ITV Racing Tips: Our best bets for a big Friday's racing at Chepstow and Newmarket
A massive day of racing awaits on ITV this Friday and connections of all the horses entered will be hoping to avoid the bad luck commonly associated with Friday the 13th. The highlight of the ten races is the Persian War Novices' Hurdle at Chepstow in last season's Champion Bumper form will be tested. Billy Grimshaw has four tips in total, with a couple from Chepstow over jumps and two from flat racing HQ Newmarket...
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13:35 Chepstow - Unibet Veterans' Handicap Chase
Kicking things off on ITV is a handicap chase for the veterans and some of the names in here will certainly make readers feel old that they now qualify for these races! Danny Kirwan is an untrustworthy sort but on his day is a talented sort, while De Rasher Counter is attractively weighted on his best form ,although a deluge of rain wouldn't go amiss for his chances and the forecast looks relatively clear. Favourite Aye Right has to be respected in this sphere and is another who looks dangerously handicapped, but it is his main market rival GOOD BOY BOBBY that I fancy.
The Twiston-Davies yard have started this season in excellent fashion and for this horse who likes a fair pace to track the presence of Aye Right is just what the doctor ordered. He has been tumbling down the weights and although last season was littered with disappointments, his 2021/22 season featured a brilliant win in the Rowland Meyrick at Wetherby and another fine win at the track. Perhaps last season was a sign that he is gone at the game but he's still only ten and on his best form a mark of 132 seriously underestimates him. HIs record fresh is decent too so in a race full of old favourites I'll side with him to kick off with a bang.
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13:50 Newmarket - Newmarket Academy Godolphin Beacon Project Cornwallis Stakes
With low draws set to be advantageous over this five furlong course at Newmarket, I have to chance ZOULU CHIEF to bounce back from disappointing as even money favourite last time out now tried over the minimum trip. This horse only has one way of going and that is to set off like the clappers, attain an early lead and hope nothing is rapid enough to catch him, but over six last time out he seemed to just do a bit too soon. There's no doubting he has the pace for five furlongs and although there will be pace rivals in here I'm not sure any will break quicker and be leading him come the end of the first furlong.
James Doyle in the saddle is a massive positive and although this Group 3 is deep waters, he is at least experienced for a two year old. It'll take a career best to defeat some of the higher profile runners such as Flora Of Bermuda and Inquisitively, but I am certain five furlongs will bring out the best in Zoulu Chief and think he warrants support in each-way markets with plenty of firms paying an extra place or two. Hopefully they give him too much rope off the front and steals the race Alabama is also worthy of respect after Aidan O'Brien nominated him as his horse to follow at the start of the season and he finally got off the mark at Dundalk last time out, but at double the price I'll stick with the Chief.
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14:10 Chepstow - Persian War Novices' Hurdle
The feature race of the day basically revolves around one horse here at Chepstow; CAPTAIN TEAGUE. Paul Nicholls has been waxing lyrical about this lad throughout the summer months and in a number of outlets has nominated him as his horse to follow for the campaign. I feel like I have written more about this Champion Bumper third than any other horse at the moment as he featured in my ten to follow as well as a look ahead article to this Chepstow meeting, but with main antepost rival Johnnywho a no-show here he should take all the beating.
Team Ditcheat were thrilled with his performance at Cheltenham in the aforementioned bumper as he showed plenty of courage in getting to the front in what is always a frenetic race. Eventually two speedier types did him for a bit of speed up the hill but he plugged on gamely for third and for a horse bred to jump obstacles, this was hugely encouraging. I believe he will be seen to best effect over staying trips in time, be that over hurdles or fences, but there is nothing in this race that brings anything like the form he has in his locker. Nicholls has a superb record at this meeting and indeed in this race (eight winners so far) and I can't see past Captain Teague obliging on hurdles debut.
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15:35 Newmarket - Old Rowley Cup Handicap
In the race before this final one that I'll be previewing, I was half tempted by Pogo at a decent price to nick the race, but there were too many classy individuals in opposition and none really stood out at the current prices. Thankfully, the Old Rowley Cup throws up a much more tantalising punting proposition and betting sites are paying a host of extra places on the big field handicap over a mile and four furlongs. Humanity looks the right favourite and the Roaring Lion gelding looked like a six pound penalty would be nowhere near enough to stop him last time out at Kempton, but odds compilers have taken any sniff of value out of him at 11/4 in this deep a race.
Lucky Fifteen was very nearly the selection here as all season, despite winning three from five, he ha looked one itching to step up in trip and he gets that opportunity here> However, the claims of WESTERTON were too good to turn down in the end. Alan King's charge was a fine second last time out up at Doncaster and the horse that just about beat him in Maximilian Caesar will be of interest if declared at a big price on Saturday. The winner got the run of the race that day and Westerton was the only one out of the chasing pack to make any inroads on his lead, eventually going down by just a neck. He has taken the scalp of Middle Earth already this campaign and I think he looks a brilliant each-way pay in here under the talented Rossa Ryan.
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