Saturday’s big race takes place in Newbury in the form of the Grade 2 ‘National Hunt’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (1440), there are also seven other fascinating competitions north and south of the border.
First we give you a short list of the horses that we believe have the best chances for the races that will be shown on TV.
If you want more details on why our tipsters chose these horses, we’ll dig up a little more detail further down the page.
Good luck and please gamble responsibly. (Please note that tips may be updated if a horse becomes a non-runner.)
Selection on Saturday:
1.30pm (Newbury) Inneston
13:50 (Kelso) Coral blue
14:05 (Newbury) Heltenham
14:25 (Kelso) Jet legs
14:40 (Newbury) Ruby Island
15:00 (Kelso) Jane Du Berlais
15:35 (Kelso) Forward plan
1.30pm (Newbury) Inneston
Inneston, who finished second in the EBF Finals at Sandown two weeks ago, has the drop in grade to fall back on in the Bet-In Play-On race with the BetVictor Novices handicap hurdle at Newbury.
Both the bottom and slight dip in the trip will suit the five-year-old of Gary Moore, who has not finished outside the top 3 in four games this season.
On the other hand, Artistic Choice should enjoy gaining distance after finishing second here in the extended 2m, while similar comments apply to the progressive Toothless.
The Atlanta Brave and Blow Your Wad hat trick can’t be ruled out either.
13:50 (Kelso) Coral blue
Many of them are coming in on top form but the preference is Coral Blue, who scored over track and distance last November and won their last two starts (both in February) with minimal excitement. A career-high 107 might not be enough to stop him, and he can hold his own against the likes of Les’ Legacy and Prairie Wolf, both of whom have been running really well lately. Others to note are Euchan Falls, Idilico and Salvino.
14:05 (Newbury) Heltenham
There are few better target coaches than Dan Skelton and he appears to have his sights set on Newbury on Saturday, where Heltenham is his team’s choice in the Run For Your Money At BetVictor Handicap Chase. He has been a paragon of consistency since he finished well beaten on his debut for court in a rookie hurdle at Lingfield in November 2021 and the fences seem to have brought many improvements. He finished second in his first two attempts over the larger obstacles and traveled to Newcastle on Boxing Day to beat Just Don’t Know, who has since won twice. More recently at Ffos Las he was even more impressive with 7lbs more on his back and won by four lengths but with a little effort it could have been double that. He’s put on another 7 pounds, a stone higher than at Newcastle, but although this is by far the deepest race he’s run in, he’s losing weight from all his rivals and most of them have seen better days.
14:25 (Kelso) Jet legs
Now that the penny has dropped for Jet Legs after a pivotal win at Wetherby earlier in the month, there should be much more to come from the six-year-old, particularly via two extra stadiums. Unlike his rivals, Spike Jones has proven himself over this distance and is considered a leading contender along with Inis Oirr, dropping in class after finishing a Grade 2 at Haydock last time out.
14:40 (Newbury) Ruby Island
Ruby Island should probably head to Britain’s EBF BetVictor ‘National Hunt’ Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle after another win and it’s no surprise that Mark Walford put on some cheek pieces. She had looked above average in the wins at Ayr and Wetherby and it usually takes a very smart person to defy a double penalty. That last time at Ayr she only fell by her neck after making three mistakes and drifting after the last against a mare who had also won two but was ridden decisively by a 5lb demanding conditional jockey became speaks volumes.
15:00 (Kelso) Jane Du Berlais
Ryan Potter’s Jane Du Berlais scores the strongest bet of the day in the BetVictor Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle. This promising five year old will probably not be seen at her best until jumping, but she is already useful on wood. A win over opposing Bonttay on her first completed start showed that point after unfortunately making a mistake her first time this season. Since then, Bonttay has won and finished second, while Jane Du Berlais has only played once against Ruby Island in Wetherby. While Ruby Island was a tough nut to crack, Jane Du Berlais was not disgraced, losing late in second place, beaten less than six lengths behind the same weights. That £50,000 pot seems to have been the plan ever since, and notably Potter has bothered to book JJ Slevin for the mount.
15:35 (Kelso) Forward plan
Even though Forward Plan is competing in class for this outing, the fact that he scored eight lengths over an extended 3-metre stretch earlier this month in Southwell gives him a strong claim to completing a hat-trick and he can deliver another brave braggart with 10 pounds higher. Half Shot has been knocking on the door of late and is the most feared, while Doyen Breed also warrants a market check.
The article Saturday ITV Racing Tips: Best bets for Kelso and Newbury appeared first on Planetsport.com.
