ITV Racing Tips on April 20th - Saturday's selections at Ayr and Newbury
The article provides a detailed schedule of ITV's racing coverage for Saturday, 20th April, including the Scottish Grand National at Ayr and two Guineas Trials at Newbury. The writer also provides personal betting tips for each race, including potential winners, odds, and rationale behind the selections.
- Tips for the ITV races on Saturday 20th April
- Newbury and Ayr feature on the ITV schedule
- Maclaine, Room Service and Navagio feature in our selections
- ITV Racing Schedule
- ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 20th April
- 1.15pm Ayr - Scotty Brand Handicap Chase Tips
- 1:30pm Newbury - John Porter Stakes Tips
- 1:50pm Ayr - CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase Tips
- 2:05pm Newbury - Fred Darling Stakes Tips
- 2:25pm Ayr - Scottish Champion Hurdle Tips
- 2:40pm Newbury - Greenham Stakes Tips
- 3:00pm Ayr - Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips
- 3:15pm Newbury - Spring Cup Handicap Tips
- 3:35pm Ayr - Scottish Grand National Tips
Contents
There's a bit of action for all racing fans on ITV Racing this Saturday. The Scottish Grand National headlines a stacked card up at Ayr as the National Hunt season draws to a close, with Newbury staging two Guineas Trials on Spring Cup day.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races.
ITV Racing Schedule
| Time | Track | Title |
|---|---|---|
| 1:15pm | Ayr | Scotty Brand Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 2m½f |
| 1:30pm | Newbury | Dubai Duty Free Finest Surprise Stakes (Group 3) 1m4f |
| 1:50pm | Ayr | CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m |
| 2:05pm | Newbury | Dubai Duty Free Stakes (Registered As The Fred Darling Stakes) (Group 3) 7f |
| 2:25pm | Ayr | Coral Scottish Champion Hurdle Handicap (Grade 2) 2m |
| 2:40pm | Newbury | Watership Down Stud Too Darn Hot Greenham Stakes (Group 3) 7f |
| 3:00pm | Ayr | Jordan Electrics Ltd Seafield Trophy Mares' Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 3m½f |
| 3:15pm | Newbury | OLBG Spring Cup Handicap (Class 2) 1m |
| 3:35pm | Ayr | Coral Scottish Grand National Handicap Chase (Premier Handicap) 4m |
ITV Racing Tips - Saturday 20th April
1.15pm Ayr - Scotty Brand Handicap Chase Tips
Saturday's opener looks like a trappy little contest. With Paul Townend in town, I expect Uncle Phil will go off as the favourite. San Bruit is capable of coping with a ten pound rise for last week's win at Aintree. Trapain Law has stacks of course form in the book, and the other three runners can't be ruled out either. I'll leave this one alone.
1:30pm Newbury - John Porter Stakes Tips
Over to Newbury now, where I've got to take a flyer on MAX VEGA (25/1) at 25/1. Ralph Beckett's seven-year-old won this race and the St Simon Stakes here in 2022, having finished a close second on his two previous efforts around Newbury.
On his reappearance 12 months ago, Max Vega wasn't beaten far when third to Grand Alliance in this contest. Beckett's star comes into the race fit this year, having been kept busy during the all-weather season. Soft ground is ideal. He's got to have a chance.
1:50pm Ayr - CPMS Novices' Champion Handicap Chase Tips
Having been most impressed with his victory at Newbury last month, I'm going to take a flyer on MACLAINE (12/1). Richard Bandey's star jumped beautifully that day and was much more dominant than the three-and-a-half length winning margin would suggest.
Harry Bannister's mount bumped into the progressive Praire Wolf at Doncaster in December and had genuine excuses for his other two defeats this term. Maclaine is a lightly-raced seven-year-old, who remains open to plenty of improvement - especially over this extended distance.
2:05pm Newbury - Fred Darling Stakes Tips
Regal Jubilee will put her 1000 Guineas credentials on the line in this trial. I don't think Relief Rally will stay seven furlongs on soft ground, but I wouldn't be shocked to see the likes of Elmalka and Star Music run well.
I'm very interested to see how Folgario acts on her first start in Britain, having enjoyed an unbeaten juvenile campaign in Italy with Marco Botti's brother, Stefano. If Folgaria remains solid in the betting, then I might take a punt on her, but if she drifts I'll probably pass over this contest.
2:25pm Ayr - Scottish Champion Hurdle Tips
We've got a cracking renewal of this Grade Two handicap to enjoy next. The classy Rubaud returns to defend his crown. L'Eau du Sud and Afadil will advertise the County Hurdle form. Favour And Fortune should play a big part on his handicap debut and Paul Townend's mount Bialystok is a lurking presence in the field.
A Grade Two bumper winner at Aintree last season, FLORIDA DREAMS (16/1) has so far failed to live up to that billing over hurdles. Nicky Richards' six-year-old was beaten on his hurdling debut here at Ayr, but got off the mark with a narrow win next time out. After a limp fifth-place finish in the Formby at Aintree, Richards stepped Florida Dreams right up to three miles to try and land a valuable pot at Musselburgh, but Danny McMenamin's mount didn't see out the trip and faded back to third late on.
Dropping back to two miles should suit and course form is often valuable here at Ayr. The drying ground is in Florida Dream's favour too. He looks overpriced off this workable opening mark of 128.
2:40pm Newbury - Greenham Stakes Tips
Being somewhat of a Ralph Beckett fanboy, I've found it difficult to tear myself away from Zoum Zoum, who puts his unbeaten record on the line. However, I was taken with ROOM SERVICE (14/1) when she won the 2YO Stakes at Doncaster last season and Kevin Ryan's filly certainly looks overpriced in the market.
A 20/1 winner on debut at Wetherby, Room Service then shaped well in defeat on her next two starts at Beverley and York. All eyes were on Dragon Leader and Aidan O'Brien's Johannes Brahms in the 2YO Stakes, but it was Tom Eaves' mount who powered into contention from the toughest draw in stall one and Room Service put daylight between herself and the market protagonists on the run to the line.
Ryan's filly still looked raw and a little awkward that day, so the fact she won so well is impressive. On breeding, Room Service should have no trouble at all in seeing out seven furlongs and that win at Doncaster came on soft ground, so the going isn't a worry either.
3:00pm Ayr - Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips
No bet for me in this one. Plenty hold chances but nothing stands out as being overpriced.
3:15pm Newbury - Spring Cup Handicap Tips
This handicap has been kind to punters in recent years, with just one of the last ten winners returning an SP bigger than 10/1. Also, three of the last five winners have come from the Lincoln, so that handicap at Doncaster is the ideal starting point.
I was keen on NAVAGIO (10/1) at a huge price in the Lincoln, before James Horton's recruit landed a horror draw in stall one. Navagio went on to produce a fantastic effort to finish third, having been hampered at a crucial stage of the contest.
Richard Kingscote's mount progressed nicely for Ray Cody last season, winning a Listed race over 9-and-a-half furlongs at Down Royal. Navagio showed in the Lincoln that he's got more than enough flat speed to be effective over a mile and he's at his best on soft ground. Off the same mark of 96, I'm expecting him to go close.
3:35pm Ayr - Scottish Grand National Tips
Read our full guide to the 2024 Scottish Grand National to get the latest odds, key trends and our best two betting tips.
Visit our Scottish Grand National Live Stream page if you plan on watching any of today's races via a mobile device.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Racing Tips:
Navagio E/W
3:15pm Newbury
@10/1 - 10 Units
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Maclaine E/W
1:50pm Ayr
@12/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £40
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Room Service E/W
2:40pm Newbury
@14/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £30
with bonus code NEWBONUS
Available to new customers only. Make a qualifying deposit of £5 or more and claim the offer within 30 days of registering your account to qualify for 300% of that amount in Bet Credits, up to a maximum of £30 in Bet Credits. Once released, your Bet Credits will be held in your account balance and are non-withdrawable. Min deposit requirement. Free Bets are paid as Bet Credits and are available for use upon settlement of qualifying bets. Min odds, bet and payment method exclusions apply. Returns exclude Bet Credits stake. Registration required. Time limits and T&Cs apply. The bonus code NEWBONUS can be used during registration but does not change the offer amount in any way. #ad
Max Vega E/W
1:30pm Newbury
@25/1 - 5 Units
Bet £10 Get £10
with promo code NEWBONUS
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