RICK DOYLE'S ITV RACING TIPS
Rick Doyle gives us a handful of selections for today's ITV Racing from York & Newmarket.
1:45 CHELTENHAM
PADDY POWER ARKLE CHALLENGE TROPHY TRIAL NOVICES' CHASE (GRADE 2) (REGISTERED AS THE NOVEMBER) (GBB)
STENCIL - 15/2
STENCIL looks the value play in the Arkle Trial with question marks over the two market leaders dropping to two miles. Four-year-olds have an excellent record in these novice chases and his weight allowance could be a big asset. He was strongly fancied in the Fred Winter, travelled powerfully when second in the JCB Triumph Trial, and handles testing ground well. Noel George and Amanda Zetterholm look to have timed his switch to fences perfectly, and the booking of Harry Cobden only strengthens the case.
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2:20 CHELTENHAM
PADDY POWER GOLD CUP HANDICAP CHASE (IN MEMORY OF EDWARD O'GRADY) (PREMIER HANDICAP) (GBB RACE)
HUNTER LEGEND - 8/1
If the rain comes, HUNTER LEGEND looks lively for Venetia Williams, who often sparks into form at this time of year. He progressed nicely in small fields last season and signed off with a dominant seven-length win at Bangor, clocking a notably sharp time in the process. There’s every chance he’s still ahead of the assessor, and with conditions likely to play to his strengths, he’s more than capable of landing a blow at decent odds.
14
2:55 CHELTENHAM
FROM THE HORSES MOUTH PODCAST HANDICAP HURDLE (GBB RACE)
LONG DRAW - 9/2
LONG DRAW looks set to run a big race in this 3m handicap hurdle. He shaped well when staying on for fourth behind Ma Shantou last time, with Supremely West only a place ahead, and he returns here off the same mark after two outings that should have him fully tuned. Soft ground is still a lightly explored territory for him, but his one run on heavy suggested it could bring his stamina into play, and with the rain likely to arrive, conditions may tilt firmly in his favour.
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3:10 WETHERBY
BOYLE SPORTS BEST ODDS GUARANTEED 'INTRODUCTORY' HURDLE (GBB RACE)
CUEROS - 4/1
Grand National-winning jockey Patrick Mullins partners CUEROS in a Wetherby introductory hurdle for inexperienced hurdlers. The five-year-old made an eye-catching UK debut for trainer Harry Derham, winning a Newcastle maiden by 14 lengths in effortless style. Previously successful on the Flat in Jersey, CUEROS now steps up in class over timber. With Patrick Mullins in the saddle and plenty of potential to develop, he looks a very interesting prospect in this field.
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3:30 CHELTENHAM
PADDY POWER INTERMEDIATE HANDICAP HURDLE
LAST RODEO - 9/1
Conditions are set to be testing following persistent rain at Cheltenham on Friday and that should play to the strengths of LAST RODEO, who improved with each run last season, looking a useful prospect when handling torrid conditions well when opening his account at Lingfield.
He travelled notably well on that occasion, still on the bridle jumping two from home and forging clear on the run-in having had the race sewn up approaching the last. Last Rodeo shaped better than the bare result on his return and handicap debut over slightly shorter at this course last month, suffering severe interference at the fifth flight and completely losing his position.
He was never a threat from there, but did make some headway in the latter stages, and he’s well worth another chance to prove this mark a lenient one with that run under his belt.
11
3:43 WETHERBY
BOYLE SPORTS HOME OF THE EARLY PAYOUT HANDICAP CHASE (GBB RACE)
ISSAM - 7/2
ISSAM is a seven-year-old gelding trained by Tom Symonds in Herefordshire and he looks a solid contender here. He’s won once from two starts over fences, landing a novice at Exeter in January and then narrowly beaten at Sandown the following month in this grade. The yard is in excellent form, sending out two winners from five runners in the last fortnight, and Callum Pritchard takes the ride again off a 5lb claim. French-bred ISSAM looks well handicapped and could be hard to beat if repeating those efforts.
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