ITV Racing Tips - Tuesday's tips at Leopardstown and Newbury
We take a look at each of the nine ITV races from Leopardstown and Newbury on Tuesday 29th December
Viewers will watch the Neville Hotel Novice Chase and the Matheson Hurdle live from Leopardstown
The third Grade One of the day is the Challow Hurdle at Newbury
Demachine, Bridle Loanan and Monkfish feature amongst our ITV tips
Monkfish (centre) and Latest Exhibition (left) clash again over fences at Leopardstown. (Getty)
ITV Racing viewers have a superb afternoon of action to enjoy on Tuesday. Four races will be shown live from the fourth and final day of racing at Leopardstown's Christmas Festival, including two important Grade Ones. We also have five races to take in at Chepstow, where the Challow Hurdle will be handed out.
We've taken a look at each of Tuesday's nine ITV races and picked out our best bets.
I really can't see past CONCERTISTA in Tuesday's opening ITV Race, and you're still getting plenty of value if you back her at 11/10.
Willie Mullins' horses have been flying all week, and we know how good he is when it comes to both handling and placing his mares. Concertista bolted up in the Mares' Novices' Hurdle, and looked even better when dispatching Minella Melody to win a Grade Two at Fairyhouse. A penalty won't be enough to stop her.
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DEMACHINE has improved 18-pounds since being pointed at fences. Kerry Lee's six-year-old comfortably beat a future winner in Morning Vicar over this distance at Uttoxeter, before stepping up to three miles to collect another sizable handicap pot at Ascot.
Richard Patrick's mount looked the only possible winner turning in at Ascot, and put the race to bed in good style. Demachine was handed an RPR of 150 for that victory, so still looked well-treated off an official mark of 140, and Lee's improving chaser has just 11-00 to carry.
Richard Patrick riding Demachine (yellow/red) clear the last to win at Ascot. (Getty)
I've already backed MONKFISH to win the 2021 RSA Novices' Chase at the Cheltenham Festival, so I'd be disappointed if Willie Mullins' six-year-old wasn't good enough to get the job done here.
The Albert Bartlett winner jumped nicely on his chasing debut, seeing off some decent challengers without being asked any serious questions. Latest Exhibition is no better over fences than he was over hurdles, and I don't think either of the Gigginstown horses has the class of Monkfish. I'd be surprised if he went off any shorter than 1/2.
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If the classy Ch'tibello can perform up to his usual level under the burden of top-weight, then Dan Skelton's nine-year-old will be hard to beat. However, I've rather take a chance on NORDIC COMBINED, who's been a little overlooked in the market and Fergus Gillard's claimer leaves him carrying just 9-13.
David Pipe's charge went down narrowly to Calva D'Auge when they met at Taunton, and might have clung on had he not fluffed the last. Nordic Combined was then in with a big chance in a handicap at Cheltenham, but a faller at the last brought Pipe's charge to a virtual standstill, and he did well just to complete the race.
Two-and-a-half-miles on soft ground should be ideal, and I think he offers excellent value at 13/2.
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14 of the last 20 winners of the Mandarin Handicap have carried 11-07 or more to victory, so it obviously pays to back a classy runner near the top of the weights, and I fancy taking a chance on REDFORD ROAD, now his rating has dropped down to an appealing mark.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' charge won a Grade Two over three miles as a novice hurdle, and always seemed the type who would take to chasing. His three runs over the larger obstacles have been disappointing, but they have enabled Redford Road to drop below the 135 ceiling for this handicap, and he has much more to give over fences than what he's shown thus far.
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Henry De Bromhead's Gabbys Cross tops the betting, but I'm more taken with his stablemate PREMIUM PACKAGE, who finished third on his handicap debut over three miles at Listowel. Rachael Blackmore's mount jumped and travelled well, but couldn't pick up after the last and he was outstayed by two hardy rivals.
On his previous start at Down Royal, Premium Package ran up to an RPR of 135 when winning a maiden over this trip. If Sean Flanagan's mount can repeat that sort of performance off an official mark of 125, then he should be bang there.
Race 8 - Challow Hurdle Tips
The top five runners in this high-quality Grade One can all be found between 16/1 and 33/1 in the betting for the 2021 Ballymore Novices' Hurdle.
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BRIDLE LOANAN has won two of his three starts over fences, with his only defeat coming first time out on unsuitably good ground at Wincanton.
Joshua Moore's mount comfortably beat a rival rated 108 when giving him nine-pounds on his latest start at Fontwell. He finished very tired that day, and his best round of jumping came over the minimum distance at Lingfield last season, so this drop in trip could really suit.
Concertista1:15pm Leopardstown Irish EBF Mares' Hurdle (Grade 3) 2m4fGET 11/10 HERE
Demachine1:30pm Newbury Novices' Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 2m6fGET 10/3 HERE
Nordic Combined2:05pm Newbury Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4fGET 13/2 HERE
