ITV Racing Tips: Eight races – and FIVE crackers from Cheltenham

FIVE from Cheltenham, and three from Donny - a superb Saturday of ITV National Hunt racing beamed into our living rooms and wherever we grab our sporty/telly fix.

Eight races then all told, and of course we're spoiled with a cast list that includes the likes of Harry Cobden, Sean Bowen, Brian Hughes, Charlie Deutsch, Gavin Sheehan, Harry Skelton - a host of big-name top-drawer jocks who consistently inhabit the winners' circle and entertain us royally.

Whether you're playing or not - enjoy the spectacle, especially those five from HQ. Cheltenham occupies a very special place in our sport.

Horse Racing Odds

Fast Racing Results

Full ITV schedule;

Cheltenham

13:15 - 2m 4 1/2f Quintessentially Mares' Handicap Chase (Class 3)
13:50 - 2m 4 1/2f Support The Hunt Family December Gold Cup (Handicap Chase) (Grade 3)
14:25 - 2m Handicap Chase (Class 2)
15:00 - 3m Albert Bartlett Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2)
15:35 - 2m 4 1/2f Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 2)

Doncaster

14:05 - 3m Pennine Handicap Chase
14:40 - 3m Doncaster Hurdle (Listed)
15:15 - 2m 1/2f Handicap Hurdle

Rationale;

13:15 Cheltenham - Sainte Doctor @ 10/1

The famous green and gold JP McManus silks are to the fore courtesy of his nine-year-old French-bred mare by Doctor Dino - Sainte Doctor.

She's a very respectable nine-from-28 lifetime which includes five over fences, and when last seen around April/May was running as well as ever, winning comfortably at Ludlow off a mark of 117 then being placed at both Cheltenham and Aintree before calling time on her season.

She reappears and runs off 123 this afternoon and it looks a very competitive heat; but we're paying five places each-way and that might be an angle well worth considering.

13:50 Cheltenham - Vincenzo @ 9/2

The South Glamorgan yard of former Gold Cup-winning jockey Sam Thomas has been in fine form this term - he fires relatively few darts but they tend to land with unerring accuracy.

His strike-rate over the last fortnight is 38%, and he saddles another Doctor Dino offspring here in Vincenzo, a seven-year-old gelding in the famous Walters Plant Hire livery of Dai Walters, a big supporter of the stable.

The selection ran a blinder here last time four weeks ago in a £90k contest at virtually this distance (bar about 100 yards), finishing second to Panic Attack; who promptly went to Newbury and took down another huge pot for the Skeltons.

Vincenzo has been nudged up a couple of pounds but that looks fair. As last time was his seasonal reappearance he's entitled to come on a touch for the run and he has in my view a very bright chance.

Regular pilot Dylan Johnson is in the plate.

14:05 Doncaster - Alcedo @ 4/1

It's Venetia-time. Cut in the ground, staying chases, and the yard are just flickering into form (nice to see their classy Djelo sluice up at Huntingdon the other day in the Peterborough).

Ms Williams saddles her seven-year-old gelding Alcedo here - not quite in the same parish form-wise as his illustrious stablemate but young enough to have a bright future to look forward to and already having notched up four career wins from just 11 starts.

Two weeks ago at Newcastle the selection improved to edge a Class 4 heat over 2m 4f and today's test is over half a furlong further and incorporates a hike up to a Class 2.

Stable claimer Ned Fox (5lb) won on the selection in the north-east and retains the partnership this afternoon.

14:25 Cheltenham - Triple Trade @ 13/2

Another tricky-looking contest over the larger obstacles - and I've plumped for a course winner from the Tizzard yard that's always a force to be reckoned with in these events.

Triple Trade is a nine-year-old gelding by an old David Elsworth-trained warrior Norse Dancer, who I saw run second in the Juddmonte at York over 20 years ago.

'Triple' reappeared for the season nearly four weeks ago, here, and won a Class 3 chase at around this minimum trip by a neck under Brendan Powell. The jockey prefers the stable's JPR One today, burdened with topweight of 12st, so our selection gets the excellent Sam Twiston-Davies up top plus the relative featherweight of 10st 3lb.

This is a step up to a Class 2 but that last run hinted that he might just be up to it. This is another race where an each-way tickle could be the wise play, but bear in mind with just nine runners we're in traditional three places territory.

14:40 Doncaster - Kateira @ 8/13

Team Skelton field this eight-year-old daughter of Ascot Gold Cup winner Kayf Tara, and on official figures (famous last words) appears to have this Listed test at her mercy.

On seasonal reappearance at Wetherby Kateira slaughtered the reigning Champion Hurdler Golden Ace at 2m (who admittedly didn't give her running; but promptly won the Fighting Fifth next time out)!

The selection then ran in a very hot Ascot G2, up a further 3.5 furlongs, finishing a respectable 9.5l behind the well-treated, much-touted Gordon Elliott hotpot Wodhooh conceding 4lb. A rival who's rubbed shoulders with Lossiemouth, and who wouldn't look out of place in the Champion Hurdle field.

Kateira steps up to 3m today and she went very close over course-and-distance back in January in a G2, so it should suit just fine. Appears to be the likeliest winner, but not perhaps a very appealing betting heat - unless punters get behind the Irish raider World Of Fortunes.

15:00 Cheltenham - They Call Me Hugo @ 7/2

By my reckoning if they all stand their ground the mighty Sean Bowen has six booked rides on the card, and arguably his best chance lies with this five-year-old gelded son of high-class King George winner Doyen, trained by Olly Murphy - They Call Me Hugo.

Three points (23l winner on the last of them in February), and one spin under rules so far for this one - a comfortable Ffos Las maiden hurdle success 34 days ago over 2m 4f.

It doesn't appear as if he beat a great deal but the Racing Post Rating was respectable (127), and he steps up to 3m today, which could unlock further improvement.

This is a very powerful trainer/jockey combo, and it often pays to keep on the right side of them. Small field, lovely race, with nice types from big yards to the fore.

15:17 Doncaster - Amancio @ 11/2

'Amancio' to me screams top-drawer Real Madrid footballer from the 1960s, but for Saturday's racing he's a useful four-year-old Sixties Icon gelding trained by Faye Bramley in Lambourn.

Amancio is four-from-25, which includes two wins on the flat. When last seen at Sedgefield 19 days ago he took a novice comfortably, and makes his handicap debut over timber this afternoon.

More on his plate then for sure, but Benjamin Macey takes off a useful 7lb and the conditional has enjoyed the patronage of a range of trainers this campaign, riding a winner earlier this week at Uttoxeter.

Decent racing weight of 11st 2lb, which will be reduced by Benjamin's claim, and potentially a nice price that could tempt each-way thoughts.

15:35 Cheltenham - Siog Geal @ 7/2

Another absolute beauty with which to bring down the curtain.

Famous last words again - I like this six-year-old mare's chances very much, and she'd be my idea of a Nap selection on the card. Siog Geal is a pretty lightly-raced individual with two wins from five races over hurdles, and reappeared for the season at Carlisle 41 days ago.

She finished third to Hartington, beaten 1.5l, and that Tizzard-trained winner should really have followed up at Haydock in a £57k contest but for meeting interference at a crucial late stage - and under the sainted Sean Bowen no less.

Red-hot form then in my book, and connections have waited for this nice little £20k pot at a similarly-testing venue (Carlisle has a stiff pull to the line too). She's run well here on her only HQ visit (a bumper 13 months ago), and she's up just a pound for that fine effort last time.

Off a mark then of 123 today she carries an attractive racing weight of 10st 10lb in the context of this handicap, and regular pilot Jonathan Burke is reunited with her after missing Carlisle.

ITV Racing Tips with Betfred Insights.