ITV Racing Tips for Cheltenham, Newbury and Doncaster (Saturday 26th October)

1:15 Cheltenham

The first race from Cheltenham is a novice handicap chase over 2m4f.

The one I like is LORD OF THUNDER (8/1) EW. A progressive hurdler last season, he finished off with two decent victories at Wincanton over this intermediate trip. He has a point-to-point background and looks sure to be a better chaser this season than he was a hurdler. The Tizzard yard have started the season in rude form and a mark of 129 couldn’t underestimate Lord Of Thunder here. The early market movement is encouraging too.

 

1:30 Doncaster 

We have three races from Doncaster. The first is the Prospect Stakes, a listed race for 2-year-olds over 6f.

It is FAST TRACK HARRY (13/2) EW I like in here. I was taken by his debut victory at Newbury last month and we know Newbury is a track that is often the source of some really strong maiden races throughout the year. That race certainly looked a decent enough maiden on paper. Hailing from the Clive Cox stable, they often improve bundles for their debut effort and if he does that here, he ought to go close at this level. William Buick is an eye-catching jockey booking and at the prices, Fast Track Harry is the one I like. 

 

1:45 Cheltenham

It’s back to Cheltenham next for the 1:45. It is a 3m novice hurdle with 5 runners going to post. 

The one I’ve landed on is INTENSE APPROACH (5/2) who looks set to relish this step up 3 miles. I thought he just got done for toe when finishing second behind the rapidly improving Flying Fortune last time out in the Persian War at Chepstow and he had the remainder of the field comfortably beat. He’ll enjoy this quick surface and trainer John McConnell knows what it takes the win this race having won it twice in recent years. Harry Cobden retains their partnership from last time out and he may just get his own way out in front.

 

2:05 Doncaster 

The 2:05 from Doncaster is a trappy 5f handicap.

I’ll chance ABERAMA GOLD (7/1) NB here who is incredibly well-handicapped and he has shown me enough in recent starts to suggest he can capitalise off it soon enough. Today may just be that day as he returns to the race in which he last made it into the winner’s enclosure. A winner of this race last year off a mark of 96, he comes back this season off a mark of 85. If he runs anywhere near his best, he wins.

 

2:20 Cheltenham

The 2:20 from Cheltenham is a 3m1f handicap chase.

It is VANILLIER (20/1) EW for me here. All of Gavin Cromwell’s horses have to be respected when coming over to Cheltenham and this selection is no different. A previous Grade 1 winner at the Festival back in 2021 when landing the Albert Bartlett, he has had two National campaigns in recent years so a lot of his runs were certainly preparing for that big day. He probably should have won the National back in 2022 truth be told. However, connections have put plans for a third National attempt on hold and are happy to crack on this season. This is exactly what he wants if he is on a going day. A staying trip over fences on good ground over the track we know he ought to enjoy. If the market vibes are encouraging enough early on, I’d expect him to go close. 

 

2:40 Doncaster 

The Group 1 Futurity Trophy Stakes over the mile comes up at 2:40. The final chance for the 2 year-olds to strut their stuff at this level in the UK.

It’s WIMBLEDON HAWKEYE (7/2) for me here. He comes into this with the two strongest pieces of form in my eyes. Firstly, two starts back when he chased home the impressive The Lion Is Winter in the Acomb Stakes at York. He then stepped up to this mile trip for the first time when we last saw him in the Group 2 Royal Lodge Stakes at Newmarket. He ran right through the line there and I thought he won a shade cosily in the end. I like that James Doyle maintains the partnership again for this and I expected him to be shorter in the betting than he currently is. I like his chances.

 

2:55 Cheltenham

The 2:55 is a Pertemps qualifier for the 2025 Cheltenham Festival in March. A handicap hurdle over the 3m trip. 

I think ZAIN NIGHTS (11/2) EW can continue on his strong upward trajectory this season and make a winning reappearance here at Cheltenham. He was a very good flat horse back in the day and in recent starts, he’s transferred that ability to hurdles. A winner on 3 of his last 4 starts, his last win at Haydock was in a similar competitive handicap on a quick surface like today. Before that, he won over this course and distance so we know he handles that too. A mark of 130 could prove to be well within his reach and his prominent racing style is a positive here at Cheltenham on quick ground.

 

3:10 Newbury

The 3:10 from Newbury is next up, the Horris Hill Stakes. It is a Group 3 for the 2 year-olds over 7f.

I’ve landed on MAKE YOU SMILE (13/2) EW here for the Hugo Palmer stable. He comes here on the back of just one run but it was here at Newbury over this course and distance and there was plenty of cut in the ground on that occasion too. He won well that day and he’s entitled to come on a bundle for it. The stable are doing well this season, especially with 2 year-olds and they can end it on a high here. 

 

3:30 Cheltenham 

The last race on ITV from Cheltenham is the Masterson Holdings Hurdle over the extended 2 miles.

It’s hard to get away from BOTTLER’SECRET (EVS) NAP. A progressive horse on the level, he was a top juvenile last year for the Gavin Cromwell team. He looks entitled to improve further this season too, given he only had three starts last season. He won a Grade 3 on debut at Naas before following up again at Fairyhouse. He was last seen chasing home the class Kargese at Grade 1 level at the Punchestown Festival which is a fine effort. He has the strongest form in the race by a long way and is arguably open to most improvement. Tough to beat.

 

3:45 Newbury 

The final race on ITV comes from Newbury and it is the Group 3 St Simon Stakes over 1m4f.

It’s AL AASY (11/10) for me who is the best horse in the race and he has shown enough this season at the age of 7 to suggest he’s just as good as ever. He excels over this course and distance as he has shown earlier in the season when winning a similar Group 3 race. That was after an impressive Group 3 win at Glorious Goodwood where he showed a lot more off the bridle than he used to. I think his run last time out when finishing second behind Al Qareem was strong too. He was just given too much to do and I believe a repeat of any of the last three runs will be enough to land this contest.

 

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