ITV Racing Tips: A Couple Of AW Picks On Freezing Saturday

There is doubt all over the country about the prospects of each meeting happening right now in racing, with Jack Frost biting up and down the land. Nevertheless, ITV Racing will be broadcasting racing unlike last Saturday and Billy Grimshaw is pessimistic that any turf action will take place, so focuses on the all-weather racing...

14:00 Newcastle - Gamble Responsibly At BetUK Handicap

MIDNIGHT LION won from the front end here last time out and while he is up in the weights compared to that day in this contest, i think he could well rinse and repeat that effort for Jim Goldie and he rates a fair bet at around 4/1 to repeat the feat. There is a perceived notion that being drawn high at Newcastle is massively advantageous, however for those drawn low who like to race prominent a golden highway can open up and that's what happened for Midnight Lion the last time he was here from stall 2. He has the same draw on Saturday which is ideal and provided neither of the other prominent racers hustle him too much, he could be tough to peg back.

The issue is that the two pace rivals, Lerwick and Life On The Rocks, are drawn in boxes 1 and 3 which could mean this trio get going a bit too quickly and cost themselves all chances, however Life On The Rocks could not live with Midnight Lion's early gallop last time out when the two clashed, weakening to finish ninth of eleven. Lerwick represents the main danger, outside of favourite Sol Cayo who I respect but think will struggle to give the weight away, and if the hood can keep him settled he could be a live danger to the pace as he is more accustomed to racing over shorter. Nevertheless, it is Midnight Lion who makes most appeal and hopefully kicks us off in style.

14:40 Chelmsford - bet365 Handicap

This looks fiercely competitive, with the field all 5/1 or bigger at the time of writing, but the hat-trick hunting EAGLE DAY looks to be the one to side with here and if I had to guess I'd imagine he'll go off clear favourite. Paul Evans' charge won in taking style last time out at Wolverhampton and with his plum draw in one can come late with a sweeping run again under Richard Kingscote to make it three wins in a row.

He has won over this course and distance before and with these all-weather performers who often run 15 or more times a season, it is crucial to jump on the bandwagon when a horse is clearly in good nick. Eagle Day's win at Wolverhampton last time out, when he really battled more than he has done in his entire career so far, indicated a horse in rude health and he looks the one to put your faith in here. I'd rate Quiet Resolve the main danger were it not for his draw, as he has shown he can excel here and in big field races like this. Off his mark and in stall 12 though, he could find this tricky.