ITV Racing Tips: Oisin could have plenty to shout about at Newbury

Big race days are the norm most weeks - but right now we're really being spoiled rotten. It's Scotland's turn for a Grand National, plus a fabulous supporting card, from Ayr; with Newbury flexing its flat-race muscles and getting us right in the mood for the Betfred Guineas and Derby/Oaks festivals around the corner.

NINE races are being covered LIVE by ITV, and we've set out a few thoughts about the potential outcomes, as we do.

If you're playing, have fun. Above all - enjoy!

Horse Racing odds

Full ITV schedule;

• 13:10 Ayr: Handicap Chase 2m 0.5f
• 13:25 Newbury: Dubai Duty Free Stakes 7f
• 13:45 Ayr: Novices’ Champion Handicap Chase 3m
• 14:00 Newbury: Greenham Stakes 7f
• 14:20 Ayr: Scottish Champion Hurdle 2m
• 14:35 Newbury: Surprise Stakes 1m 4f
• 14:55 Ayr: Mares’ Handicap Hurdle 3m 0.5f
• 15:10 Newbury: Spring Cup Handicap 1m
• 15:35 Ayr: Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase 4m

Rationale;

13:10 Ayr - Palacio @ 7/2

I'm hoping it's going to be a red-letter afternoon for trainer Sam Thomas, who is sending some decent prospects up north from his South Glamorgan base. One of those is his French-bred eight-year-old gelding Palacio.

Running in the familiar colours of great stable patron Walters Plant Hire (Dai Walters), the selection has two wins from his five chase outings, and is a considerably better fencer than he was hurdler.

Improving nicely, last time at Newbury four weeks ago was an emphatic career-high 5l success; and with a racing weight of just 10st 2lb he appeals very much. Is up 6lb nevertheless from last time and must succeed in a higher grade, but regular pilot Dylan Johnston will I'm sure be looking forward to this with relish.

13:25 Newbury - Touleen @ 15/8

A three-year-old Lope De Vega filly with a tall reputation courtesy of two wins from three starts at two, one of which was achieved here over this 7f.

Touleen is a Shadwell Estates inmate housed with Owen Burrows in Lambourn, and who's entered up in both the English and Irish 1000 Guineas. This G3 Fred Darling test is a fine trial and we'll certainly know more about the classic picture soon after 13:25 this afternoon.

Touleen disappointed a little when last seen, in the Rockfel at HQ, for which she started 11/10f. She hung right and weakened - whether she'd proverbially gone 'over the top' for the season, or just didn't care for Newmarket, is hard to say.

If whatever was ailing her that day is resolved she should take a deal of beating, and interestingly Saffie Osborne has been booked to ride. Will Buick, on board for two of those three runs last term, will rarely be available going forward given his Godolphin commitments and I'm guessing that's part of the reasoning behind the engagement.

Big field for what should be a very informative test.

13:45 Ayr - Just Over Land @ 6/1

We're on the Sam Thomas/Dai Walters/Dylan Johnston bandwagon again, this time with another promising chaser Just Over Land.

The seven-year-old, French-bred once again, has two wins from his nine steeplechase outings and has found his forte over fences, presently rated 8lb higher than over the smaller obstacles.

He's been amateur/claimer-ridden in his last four spins but Dylan's been in the plate on four previous occasions. The horse has taken his form to a slightly higher level on his last three runs since early December, and the only question mark for me is this 3m trip.

He's usually campaigned at around 2m/2m 4f but if reacting well to the added yardage could be decent value to pick up this £25k first prize. Runs off 123 today, same as Sandown last time (beaten 4l), and down from a career-high 130 two runs ago.

14:00 Newbury - Gonna Fly @ 11/1

The G3 Greenham is a respected test for aspirants with Guineas, Epsom/Curragh, and Royal Ascot hopes. It's hard to be dogmatic in my opinion about the likely outcome, as one of the principals in the market Albert Einstein might not be entirely straightforward; so I'm looking to a once-raced colt to take a big leap forward, and put his hand up for the big races to follow.

Gonna Fly is a Starspangledbanner colt with that one spin under his belt - a comfortable novice success on this very track over a mile, back in October.

Ralph Beckett trains, and the brilliant Rossa Ryan has the riding assignment. Our selection is in York's Dante Stakes next month, and also holds English and Irish Derby engagements.

He's a big price as I write but in the potential absence of a lurking superstar, even first time up, Gonna Fly might, just might, be able to live up to his name.

We'll learn plenty, and I'm only going to employ a very modest little stake, probably each-way, but what a fascinating contest.

14:20 Ayr - Tellherthename @ 11/4

Team Skelton-time. The record-breaking outfit field a seven-year-old gelding in this who only shipped in to Alcester from the O'Neill yard in February. Just one run for his new stable so far; an encouraging County Hurdle 12th, beaten 7.5l, at the Festival.

Funnily enough Jonjo and AJ had Tellherthename for just four runs themselves, as he started life with Ben Pauling near Cheltenham, for whom he won a point and two little hurdle contests.

Perhaps this latest change of scenery will unlock extra potential improvement. He was thought highly enough of to have contested the 2024 Fighting Fifth against Sir Gino and company, and I won't be remotely surprised if Dan and Harry do what they've been doing very successfully all season - win another tidy pot in this glittering, all-conquering championship campaign.

14:35 Newbury - Convergent @ 5/2

Trainer Karl Burke is starting to have an influence upon the season, as per, and his four-year-old colt Convergent heads the weights for this 12f G3, the John Porter.

Four wins from seven is an indication of his ability, one of which was a Longchamp G2 last backend. He duly carries a G2-winning 5lb penalty, and though that means on official figures he's got a bit on his plate, this Coronation Cup entry must enter calculations as a very likely scorer.

His sire won the G1 Champion Stakes at this age and indeed continued to thrive at five, so a good deal of improvement could well be in the offing. I like his chances very much, and stable jock Cliff Lee takes the mount.

14:55 Ayr - World Of Fortunes @ 11/4

County Wexford provides our selection in this warm-looking handicap hurdle, in the shape of trainer James William Kenny's World Of Fortunes.

The eight-year-old Soldier Of Fortune mare is seven-from-16 all told, and four weeks ago came to Kelso for a Listed heat at this trip and dotted up by 5.5l.

This is a handicap so she's conceding lumps all round, but claimer Ross Sugrue reduces the burden by a handy 7lb and she is for me the one they've all got to beat.

15:10 Newbury - Shout @ 17/2

The Spring Cup features several combatants who contested the Lincoln three weeks ago, and the first two home at Donny reappear here this afternoon.

I'm going for the ninth home that day, beaten 4l, to turn the tables and strike in this £36k-to-the-winner cracker for training combo Simon & Ed Crisford.

Their four-year-old Advertise gelding Shout operated for the most part in rear on Town Moor and never got competitive, under Rab Havlin, off a mark of 101.

Fast forward 21 days and a certain Oisin Murphy is booked, the horse is dropped a pound by the kindly old assessor, and he's 5lb better off with the winner, and 4lb with the runner-up.

Three Crisford entries from their last 12 have won, and this looks like a case of all the stars aligning beautifully. We're paying 1/5 odds six places, so that might be the way to go - but I must say I do like Shout's prospects very much indeed.

15:35 Ayr - Quebecois @ 15/2

To the Scottish Grand National - 4m and the small matter of 27 fences. Red Rum won both the Aintree spectacular and this back in 1974. Imagine that happening today? What a legend that beautiful horse truly was.

The 2026 renewal looks as competitive as always, and I'm going for one with a touch of Cheltenham Festival class - Quebecois, a 0.75l third in the Ultima behind Johnnywho, our e/w tip in last week's National (finished a fine fourth).

Solid look then to the form, though defying 11st 13lb will be no easy task. Harry Cobden rides, Paul Nicholls trains, and surely with the seven-year-old gelding's best days lying ahead he can, with luck in the run, mount a terrific challenge.

As with a few of today's selections, a look at the each-way picture could well appeal (for this one we're 1/5 odds, five places).

ITV Racing tips with Betfred Insights.