ITV Racing Tips: Expert Selections Today At Doncaster & Cheltenham
Jumps fans rejoice; Cheltenham is back today and live on ITV Racing! We can't wait for the action to begin once more for another season at Prestbury Park, but it's not all about National Hunt today with Doncaster providing some high class flat racing too. Here are our Friday ITV Racing tips...
#AD 18+ New customers only. 7 days to place qualifying bet of £10 at 1/1 (2.0) to receive 4 x £10 Free Bets. 7 day expiry. Exclusions apply. Stake not returned. 18+. Full T&Cs apply. 18+ GambleAware.org
14:25 Cheltenham - squareintheair.com Handicap Chase
It was a welcome sight to wake up and see the price on MATATA had lengthened somewhat overnight for Nigel Twiston Davies as I was happily going to tip him at 5/2 so 11/4 is even better! If we forgive the horse his last run at Aintree last season, when it is not out of the realms of possibility that a horse this headstrong that had been on the go as long as he had was a bit over the top, he surely has a favourite's chance in here.
Around this time last year on chase debut he bolted up at Ffos Las following a final run of his previous season at Aintree, so we know his handler sees this sort of break and return schedule as optimal and that the horse can run to his best fresh. Arguably his best performance last season came when a half length second at Lingfield behind JPR One but before that he'd also finished just a length off Liberty Hunter here at Cheltenham when probably using up too much gas leading from the off.
If he is another year older and wiser, I'm hopeful he can lead without exerting himself quite as much as he did in his novice chase career and with Daryl Jacob a more than capable pilot in terms of getting the fractions right, I give him a right chance in a handicap like this off a mark of 147. The main danger could well be last year's winner Dancing On My Own for Henry De Bromhead, who saw off Triple Trade (also in here) to claim the 2023 renewal, however he is 10 years old now and has the burden of top weight.
15:00 Cheltenham - Sharp Novices' Hurdle
Billy has a strong fancy in the Sharp Novices' Hurdle, the feature race at Cheltenham on Friday. Hit the link below to find out who he's backing and why in his full race preview!
15:18 Doncaster - William Hill More Top Prices Handicap
This looks a race there for the taking for anything with a bit of improvement to come and ALTMORE looks tailormade to take advantage. His mark of 87 could seriously underestimate his ability judging from the style of his latest Pontefract win on handicap debut and although an eleven pound rise would make plenty baulk, I actually don't think the handicapper was overly harsh with that as this is clearly a horse who is destined for bigger and better things.
Still only thrice raced yet proven on soft, there doesn't seem to be much that can stand in his way of becoming a serious sprinter to be reckoned with and while the field here is packed full of likeable sorts we know well, none have anything like the upside Altmore does for team Haggas and Marquand. There are a lot of numbers bigger than one in the formbook for plenty of his rivals, including Camanche Falls who is yet to taste success in 2024 but always seems to run a solid enough race.
If having to choose a main danger I suppose I'd go with Wodao of Jamie Osborne's, although he has almost doubled in price overnight which could concern backers. He is winless since the back end of 2022 but has shown signs of life in his last few runs and should the favourite bomb out he would be the one I'd expect to finally get his head in front on the back of his second at a heavy Goodwood last time out.