ITV Racing Tips: Today's Best Bets at Chepstow, Newmarket and York

We have a bonus showing of ITV Racing to enjoy on Friday, with Chepstow's return of the jumps sure to have many licking their lips as well as good flat cards from Newmarket and York. Billy Grimshaw has scoured the cards and has a best bet from each track...

14:40 York - William Hill Finale Handicap

Nap of the day time here - I can't see past THE REVEREND for William Haggas and will be gutted if he is beaten. Being by Lope De Vega it will have surprised absolutely no one to see him ease to victory on handicap debut at Ascot last time out when the mud was flying, and with York expected to be soft again on Friday I think he will put in at least as good a performance and take a serious amount of stopping.

He is still very lightly raced and cheekpieces looked to work wonders for Haggas's charge last time out so it's good to see they remain on and while at the time some were disappointed to see him lose both his second and third starts, albeit narrowly when favourite, the exploits of the horses who beat him both days (now both rated 100) indicate this is still a well handicapped individual.

Providing the ground stays soft I can't see anything getting past him, for all that co-favourite Master Builder was impressive last time out and does also have some soft ground form. It should be between the two of these and with Haggas's fine record at York coupled with his horse's suitability to this upping in trip, the surface and the headgear I am firmly on the side of The Reverend.

15:50 Chepstow - Unibet Veteran's Handicap Chase

How wonderful is it to see these Veteran's Chases once again? I know they're not everyone's cup of tea but I love seeing some old favourites who have past their peak being given a fighting chance of getting their head in front again against similar foes. I was half tempted at a big price by Strictlyadancer for Christian Williams as he was very good back in his day, and is still only ten. However, after nearly two years off he hasn't shown enough of his old zest for the game.

Certainly Red was also a player in my mind but I'm concerned this is a prep run for something else considering they have dropped the cheekpieces which he excelled in so much last campaign. Copperhead is another horse I thought was destined for big things back in his pomp, however although he has finally got back in the winners' enclosure in a weak Plumpton four runner race last time out he still jumps like a bit of a grand piano and in a big field I couldn't trust him at 5/1. Far too skinny.

Considering the flying start the team have made to the season and his record this time last campaign, GOOD BOY BOBBY is my pick for Nigel Tiwston-Davies. Over the last 14 days he is operating at a 38% strike-rate (9 wins from 24 runs) and with Good Boy Bobby the defending champion in this race, and looking to have kept all his enthusiasm as last year rumbled on, I think the eleven year old is the most likely winner on targeting, stable form, the time of year and overall quality.

16:10 Newmarket - Old Rowley Cup

I do think the market has things right making Mount Atlas favourite for last year's winning trainer Andrew Balding as the form of his win at Ascot a few months ago has worked out well and there must be a high probability that Balding thought as soon as he crossed the line that day, this would be his next target. Nevertheless, 4/1 is skinny enough in a big field handicap like this and I'm more inclined to chance one at a bigger price, namely HIGHLAND BLING who as I type is 22/1 over on BetMGM.

Jessie Harrington's charge will be ridden by Tom Marquand here and that is a fair pick up for a horse having his first start in Britain since disappointing in the King George V Stakes Handicap at Ascot last year. That day he was never in the race and in truth, he was in similar rubbish form last time out at Listowel. I think though that this horse needs to lead and as we have seen so far at Newmarket this season, those who get a lead are tough to peg back.

It is a bit of a win or bust kind of bet as Highland Bling is probably more likely to sulk if beaten to the early pace than battle on for places, but I do think if he can get position one under Marquand and repeats the sort of form he showed at Galway earlier in the year when a head second, he has a shot. Marquand is brilliant on horses like this and at 20/1 or bigger, he is worth a small win only play to hopefully send us home smiling.