ITV Racing Tips: Two To Back On Saturday

The Cheltenham Festival has been and gone, and in this hinterland between the biggest week in racing and the next biggy - Aintree - a few meetings are scattered across the calendar with some intriguing contests. ITV are in town at Kelso and Newbury, with a race at Bangor thrown in too, and Billy Grimshaw has a couple to keep on side...

14:05 Newbury

I'm willing to completely put a line through NORN IRON's latest effort when fourth over what is patently an inadequate trip at Doncaster and judge him solely on the back of his second place at this track on handicap debut. If using that as the formline, he will surely take all the beating in here considering there is a step up in trip and good ground in his favour for the smart team of Harry Derham and Paul O'Brien.

This race is a rather large jump down in class from the lofty heights of the races I've been previewing more recently at Cheltenham, but although these are not superstars they are an evenly matched bunch. At seven though and with a nice racing weight of 10st12, I am willing to row in win only behind Derham's charge here despite odds of 5/1 meaning he'll be an each-way play for some. He should be ridden patiently and has plenty of pace to aim at in the race, notably from team Twiston Davies's Glynn Brae who only knows one way and that is hard and fast from the front.

There are dangers aplenty in this field and Alexei is probably the one I fear most, although that'll surprise nobody looking at the odds. The five year old is another who needs forgiving a poor effort last time out but he clearly didn't enjoy the soft ground at Exeter and although the burden of top weight could thwart him here, he could be one to keep onside next season.

15:35 Kelso

I think this race should set up perfectly for favourite FLASH DU PISTOLET considering the definite front runner Escapeandevade will finally give him something to aim at. He is no stranger to front running himself but James Ewart's top weight is about as certain a pace setter as you can get in either code of racing and so Ross Chapman should be given a lovely toe into the race just tracking him and judging by the lack of kick he has shown when push comes to shove thus far this campaign it would be disappointing were Flash Du Pistolet not to be able to easily glide past.

Probably his best performance to date was last time out at Newcastle about a month ago when bolting in from the front, but I don't think he is as set in his ways that he will sulk if not the sole leader - unlike the second favourite. One thing is certain that this will be run at a good clip, and that could bring in both veterans Duty Calls, who won this race two seasons ago but has looked all of his twelve years this season, and Lucinda Russell's course specialist Bollingerandkrug, but it'd be disappointing were either to be good enough to live with the younger legs of the favourite and he rates my NAP of Saturday.