ITV Racing Tips: Three To Back on Festive Saturday

The stars have aligned this festive season for we racing fans to be well and truly spoiled with ITV Racing action, with Boxing Day and the 27th falling on a Thursday and Friday meaning we get a third consecutive day of action on terrestrial television on Saturday! Billy Grimshaw has scanned the cards for the 28th and has three additional bets...

13:25 Leicester - My True Love Gave To Me Handicap Chase

Latenightrumble and SUPERBOLT are jousting for favouritism as I pen this piece, and if things stay like that I'm more than happy to make the Twiston Davies runner my pick as I think he brings more to the table. Last time out he finally got his head in front in a five runner chase, after finishing a close second the previous twice. That race was probably nothing to get too excited about, however getting a win under his belt after being revitalised since switching yards could prove important for Superbolt and I liked what he did after the final obstacle, pulling away on the flat in the style of a horse relishing his job.

Leicester is a track I think will suit Superbolt slightly more than Latenightrumble, and I don't think the Tom Ellis trained horse will be able to give over a stone (once the jockey's claims are factored in) to Superbolt here. He is the main threat in the race that kicks things off on ITV and did look value for more than his winning distance last time out at Wetherby, but at this track and under these conditions I'd be much more keen on Superbolt. I also don't want the other runners to give Wild Side Of Life too much rope on the front end, so would prefer Superbolt's usual tactics of being midfield over being a hold up horse like Latenightrumble.

14:20 Newbury - Coral Mandarin Handicap Chase

There is serious face palming potential in here for yours truly as I am going to tip up a horse I backed last time and ended up pulled up, but I'm taking Paul Nicholls at his word that he expects a much better showing from INCH HOUSE today and if his faith is rewarded, he is well overpriced at 9/1. This is no weak race so he will have to be back to his very best to score, particularly with Holy Joe Smoke looking a worthy favourite and a six year old going places on a decent mark for Dan and Harry Skelton, but last year Inch House impressed me on multiple occasions and in the grand scheme of things I think his move to Ditcheat will work out.

Unbeknownst to the trainer it seemed at the start of the season, a few of Nicholls' runners were needing their first outing and with Inch House's seasonal debut also being his yard debut this could well have been exaggerated for him at this course last time out. He has the cheekpieces back on today and retains the services of Harry Cobden - always a plus in my books - so with the horse now hopefully settled in to his new way of life and stripping much fitter, I'm hopeful today we see the real Inch House and he bounces back to being a very handy chaser.

There are dangers aplenty in here, with the favourite already mentioned the main threat but also Henry's Friend for the bang in form Ben Pauling yard. They seem to have exciting young chasers coming out of their ears at the moment and it'd be no surprise to see him make a bold bid. At a massive price I wouldn't totally discount Hudson De Grugy either for the Moore outfit, as he looked much more polished when winning last time out. I'll resist double dipping on the tipping though and go in solely with Inch House.

15:35 Newbury - Coral 'Pipped-At-The Post' And Win Novices' Limited Handicap Chase

The final race set to be broadcast on ITV Racing and bringing a close to a fantastic three day feast of entertainment is this novices' handicap at Newbury and it is yet another competitive affair. Shanagh Bob really disappointed me and plenty of others on chase debut last time out, with this supposedly one of Britain's top potential staying chasers in the novice ranks judging by his classy Cheltenham win last December and his encouraging fourth behind Dancing City at Aintree's Grand National Festival. Nicky Henderson's charge has always looked made for chasing but he looked like he'd never seen a fence when stumbling home last of the five at Uttoxeter first time out over fences.

I cannot back him even at a somewhat tempting 5/1 in this race considering how poorly he jumped and how tamely he seemed to fold that day, but there is talent in there so perhaps he'll bounce back today. Inthewaterside for Nicholls and Cobden ran a decent enough race considering he was sweating profusely in the prelims on seasonal reappearance when coming home third over hurdles and this is an exciting place for him to begin his chasing career. He has always been thought of highly and I can see the case for him, but at the prices he's skinny enough to leave considering the concern over his sweatiness and also I'm not sure how he'll cope here without the hood on.

Dan and Harry Skelton have a good prospect on their hands in THEFORMISMIGHTY judging by his facile success at Southwell last time out on his second chase start and I'd wager there is more to come from the seven year old. With doubts about the two behind him in the market, and nothing else particularly leaping out to me, he'll do as the pick for this race to hopefully wrap up this marathon schedule with a winner.