ITV Racing Tips: Genius can plunder Kelso Listed prize

Saturday, March 2nd - and a very interesting afternoon in front of the cameras, showcasing our ITV Racing tips. We're visiting Newbury, Kelso and Doncaster, and it's the penultimate weekend before - well, you know what. A little gathering in the Cotswolds, lots of Irish interest, big crowds, and frequent shots of a smiling Willie Mullins. Probably.

This is a cracking day's racing in its own right, and here's what I think might happen this afternoon.

Menu - the individual race specifics;

13.20 Newbury Bet In-Running On Racing At BetVictor Veterans’ H’cap Chase (Cl 2) (3m2f)
13.42 Kelso bet365 Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) (2m5f)
13.55 Newbury BetVictor Greatwood Gold Cup Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) (2m4f)
14.17 Kelso bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (2m2f)
14.35 Doncaster Virgin Bet Cheltenham Festival Money Back H’cap Chase (Class 2) (2m1⁄2f)
14.50 Kelso bet365 Morebattle Hurdle (Handicap) (Class 2) (2m)
15.10 Doncaster Virgin Bet Daily Price Boosts Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Listed) (3m1⁄2f)
15.25 Kelso bet365 Premier Chase (Listed) (2m71⁄2f)
15.40 Doncaster Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (Class 2) (3m2f)

13.20 Newbury - Highland Hunter @ 4/1

Fine effort last time a fortnight ago at Haydock against Yeah Man, beaten 9l. Similarly heavy going on Saturday is anticipated, over a trip a couple of furlongs less; but still onerous in this ground.

Stamina hopefully won't be an issue then, and the 11-yr-old might just show his fellow veterans the way home. He's run well at Haydock on a few occasions and it's a very similar, tough, left-handed test here at Newbury.

13.42 Kelso - Pentland Hills each-way @ 6/1

One of Nicky Henderson's lightly-raced, relative veterans, in the shape of 9-yr-old Pentland Hills.

Remember his Triumph Hurdle win back in 2019? As a precocious son of Derby hero Motivator you'd expect him to have gears, and he was rated as high as 157 by the time he contested the following year's Champion Hurdle (beaten 19l).

Sadly, that was the last time we saw him for 927 days. Since returning his form has been patchy, and clearly he's tough to keep sound and well. After another 300 days+ lay-off he returned at Donny and ran a blinder in mid-December, beaten just 1.75l.

Half-decent, good-to-soft ground is forecast, and those old Triumph gears might just be dusted off and engaged on Saturday. The magnificent Nico de Boinville is doing the steering, and it's a fascinating contest for a tidy little pot.

I'm recommending each-way, as he's a genuine e/w price right now.

13.55 Newbury - Gemirande each-way @ 8/1

2m 4f chase, heavy ground - who ya gonna call? Reckon plenty would respond 'Venetia Williams.'

Her 8-yr-old gelding Gemirande is returning from another lengthy lay-off, the small matter of 318 days. The Herefordshire handler has few equals when it comes to plundering events like these, and when last seen in the spring Gemirande was looking most progressive.

One assumes things haven't perhaps gone entirely to plan since then, but he holds a Cheltenham Festival handicap entry and could do a 'typical Venetia' here and score.

Charlie Deutsch is in the plate, and similar comments about the each-way angle apply.

14.17 Kelso - Personal Ambition @ 5/1

A good-looking Grade 2 novice hurdle with £30k+ to the winner.

The selection is a Gloucestershire raider from Ben Pauling's Naunton Downs yard, with Kielan Woods in the saddle. Just the four career starts, and only one blip really, on heavy ground at Sandown. Not the first to be foxed under testing conditions up that unforgiving hill.

Needs a career-best but is going the right way and the yard is in fine fettle.

14.35 Doncaster - Homme Public @ 5/2

Jumped left occasionally last time at Ascot which won't be such an issue here at left-handed Donny.

Homme Public is in the care of Oliver Greenall & Josh Guerriero, and will be ridden by Henry Brooke. At 7 there should still be plenty of time and room for improvement and he's proving to be a most able recruit to the chasing game.

Won at Cheltenham in November and is clearly full of potential.

14.50 Kelso - Under Control @ 7/2

Those famous JP McManus silks of green and gold, and another N Henderson inmate looking to take this famous old Morebattle Hurdle.

This is a talented, lightly-raced 5-yr-old mare with plenty of weight - 11st 13lb to be precise. She's had a couple of wind operations and ran really well last time (January 27th) at Donny, splitting two cracking Willie Mullins runners.

That's serious form, and it could be argued she's a shade fortunate to be raised only a pound for it. Nico's doing the steering again and will doubtless bide his time and attack late.

She's still multiple-entered at the Festival but perhaps this is her Cup final? Cracking heat.

15.10 Doncaster - Lunar Discovery @ 2/1

Charlotte Jones has struck up a great rapport with this 7-yr-old mare, and is indeed the only jockey to have ridden her in public.

It's a staying Listed contest and the selection arrives in great nick. She's officially the top-rated entrant too, and goes well with cut in the ground. Several promising mares oppose but I'm more than happy with her chances.

Narrowly pipped at Carlisle last time, and it was 16l back to the third.

15.25 Kelso - Monbeg Genius @ 7/4

Jonjo and 'Jonj' team up here with Monbeg Genius for this intriguing staying chase.

He's an 8-yr-old gelded son of Derby runner-up Shantou, and the O'Neills have already enjoyed five wins with him since taking a maiden hurdle at Ffos Las in October 2021.

He plies his trade at some prestigious venues - Ascot, Chepstow, Cheltenham, Newbury - and last season's Ultima third can certainly make his presence felt here. Another rattling good contest.

15.40 Doncaster - Erne River each-way @ 8/1

Charlie Hammond rides for Nick Kent, and the 9-yr-old gelding certainly enjoys the South Yorkshire air.

A win and a close-up fifth here for Erne River in December and January respectively, and he's got an undeniable each-way shout in my view (we're paying four places).

Another famous old northern steeplechase with a great history, the Grimthorpe, and a very acceptable prize of £36k+ is about to be snaffled. Cloudy Lane I recall, in the Hemmings silks, was a notable former winner.

If you're playing, have fun, and the very best of luck.

ITV Racing tips, from Betfred Insights.