ITV Racing Tips: So much to look forward to!

Missing it already? Mercifully there's an excellent contribution from the ITV cameras this afternoon as they beam SEVEN races our way LIVE, including the Midlands Grand National from Uttoxeter.

Cheltenham was brilliant - and for me it heralds the end of winter's gloom, and signposts the likes of the Aintree National, York's Dante, the Guineas meeting, sharp-end footie, golf's Masters, cricket; just a cavalcade of the most fantastic sport under the sun - literally, thank goodness, for those of us who love to feel it on our back.

Have a cracking afternoon's sport, and here's to those longer days and lighter nights.

Horse Racing odds

Full ITV Schedule

Uttoxeter 13.50 - 2m 4f Handicap Hurdle

Kempton 14.08 - 2m 2f Novices' Handicap Chase

Uttoxeter 14.25 - 2m 7 1/2f Handicap Hurdle

Kempton 14.40 - 2m 5f Handicap Hurdle

Uttoxeter 15.00 - 4m 2f Midlands Grand National Handicap Chase

Kempton 15.18 - 2m 4 1/2f Handicap Chase

Uttoxeter 15.35 - 3m Novices' Handicap Chase

Rationale;

Uttoxeter 13.50 - A Perfect Day @ 6/1

Hands up everyone thinking Lou Reed right now? Lovely old tune, and let's hope we're all glad we spent a bit of it this afternoon in the company of ITV racing.

Our opener is a Class 3 handicap hurdle, and we've plumped for a six-year-old Westerner gelding trained by Ben Clarke in Dorset, with the brilliant Ben Jones in the plate.

A Perfect Day drops down from a Class 2 at Chepstow three weeks ago when last seen, and that was certainly a somewhat troubled run. He was well fancied, going off the 9/4 favourite, but when pressing the leader he clouted the second last, causing jockey Brian Carver to lose his irons and any chance of victory.

The saddle slipped, too - and off the same mark today, 120, barring any similar misfortune, he can make handsome amends. This is a progressive type, two wins from five starts under rules so far, and Cheltenham-winning jock Ben is in terrific form.

Kempton 14.08 - Secret Des Dieux @ 3/1

Small field, but competitive fare for this 2m 2f novices' handicap chase.

This might be champion Sean Bowen's best chance in the televised races here, as he partners Secret Des Dieux for Newmarket handler James Owen.  The six-year-old gelded son of Zarak (G1 French middle-distance winner) arrives here off the back of an emphatic 13l win at Huntingdon 23 days ago, albeit achieved on heavy ground, and it's expected to be much sounder underfoot this afternoon.

He ran well though on good ground here on Boxing Day, and seems pretty versatile in that respect. This looks to be a fine opportunity and though he's conceding weight and now rated 129 (up 7lb for that last win) he's got an awful lot going for him - plus of course the generational talent of Bowen in the saddle.

Uttoxeter 14.25 - A Pai De Nom @ 10/3

Another for whom Chelters was pretty special - trainer Dan Skelton, who fields six-year-old Passing Glance gelding A Pai De Nom in this handicap hurdle.

The selection whizzed in at Newbury five weeks ago by a very cosy 5l in a level below this, and steps up looking to defy a 5lb penalty. A Pai De Nom has won four of his eight starts and I understand was denied a run at the Festival courtesy of the ballot box.

Dare I use that phrase 'handsome compensation awaits' again? Career-best last time, and a quick alternative assignment has been found that pays nearly £40k to the winner. I'm in ...

Kempton 14.40 - La Pinsonniere @ 7/1

A warm-looking Class 2 handicap hurdle, over the niche trip of 2m 5f.

Our selection La Pinsonniere appeared to get stuck in the mud at Warwick last time at this distance, though in fairness it was a Listed affair, and is better judged on four 2025 efforts on a sounder surface.

That modest showing five weeks ago was the six-year-old mare's first since last April and one can only hope that all is now well again, and she can resume what was looking like a promising and progressive career.

Her mark of 130 doesn't look lenient - yet - but hailing from the Nicky Henderson barn I've a feeling we're about to see a nice step up sooner rather than later. Yard jock Nico de Boinville, fresh from diplomatic corps activities at the Cheltenham Festival, has the riding assignment.

Uttoxeter 15.00 - Jupiter Allen each-way @ 9/1

Chester Williams trains this seven-year-old French-bred gelding in the Midlands Grand National - an extreme test over 4m 2f, and 25 fences.

Jupiter Allen has very respectable career stats of five wins in 19 starts, and in a most timely manner produced his best performance to date when last seen 44 days ago.

Off a mark of 121 he scooted clear to win by 11l at Wincanton, and lines up today for this huge prize (£90k to the winner) with a 6lb hike to contend with. Lorcan Williams was on top last time and remains so, and while the trip is something of an unknown he got 3m 6.5f at Exeter in December pretty well, to offer plenty of encouragement ahead of this assignment.

Kempton 15.18 - Ryan's Rocket @ 9/4

The now-familiar colours of the Noel Fehily racing syndicate, and an eight-year-old gelding by a former Listed mile/mile two horse of the great Sir Henry Cecil's.

Ryan's Rocket is 11 from four all told and has won two of his six steeplechase outings. He was popping along beautifully when last seen, here, at the Christmas meeting, before making a mess of the eighth and unseating Johnny Burke.

He was the 7/4 favourite on the day, and returns to the scene of the crime this afternoon off a pound less (134) with for me a terrific chance. He's tried again at around 2m 4.5f, and on the anticipated good ground, on such a flat, speedy track, the prospect of him getting it sufficiently to support a winning effort is high.

Johnny is in the plate once again for trainer Fergal O'Brien and 11st 4lb looks a very decent racing weight, in the context of this heat.

Uttoxeter 15.35 - Kykorock @ 4/1

Carrying just 10st 9lb, the eye is drawn to another Team Skelton runner in this 3m handicap chase.

Kykorock is a six-year-old French-bred gelding who's won two of his three chases. Soft going holds no terrors, having won at Warwick with cut in the ground, and the interesting imponderable is the trip - stepping up to 3m when generally campaigned at around the minimum.

His sire Ballingarry was by legendary soft-ground loving stallion Sadler's Wells, and was himself a useful G1 middle-distance horse on the level, so there's some tangible encouragement there, stamina-wise.

I'm expecting Harry Skelton to wait in rear before launching a late bid. Should be fascinating, with some good yards in opposition.

ITV Racing Tips with Betfred Insights.