ITV Racing Tips: Three To Back At Cheltenham And Doncaster

Here at HorseRacing.Net we have provided full race previews of a host of the big clashes coming our way on ITV Racing on a huge Saturday afternoon. Nevertheless, there are still three races on ITV that we have not provided an opinion on in a single piece and as such we have enlisted Billy Grimshaw to provide us with his fancy in each race!

13:15 Cheltenham - Paddy Power Cheltenham Countdown Podcast Handicap Chase

Il Ridoto was just touched off last time out here under a brilliantly bold Bryony Frost ride in the December Gold Cup, with Fugitif nailing him in the shadow of the post to deny the front-runner. He has been given five more pounds for that effort, but that looks fair from the handicapper and he is rock solid for those who fancy a placepot banker. This race looks as competitive as that December assignment on paper and the horse to side with in my opinion is on a steep upward curve and could be leaving handicaps behind hm soon enough, VICTTORINO for Venetia Williams.

He has been phenomenal since joining Venetia from France, cruising to two Ascot handicaps. Obviously Cheltenham is a very different test, but the strength in which he travels seems to me to mean he won't mind going the opposite way and having a decent pace to aim at. Excello brings a similar profile and as a five year old will receive weight all round, having won easily last time out at Ascot and looking like a horse destined for better things than handicaps. However, of the two I would be inclined to give the nod to Victtorino to hopefully kick things off in perfect fashion on the ITV Racing marathon on Saturday.

14:25 Cheltenham - Clarence House Chase

It was a huge shame to see Ascot abandoned last weekend, but the Clarence House Chase has at least been salvaged and rescheduled to this Cheltenham slot. Of course, the race has lost a lot of its shine with the no-show from El Fabiolo, who will now head to and probably win with ease the Dublin Chase. The only realistic Champion Chase rival for El Fabiolo is of course the horse he beat into second in the Arkle JONBON, who is left in here from Ascot and is a prohibitively short price for glory.

It would be a shock even bigger than Energumene's reverse to Editeur Du Gite last season was if Jonbon were to lose this, and could see him rerouted to the Ryanair. The 2023 champion is back to defend his crown this year and while he won't go down without a fight, it looks likely he and Elixir De Nutz will simply set the race up perfectly for Jonbon, who loves to travel powerfully behind a pace setter or two. The nature of the race means perhaps backing a stalker to pick up the pieces is the logical play, and Fugitif may fit that bill after his last second December Gold Cup win. The worry with him of course is the trip, as this is plainly a Ryanair prep. 

With the ground on the good side NUBE NEGRA enters calculations. He is getting on in years but has a good record here and with ground conditions and pace to suit, he can follow Jonbon home. Back the striaght forecast or Nube Negra in any without Jonbon markets.

14:40 Doncaster - River Don Novices' Hurdle

In the fullness of time, I think a seven length defeat to Gidleigh Park could look a much better piece of form than it does right now, and that is something RANGE brings to the table here. Gidleigh Park will strut his stuff in the final race at Cheltenham on Saturday, after the ITV cameras have switched off, and he is a warm favourite to dominate the Classic Novices' Hurdle. Harry Fry;s charge looks an absolute weapon of a novice hurdler and should he win that race easily, he will be single figures for whichever race Fry decides to target him at.

Range did not do everything perfectly that day behind Gidleigh Park either, running a bit freely and hitting a few obstacles while leading. He would've been no match for the winner, but showed his class with a decent win on heavy at Chepstow next time out. The form is not of the level of either market leaders Welcome To Cariters and Destroytheevidence, but he should not be a double figure price in this race and I'd fancy he will improve for this step up in trip. The ground won't be too much of a burden to any of the entrants, but Range does not lack tactical speed which a few of the rest of the field might do. He will do for me.