ITV Racing Tips: Three Saturday Picks From Cheltenham & Doncaster

It is scientifically proven that a bad weekend and racing at Cheltenham cannot co-exist. Therefore, dear reader, it's the perfect excuse to spend a Saturday glued to the television as ITV Racing are in town but at Festival Trials Day at Prestbury Park and up at Doncaster for their brilliant card too. Billy Grimshaw has three tips for your consideration and makes the case below...

13:15 Cheltenham

Kicking things off on ITV from Cheltenham is this intriguing looking handicap chase, which is offering up a classic quandary for this humble scribe. Jagwar is the right favourite, this is a valuable race and if he runs to his best he will win. Backing the horse you are fairly sure is graded class in handicaps should be one of the more simple things to do as a racing punter, but given his odds are contracting with every word I type it seems and the nagging suspicion he will be back here at the Festival and cherry ripe - he won the Plate last year, after all, so definitely can be brought to the boil for March - I can let him win without the burden of my cash.

Moon D'Orange is an obvious each-way play given he won the race last year and is available to back at double figures this year, with the cheekpieces reapplied which he wore to success last campaign. His trainer's form this season does concern me enough to look elsewhere, however.

It's not rocket science these days as every odds compiler and his dog has surely cottoned on by now, but you do want a prominent racer in Cheltenham handicap chases and he also ticks that box. Uncle Bert likes to get on with things and I do expect him to be much better suited to this test in comparison to his bizarre run and predictable PU finish in the Welsh National last time out. This lad wouldn't stay that distance in a horse box so only NTD knows why he ran there, but nevertheless this should be much more his bag. Prairie Wolf is another I expect to see in the leading pack and who I gave a squeak to, albeit the ground has gone against the Aitntree winner, but although the 20/1 quotes are now gone I think 12/1 is still very fair about DONNACHA for Nigel Hawke.

He'll absolutely adore the muddy conditions and if looking through his form, it's like night and day comparing when he meets with a bog versus any other type of ground. He will hopefully race prominently as is the usual tactic and I am taking great promise in his latest run on good to soft - too quick for him - at Chepstow when he was only beaten four lengths and ran with tremendous zeal. Clearly he is in a rich vein of form and this looks a tailormade test for him, so for all we may all be playing for places Jagwar's preparedness dependant, he is worthy of support and I'd be disappointed to see him out of the frame.

14:05 Doncaster - Great Yorkshire Chase

It is tough for any track attempting to share the Saturday spotlight with Cheltenham, what with that course being the home of jump racing, but Doncaster are doing a fine job of it this weekend with all three televised races looking very intriguing indeed. The River Don should be a belter to kick off proceedings and the Mares' only contest at 13:30 also looks an exciting race on paper, but neither saw a bet leap out to me.

Never mind though, I've most certainly got one in the Great Yorkshire! Always a slog, this year's race will prove no exception given the ground is already bordering on heavy up in Yorkshire and more rain is forecast. Traditionally, you want a handy runner at Doncaster in these big chases but this year the Great Yorkshire seems to have attracted an abnormal amount of horses that will want to lead and as such, I am expecting a kamikaze pace. This means, despite the trends, I want something that'll be held up and the obvious one is DEEP CAVE for Christian Williams.

Sent off a big price at Aintree to wrap up his hurdling career, there was no fluke about his win at 28/1 when just getting past the long time leader and it'd be no surprise to see him do similar here. He'll handle conditions and his trainer has always thought the world of him, announcing in the aftermath of that Aintree success that we ain't seen nothing yet and that this lad would improve bundles for fences. On the evidence of his win last time out at Ascot, he certainly has and although that form is not working out as you'd quite like, the manner in which this lad does his winning means he'll never look impressive getting up late. I'd be confident in saying he was miles better than the rest that day. This'll be tougher, but everything looks set up for a huge run.

Of the rest of the field I am most fearful about the favourite Grand Geste if he wins the pace battle, however with New Order and particularly Josh The Boss in here, I cannot see him getting away from the pack. Joyeux Machin is one of the few other hold up horses and could run on with my pick, so perhaps that is worth a small exotic bet if you're that way inclined, but I'll keep it simple and back Deep Cave to win as my Doncaster NAP.

15:35 Cheltenham - Cleeve Hurdle

I fully expect IMPOSE TOI to make his record a perfect four from four this season and win this race, and although we are hardly getting an exciting price almost doubling your money is nothing to turn your nose up at. He has already brushed aside Strong Leader this season at a track the Olly Murphy runner enjoys more than here in Newbury, so despite him being second favourite he is no danger to my eye. Ma Shantou is more interesting as third favourite and is definitely a horse on the up for Emma Lavelle, but this will be where his rapid rise is brought to a halt given the quality of the market leader. He is also without the services of regular rider Harry Cobden which is a blow.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Doddiethegreat follow home his more high profile stablemate and give Nicky Henderson not only a first winner of this race but a first 1-2. Named after the inspirational Scottish rugby union legend Doddie Weir who sadly lost his battle with MND a few years back, this horse is tough as old boots and returning to Cheltenham will play to his strengths as opposed to Ascot last time where he never looked comfortable.

Gowel Road is the defending champion however after carrying my cash a few times this season - which always make you watch a horse that little bit closer than others - he looks to be at the end of his tether with the great game and some of his old spark looks spent. He will no doubt be given the usual Twiston Davies positive ride, but now a ten year old I can envisage the younger rivals cruising past him a few furlongs out before he plugs on for third or fourth perhaps. 

Impose Toi was as big as 50/1 for the Stayers' at the start of the season but could be under 4/1 with another big win here, and he seems to have the perfect run style and temperament for that test come March. If anyone spots any to win today and at the Festival specials for him, I could not put you off.