f
Only two of these have any hurdles experience and neither really set the heather alight in those runs so a chance is taken on DANGER NAP (14/1) at a big price and the likely outsider of the field could surprise.
The Order Of St George gelding found only one too good here on his Rules debut twelve months ago before running a very creditable fifth in a Cheltenham Listed bumper on New Year’s Day. Jonjo O’Neill’s charge hasn’t been seen since disappointing at Doncaster on his next outing, but he was possibly amiss that day and he’s been given plenty of time.
Now switching to hurdles, he could do much better over this extra yardage, while earlier form here is always a positive. Ground conditions ought not to prove an issue and having shown promise when highly tried in bumpers, he can improve for hurdling now so it wouldn’t come as a huge surprise if he were to make his presence felt.
2:35 Galway – Glenman Corporation Handicap Chase (4yo+) 2m6½f
BAL KAUTO (7/4) is unbeaten over fences since joining Declan Queally and the Balko gelding can keep his recent winning run going.
Twice a winner over fences back in summer 2023, he has shown he has retained all his ability following a lengthy layoff and following a brace of hurdles victories at Kilbeggan and here in July, he brought up the hat-trick, switched back to the larger obstacles at Kilbeggan in August, where he ran out a ready winner from Invictus Machin under this rider.
An 8lbs rise in the weights will make life tougher, but the eight-year-old remains unexposed over fences and could have better still to come. He’s proven ability on this ground and the drop back to this trip won’t present an issue so another big performance is expected here.
2:55 Aintree – William Hill Old Roan Limited Handicap Chase (Grade 2) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4f
Ahoy Senior would beat this field at his best, but often needs a run or two and he endured a dismal season last term and may be regressing now, while progressive Imperial Saint loves this track having won three times from four starts.
However, BOOMBAWN (4/1) is taken to land this prize and give Team Skelton another winning afternoon.
The Dylan Thomas gelding took Wincanton’s Rising Stars Chase last term before running with credit in Graded races, including finishing just one length off Rubaud at Kempton and only beaten three lengths over C&D in the Grade One Manifesto Chase.
Dan Skelton’s charge returns to handicaps on a very workable mark given his form of last term and he’ll appreciate a return to this distance, having perhaps failing to see out the longer trip of the Oaksey Chase on his final start last term.
He has won on the back of an absence before and has proven effective on this ground, while sharp tracks seem to bring out the best in him and with the yard in good form he can go close on his return to action.
3:30 Aintree – William Hill Each Way Extra Handicap Hurdle Cl2 (4yo+) 2m4f
Fergal O’Brien has won the last three renewals of this contest and looks to have solid claims of a four-timer with SERIOUS CHALLENGE (11/4) who can resume winning ways.
The ex-Irish flat recruit from Jim Bolger proved progressive last time over hurdles, where he won three times, scoring over this trip in soft ground at Plumpton on just his second start before adding to his tally on vastly contrasting ground at Ayr and Southwell over two miles.
Upped markedly in class for his final start of the season at Sandown, the Fracas gelding was far from disgraced, finishing fourth of 14 in a valuable handicap, weakening on the run-in. There could still be better to come from him on just his second handicap start, and he’s on a fair hurdles mark given he showed some decent form on the flat in Ireland.
Effective on this ground, with the sharp track likely to suit as he is one who likes to go forward then he could well prove tough to peg back.
