ITV Racing Tips for Saturday 2nd April from Newbury and the Scottish Grand National at Ayr

The feature race from ITV Racing this weekend is the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and their is a decent supporting cards too. The other live races come from south of the boarder at Newbury.

We have a total of eight live races on ITV, starting with the 1.15pm at Ayr and ending with the Scottish Grand National, as we warm up to the main event from Aintree in seven days time.

 

1:15 Ayr

The opener on Scottish National Day is a 2m handicap chase.

I like SEBASTAPOL (9/4) here. He is a horse who has always shown potential but had been very frustrating to follow. However, he finally got his act together last time out at Kempton winning in taken fashion. The second has backed that form out since and off a 8lb higher mark, I expect him to go in again here.

 

1:35 Newbury

The first race on ITV from Newbury is a trappy Novice handicap hurdle over 2m2f.

My selection is ROYAUMI UNI (5/1). This five-year old has more scope than most in this field and he will be well suited by this quick ground. He’s ran some great races in handicaps this season and finally got his reward when winning last time out. Trainer Gary Moore won this race last year so he knows what’s needed.

 

1:50 Ayr

The 1:50 from Ayr is next up and it is a trappy 3m handicap chase for the novice chases.

The one I like is THE GOLDEN REBEL (13/2) for the Ben Case operation. An underrated stable, I think this horse will appreciate the 3m trip round a fast track like Ayr. He won easily two starts back and was an unlucky caller last time out. He is effectively racing off 10’7 here with the jockeys 5lb allowance and he rates a great each way bet to me.

 

2:10 Newbury 

The 2:10 from Newbury is a wide Open Veterans Handicap Chase over 3m.

The one for me here is BERMEO (5/1). Harry Fry can’t do much wrong at present and I think Bermeo could add to that fine strike rate on his stable debut. He likes to sit off the lace and with so many strong front runners in this line-up, you’d have to say this race will be run to suit. If he returns anywhere near to peak form, he’ll win this.

 

2:25 Ayr

The 2:25 race from Ayr is the Scottish Champion Hurdle ran over 2m.

The selection here is MILKWOOD (5/1). A horse who never seems to get enough credit in my book. He is a really really good horse. He won this race last year and Sam Twiston Davies maintains that partnership. He’s ran some belters in top handicap hurdles such as the County Hurdle and the Galway Hurdle. He’ll relish the good ground here and this years renewal doesn’t look much better than last season. This will have been the number one target for the season where it’s an afterthought for some of his market rivals such as West Cork.

 

2:45 Newbury

The last race on ITV from Newbury is the 2:45 race. It is another decent betting race. A Grade 2 Mares Novice Hurdle where 16 runners look set to go to post.

The one for me is SPEECH BUBBLE (7/2) NB. A Grade 2 but it doesn’t look a strong race. Speech Bubble is easily the best on all known form. He is second to Love Envoi last time out who has obviously since boosted that form at Cheltenham reads well in this line-up. Noel Williams has a good record with his mares over the years and he could have another real good one here.

 

3:00 Ayr

The 3:00 from Ayr is a Grade 2 but a fairly weak one at best. It is a Novice Chase over the intermediate 2m4f trip.

I think DO YOUR JOB (9/4) NAP will win this. I don’t think there is much between the selection and Minello Drama but the selection gets 5lb off the McCain charge which I think will prove crucial. Do Your Job won well last time out at Newcastle and I think he can kick on from that and win again here. The conditions will suit well.

 

3:35 Ayr

The feature race ends proceedings on ITV and it is the Coral Scottish National over the marathon 4m trip.

My selection in the race is THE FERRY MASTER  (10/1) EW. I can’t see the Sandy Thomson charge finishing out the frame here. He was 4th in this contest last season but he comes into this years renewal more lightly raced and that could prove decisive. He has a lovely racing weight of 10’7 to carry round this marathon trip and at the age of 9 now, you could argue this is his best chance to win a big national contest. This is his second run after a wind operation so everything points to a big effort.

 

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