Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Racing Tips – DS
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Saturday Preview
A solitary place was all we got at Gowran on Thursday. The Gradual Slope was backed off the boards but he just got reeled in late on. Windsor Diamond didn’t get home and Commander Of Fleet ran a shocker. Our two Thyestes selections didn’t fare much better. Ex Patriot didn’t jump well enough and Class Conti lacked the pace to get involved. The focus switches to Donny and Cheltenham this weekend and we have seven live races on ITV. Check out Dave Stevos’ Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV tips below.
1.55 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (Grade 3)
On a day when small fields are the norm, it is nice to see 11 horses declared for this race. It is a Grade 3 handicap chase over a trip of 20f and the ground at jumps HQ is good. The one I like here, even if he is not the most reliable of operators, is Spiritofthegames. Trained by the Skeltons, this 9yo son of Darsi is very hard to win with. He has run some big races off marks in the 140s in the last year or two but he hasn’t won since he landed a Listed Novices’ Chase at Chepstow (19.5f gd) in October 2018.
A return of just four wins from 29 rules runs is poor for a horse with this fella’s ability. He has run big at the Festival more than once, including when placed off 147 in 2019 and when 5th off 149 in 2020. His best run this year came at Cheltenham when he was beat 7L by Midnight Shadow off 144 in the Paddy Power Gold Cup. He was only 1.5L behind Galahad Quest that day off 144 and with his jockey’s 5lb claim he is effectively 12lbs lower and 9lbs better off with the Williams horse.
Last time out Spiritofthegames ran in a handicap hurdle at this track and was beaten out of sight. However, 24f on soft ground is not what he needs and he’ll be a lot more at home at 20f on the lovely ground on Saturday. Jack Andrews has plenty of experience and he could prove to be an excellent jockey booking. If Spiritofthegames reproduces his Gold Cup form, he will go very close at odds of 12/1.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: Spiritofthegames e/w @ 12/1 NAP (4 Places)
2.10 Doncaster – Yorkshire Rose Mares’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Just the five will go to post in this Grade 2 heat for the mares and a trip of 16.5f awaits them. The ground at Doncaster is also good and last year’s winner Miranda is back to defend her crown. She added another handicap to her CV at Ludlow in December (16f gd/sft) and she is sure to be primed for a big run. Will she be able to concede 6lbs to Irish raider Anna Bunina?
John McConnell’s charge will relish the good ground and also the flat nature of the track at Doncaster. She ran a fine race to finish 2nd behind Milkwood in the Scottish Champion Hurdle at Ayr last April off 135 and the winner went on to run huge in the Galway Hurdle off 5lb higher next time. A 138 rated Tommy’s Oscar was back in 3rd and we all know what he has done this season.
Glory and Fortune was 5th off 130 and he has won twice since and is now rated 143. Anna Bunina was entitled to need her comeback run on New Year’s Day at Musselburgh and she should strip much fitter now. She is only rated 135 but given how that Scottish form has worked out, chances are she is capable of running beyond that rating. Western Victory should give her something to aim at and at 4/1, Anna Bunina is the pick against the fav.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: Anna Bunina win @ 5/1 NB
2.30 Cheltenham – Cotswold Chase (Grade 2)
Chantry House is odds on for this Grade 2 Chase but he was pulled up last time out. That King George run ended a sequence of four successive wins, including one at the Festival in March (20f gd/sft). It looked like this son of Yeats proved his stamina when hacking up over 25f at Aintree but that was an unsatisfactory race. He was left in front when the leader fell and he ended up winning at canter by 32L. I don’t think that win proved he stayed this far and we should know a bit more after today, although this looks a bad race for the level.
This looks a good opportunity for him against what are essentially a quartet of handicappers. Aye Right finally landed a big one at Newcastle last time when winning narrowly off 151. However, he would probably prefer some juice in the ground. Santini is a rogue and a change of scenery didn’t elicit much improvement on his first run for Polly Gundry at Cheltenham (beat 41L off 159). He is a horse with huge ability and it is only five runs ago he was beat a neck in the Gold Cup. A peak Santini would be interesting here but he needs to show he still retains his talent.
Kauto Worth A Punt
Simply The Betts is the second fav and he has run well on his last two visits to Cheltenham. He’ll like the ground but stamina is a huge doubt. One horse who could outrun his odds is Kauto Riko. He is another very quirky sort but when he is on his game, he is capable of running to 150. His best ever run came in a small field G2 at Huntingdon when he flew home for 2nd behind Top Notch (20f gd/sft).
On his last start over 24f he was narrowly beaten by Two For Gold at Doncaster off 138. He went on to beat Dashel Drasher and Bristol De Mai next time out. Tom Gretton’s charge was pulled up on his last run at Cheltenham (20f sft) but the first time cheekpieces he wore that day are now discarded. He was a massive eyecatcher in the Paddy Power Gold Cup in 2020 and ever since then I’ve been dying to see him over 24f+ at Cheltenham. Tomorrow is finally the day and while I’d prefer if it was a handicap, I think this is one of the worst Grade 2s you’ll ever see. At odds of 66/1, a small each way interest on Kauto Riko is advised.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: Kauto Riko e/w @ 66/1
2.45 Doncaster – River Don Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another Grade 2 and I’m afraid to say, this one isn’t the best of races either. Seven will fight it out for glory and to be honest, nothing is really jumping out as being overpriced. The Real Whacker made a good impression on his UK debut for Ann Duffield. He won by 7L at Carlisle (25f sft) but this will be a whole different test. Interestingly, he was trained by Patrick Neville in Ireland and he is still listed as an owner. Maybe that’s a sign that he holds the horse in high regard but he ran poorly on nice ground at Listowel and he may need it softer to show his best.
Cooldane Boy is rated 128 and he also won well last time at Musselburgh (24f gd/sft). That was only a class 4 handicap though and he was winning off just 120. Amazingly, he is the second highest rated in this field with a mark of 128 so on the figures he has a chance. However, this is a race hat is best left alone in my book. On ratings, My Bobby Dazzler is possibly too big at 4/1 but I’m happy to just watch. No bet.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: No Bet
3.05 Cheltenham – Cleeve Hurdle (Grade 2)
After what happened Klassical Dream on Thursday, connections of Champ will be hoping things go better for them on Saturday. He is long odds on to win this after his facile victory at Ascot. Jonjo O’Neill retains the ride and he is by far the most likely winner. The only slight worry is the ground as he likes a little bit of juice but he should get away with it.
Paisley Park has 5L to find with Champ on their Ascot form but he would definitely prefer slower conditions. McFabulous has yet to prove he stays 3 miles and Lisnagar Oscar is out of form. This looks like it is Champ’s race to lose and it is not a betting heat for me. No Bet again.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: No bet
3.20 Doncaster – Handicap Chase (Listed)
In the hope that the return to Doncaster sparks him back to form, Canelo is the one I am interested in today. Alan King’s 9yo son of Mahler has a decent record at the track. He won a Novice Hurdle here over 19.5f (gd/sft), he was 4th in this race last year off 148 and he finished 3rd off 147 back in March. King’s inmate finished off last season with a fall in the Grand National. This season has been a bitter disappointment so far but he is now down to an extremely dangerous mark.
His last win came in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby off a mark of 142. Today, he is in off just 137. Cheekpieces replace the visor that was worn last time and his last two wins have come in cheekpieces. His four starts on good ground have produced form figures of 2123 and one of those 2nds came behind Cap Du Nord off 138 at Newbury. He was conceding 18lbs to the winner and he is 7lbs better off with him for a 4L defeat. Cap Du Nord is the 13/2 second fav today while Canelo is 18/1. He isn’t one to be having the farm on but if he can rediscover his form, he’ll outrun those odds.
Doncaster and Cheltenham ITV Tips: Canelo e/w @ 18/1 (6 Places)
3.40 Cheltenham – Ballymore Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2)
Another woeful turnout and not a race I have any interest in from a betting perspective. Hillcrest is a decent prospect and if he handles the ground he should be thereabouts. A Different Kind will relish the conditions underfoot and he looks another exciting prospect. This is his hardest task to date though and his form is hard to weigh up. Balco Coastal represents a strong yard and he has won three of his last four. He flopped when he tried Graded company in bumpers so he is best watched, especially at odds of just 9/4.
North Lodge won on soft last time at Aintree on his rules debut. That was a taking display but this is a very different track and he is unproven on good. Picanha is 2/3 under rules and he won a maiden last time out. He is a likeable sort but others have achieved more. Harpers Brook got to within 3.75L of Hillcrest in a bumper but he probably would need a deluge to feature here. This is another no bet race, unfortunately.
