ITV Racing Tips - All ten races covered at Kempton, Chepstow and Wincanton
We provide our tips in all ten ITV Races on Saturday 9th January
McFabulous is our selection in the rescheduled Relkeel Hurdle at Kempton
Nassalam is our best bet in the Grade One Finaly Juvenile Hurdle
Rocco, Master Tommytucker and Amour De Nuit feature amongst our other ITV Tips
Nassalam will bid for Grade One glory in the Finale Juvenile Hurdle at Chepstow. (Getty)
ITV Racing viewers have a bounty of racing to enjoy on Saturday afternoon. The rescheduled Relkeel Hurdle and Dipper Novices' Chase will now take place at Kempton and Wincanton. We'll also take in the 2020 Welsh Grand National, after the track at Chepstow was declared raceable on Friday.
Let's dive straight into our best betting tips on Saturday.
Saturday's ITV Racing Schedule
Time
Track
Title
1:10pm
Kempton
Ladbrokes Where The Nation Plays Handicap
Chase (Class 3) 2m4½f
1:25pm
Chepstow
Coral
Finale Juvenile Hurdle (Grade 1) 2m
1:45pm
Kempton
Ladbrokes
Committed To Safer Gambling Handicap Chase (Class 2) 3m
2:05pm
Wincanton
Paddy
Power Dipper Novices' Chase (Grade 2) 2m4f
2:20pm
Kempton
Dornan
Engineering Relkeel Hurdle (Grade 2) 2m5f
2:35pm
Wincanton
MansionBet's Bet 10 Get 20 Handicap Chase (Class 2) 2m4f
+18 only. Gamble Responsibly. Ts and Cs apply. Ladbrokes is operated by LC International Limited (Suite 6, Atlantic Suites, Gibraltar) and licensed (ref 54743) and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Ladbrokes is licensed (ref 010, 012) by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
THE BAY BIRCH was rated as high as 152 over fences, following a smart victory at the start of last season. Results have slide since then, but Matt Sheppard's mare has managed to finish third in two good-quality races this term.
Running off a career-low mark of 128 over fences, The Bay Birch is certainly well-treated, and the word "good" featuring in the going is a big plus for her. She could go well at a decent each-way price.
18+ only. Ts and Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. Coral is operated by LC International Limited and licensed and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Coral is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Although he's beaten nothing of any note on either of his starts thus far, I can't see past NASSALAM. Gary Moore's juvenile has emulated Goshen with two emphatic wins so far, both coming on very soft ground around Fontwell.
If he's progressed again between runs, then this Grade One is surely Nassalam's for the taking. Evens could look massive come Saturday afternoon, and another emphatic win will shorten his odds for the 2021 Triumph Hurdle considerably.
+18 only. Gamble Responsibly. Ts and Cs apply. Ladbrokes is operated by LC International Limited (Suite 6, Atlantic Suites, Gibraltar) and licensed (ref 54743) and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Ladbrokes is licensed (ref 010, 012) by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
I was impressed with the way ROCCO responded to pressure, having been headed by Lock's Corner here at Kempton in November. Sam Twiston-Davies' mount put in a very slow jump at the second-last, opening the door for the winner, but Rocco rallied between the final two flights, and on the run to the line to push a well-handicapped rival all the way home.
Nigel Twiston-Davies' eight-year-olds gets into this hot-handicap right at the bottom of the weights. We known he likes Kempton, and that he acts on decent ground. This extended trip should take a little pressure off his jumping too.
Harry Skelton riding Protektorat clear the last to win The SSS Super Alloys Supports Racing Welfare Novices' Chase at Cheltenham. (Getty)
A disappointing turn out for this rescheduled running of the Dipper, and none of the three entrants will have current favourite for the Marsh Novices' Chase, Envoi Allen quaking in his boots. Messire Des Obeaux could give PROTEKTORAT a run for his money. I'm still expecting Dan Skelton's chaser to extend his unbeaten record over fences, but at 1/2, this is a no-bet race for me.
Race 5 - Relkeel Hurdle Tips
McFabulous puts his Stayers' Hurdle credentials on the line at Kempton this weekend. Summerville Boy, who won this race at Cheltenham last year, is back for another crack. Younevercall, Thomas Darby and Call Me Lord also feature in the field.
You've got three horses at the top of the weights here who've run in Grade One races over fences in the not-so-distant past. Slate House won the Kauto Star last season, and Glen Forsa was amongst the favourites for the 2019 Arkle.
Capeland isn't without a chance around a track which he likes. However, EVANDER made an excellent impression when winning at Doncaster, and the big guns have to give Oliver Greenall's progressive six-year-old well 18-pounds at the weights.
Having shaped well on his opening two starts over fences, Evander clocked an RPR of 144 when stretching clear to win by a distance at Doncaster. Robert Dunne could look to make all again, and if he's allowed to dictate the tempo, he has a finishing kick that the top-weights simply won't match.
+18 only. Gamble Responsibly. Ts and Cs apply. Ladbrokes is operated by LC International Limited (Suite 6, Atlantic Suites, Gibraltar) and licensed (ref 54743) and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Ladbrokes is licensed (ref 010, 012) by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Imperial Aura could jump back to the top of the Ryanair Chase betting with a third win on the bounce, and Kim Bailey's charge has been backed into odds-on in recent days. Yet, he has to give six pounds to the dangerous MASTER TOMMYTUCKER, and I fancy Paul Nicholls' charge may get the better of the market leader.
Master Tommytucker has always had tons of ability, but his jumping often let him down. Paul Nicholls seems to have ironed that out this season, though, and his ten-year-old clocked excellent RPRs of 157 and 165 during emphatic wins at Haydock and Huntingdon.
I didn't fancy Harry Cobden's mount at all off top-weight in the Caspian Caviar. I felt his inexperience around Cheltenham was a big negative and the ground had gone against him. As it was, Master Tommytucker was still right there approaching the second last, but a terrible error at the trickiest fence on the course brought him to a standstill, and his race was virtually over. Decent ground around Kempton should be ideal, and Master Tommytucker looks a solid bet at around 3/1.
Master Tommytucker seems to have sorted out his jumping problems this season. (Getty)
Race 8 - Welsh Grand National Chase Tips
Secret Reprieve remains the firm favourite to hand Welsh-native Evan Williams victory in his home Grand National. Springfield Fox, Christmas In April and Truckers Lodge are also well-fancied.
+18 only. Gamble Responsibly. Ts and Cs apply. Ladbrokes is operated by LC International Limited (Suite 6, Atlantic Suites, Gibraltar) and licensed (ref 54743) and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Ladbrokes is licensed (ref 010, 012) by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
It's been 30 years since a horse older than eight has won the Lanzarote, but that doesn't put me off AMOUR DE NUIT, who carries just 11-3 into battle, thanks to Kevin Brogan's claimer.
Paul Nicholls dropped his nine-year-old back to hurdling at the start of the season. Amour De Nuit won under top-weight on his reappearance at Plumpton, and finished second in a better race at Newbury last time out. Nicholls' charge jumped out to his right that day, so going back to Kempton - a track he's won around twice before - will certainly help. At 12/1, I think he offers excellent each-way value.
18+ only. Ts and Cs apply. Gamble responsibly. Coral is operated by LC International Limited and licensed and regulated by the British Gambling Commission for persons gambling in Great Britain. For persons gambling outside Great Britain, Coral is licensed by the Government of Gibraltar and regulated by the Gibraltar Gambling Commissioner.
Considering he'd been off the track for 600 days, I thought ZALVADOS ran well to place third in a messy race at Newcastle on his reappearance. The handicapper dropped his mark by seven pounds on his return, and Oliver Greenall's eight-year-old remains on a workable mark of 120. Hopefully, the bounce factor doesn't come into the equation.