ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 23rd March from Newbury and Doncaster

1:20 Doncaster

We get underway with listed action and it is the Doncaster Mile. 

The one I like here is CHARYN (3/1). This is a decent drop in class from the races he was competing in last season and the 4 year-old is open to further improvement this season. He’s a winner at Group 2 level on soft ground which is an obvious plus and the Roger Varian stable have a great record in this winning 3 out the last 9 renewals. I’d expect a bold bid under the returning De Sousa. 

 

1:50 Doncaster

Next up at Doncaster is the Brocklesby Stakes, a 2 year-old contest over 5f.

It’s hard to get away from MYSTICAL ELEGANCE (2/1) here. It’s well known the Amo Racing team love to have their horses ready to go at the start of the season as proven at the Curragh earlier in the week. He is bred to be a decent horse and has plenty of speed in the pedigree so 5f will look an ideal starting point. I feel stall 15 is the right side of the track and he’s a worthy favourite based on what we know pre-race.

 

2:10 Newbury

The first of three live races from Newbury comes up at 2:10, it is a novice handicap hurdle over the extended 2m3f.

The one I’ve landed on is SPIRITS BAY (5/1) here. A winner on 3 of his last 4 starts (faller on the other occasion), he’s certainly on an upward curve. He bolted up last time out coming from off the pace to win going away at Exeter. An 8lb rise looks fair for that effort and he jumps left at times so Newbury will arguably suit him better. He has no ground concerns and the stable remain in decent form which is an added positive.

 

2:25 Doncaster

The competitive Spring Mile handicap is next up with 18 runners set to go to post.

I’d be happy to chance top-weight LION TOWER (22/1) EW in this. A winner of this race two years ago, things didn’t quite go to plan last season but he did come down the handicap as a result. On a going day he’s definitely got races in him off this current mark and he shown enough on his seasonal return when finishing second at Newcastle. Hopefully, that’ll put him spot on for this and I think he’s a fair each-way price with enhanced places on offer.

 

2:40 Newbury

It’s back to Newbury for the 2:40 and this time it is a handicap chase over 2m4f.

I do think HELTENHAM (15/8) NB will take a fair bit of whacking here. He bolted up here last time out travelling all over his rivals and I think the handicapper has been lenient in only rising him 6lb. Unbeaten in two starts over this course and distance, I’m confident he can’t complete the hat-trick for the red-hot Dan Skelton stable. 

 

3:00 Doncaster

The 3:00 from Doncaster is the Cammidge Trophy Stakes, a listed race over 6f.

I think first-time out is the time to catch MARSHMAN (4/1) NAP and he’ll do for me here. A winner on seasonal debut in both 2022 and 2023, he drops in class for his 2024 return and has ground conditions in his favour. Again, being a 4 year-old, I’d hope he has further improvement in him this season and that can hopefully start with a victory here.

 

3:15 Newbury

The 3:15 from Newbury is a competitive Grade 2 race for the mares novice hurdlers. It is ran over the extended 2m4f trip.

The one I landed on is EL ELEFANTE (11/2). She was a decent bumper horse and expectations were high heading into her novice hurdle campaign. She bolted up at Perth on debut by 24l on soft ground and was well fancied in a competitive novice hurdle against the geldings at Cheltenham soon after. She didn’t jump well enough there and finished 5th in the end. Things didn’t go to plan in two starts since but she got back on track with a comfortably victory at Ayr when we last seen her. Hopefully that will have boosted her confidence and I have no doubt she’s a made with plenty of talent that is better than a mark of 122. She is proven on this ground and likes to sit handy so hopefully there will be no hard luck stories for her. The Lucinda Russell yard always seems to find their feet in the spring and she can give them a boost heading into the Grand National meeting in a few weeks time. 

 

3:35 Doncaster

The final race is the 3:35, the competitive as always Lincoln handicap over the mile.

It’s LIBERTY LANE (9/2) for me here. You need a Group horse in a handicap to be winning this and under the right conditions I think Liberty Lane is just that. He wants soft ground over a mile and that’s what he gets here. He won a handicap over this course and distance two starts ago in decisive fashion on similar soft ground. Put a line through his run last time out in the Cesarewitch as the ground was far too quick for him. Returning to ideal conditions this 4 year-old can improve past his rivals given a clear run.   

 

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