ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 18th November from Cheltenham & Lingfield

1:45 Cheltenham

Six runners go to post for the opener on ITV. It is a novice chase over the extended 3m trip. 

It’s GOOD RISK AT ALL (15/8) NAP for me here for the Sam Thomas stable. He went off a well-backed favourite on seasonal return at Carlisle in what was a decent race on paper. He pulled clear with Giovanco who came down when the front two began to pull clear. Giovanco has since boosted that form with a victory at Aintree last week. Good Risk At All jumped well there and ending up beating Alaphilippe by 16 lengths. He looks like he’s improve for a fence and I think he can land this before targeting bigger races.

 

2:20 Cheltenham

The feature comes up at 2:20 and it’s a decent renewal of the Paddy Power Gold Cup. It’s a handicap chase over 2m4f. 

I like NOTLONGTILLMAY (7/1) EW here. A fine second in the Grade 1 Turners Novices Chase at the Festival behind Stage Star, he returned to action here at the October meeting with an encouraging 4th over an inadequate 2 miles. That should have put him spot on for this and he should have a fitness edge over some of his key rivals. Laura Morgan is a trainer going places and I think she may well show us here. 

 

2:36 Lingfield

We head to the AW track at Lingfield for the first of two races. The 2:36 is the Churchill Stakes, a listed contest over 1m2f.

I’ve landed on BLUE TRIAL (4/1) here who could be the one open to most improvement in this line-up. We haven’t seen much of him in recent years but he ran twice at Meydan earlier in the year, coming 5th on his first try before coming on for that effort and winning there back in February 2023. He returned to action at Group 3 level back in April and was disappointing truth be told again finishing 5th. The Charlie Appleby stable were not firing at that time and they’ve returned to a strong level of form in recent months. Blue Trail has stall 1 and will likely go forward. I think he’ll go close freshened up back on the AW with the yard in much better form.

 

2:55 Cheltenham

It’s back to Cheltenham for the 2:55 and it is  a 3m handicap hurdle.

It’s the Irish charge BUDDY ONE (11/2) NB for me here. He was a fine third on his last visit to Cheltenham in the Martin Pipe, a race that has worked out well since, he backed that up with a fine second at Aintree in April.  He’s took his time getting to that level of form since the summer but he won easily when stepping up to 2m6f at Galway last time out. He stayed on strongly to win by 4 lengths there and I think this 3 mile trip could squeeze out further improvement. Top claimer Jack Gilligan is value for his 7lb and I expect a bold bid in a race that should suit Buddy One well.

 

3:11 Lingfield

The 3:11 from Lingfield is another listed race, this time the Golden Rose Stakes over the 6f trip.

I think MISCHIEF MAGIC (7/4) can prove too good for this lot. A return to winning form at Kempton last time out, that will have done his confidence the world of good. The 3 year-old sets a decent standard and is open to more improvement than his elders in this contest and the other 3 year-olds would have to improve a lot to reach his level. 

 

3.30 Cheltenham 

The finale on ITV is another handicap hurdle, this time over the 2m5f distance.

It’s RESPLENDENT GREY (10/3) for me here. He made his seasonal return in the Persian War finishing second behind Captain Teague on that occasion. That is a decent level of form and again he may have the fitness edge over current favourite Springwell Bay who shoulders top weight on his seasonal return. Resplendent Grey is a consistent sort who always seems to give his showing. This is a drop in class from last time out and he looks sure to go close.

 

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