ITV Racing fans have a feast of racing to look forward to on Saturday, with 11 races coming to us live from across three premier tracks. Wincanton and Aintree host good quality National Hunt cards, as Doncaster stages the final major meeting of the 2024 flat season.
Here are my best betting tips for Saturday's ITV races at Wincanton, Aintree and Doncaster.
Nigel Twiston-Davies will attempt to strike while the iron is still hot with TEDLEY (7/4), who'll bid for a hat-trick over fences in the space of three weeks.
The winner of just one of his 11 starts over hurdles, Tedley opened his account over fences with a comfortable win at Uttoxeter, before following up under Jamie Brace at Wetherby last weekend. Brace's claimer is reduced from seven to three pounds in this conditional contest, but Twiston-Davies' five-year-old still looks well-treated and his sole win over hurdles came at this venue back in February.
1:20pm Doncaster - Wentworth Stakes Tips
At a lengthy price, I'll take a chance on the Irish raider, THUNDERBEAR (20/1). Jack Davidson's four-year-old is no stranger to success on British soil, having won the World Trophy at Newbury last autumn, and travels to Doncaster on the back of two narrow defeats.
Thunderbear was narrowly beaten in the Listed Steels Stakes by the in-form My Mate Alfie on his most recent outing and the third that day, Big Gossey has won convincingly since. Davidson has booked Rossa Ryan to take the ride and Thunderbear is proven on this sort of ground.
1:30pm Aintree - Pertemps Series Qualifier Tips
No bet for me here.
1:45pm Wincanton - Mares' Handicap Hurdle Tips
I backed GOOD LUCK CHARM (14/1) at 25/1 in this race 12 months ago and Anthony Honeyball's mare delivered on the big stage, taking down Vicki Vale to score by two-and-a-half lengths.
Rex Dingle's mount returns to Wincanton rated eight pounds higher, but she'll be carrying a similar weight and finished fourth twice off higher marks than this at the start of the year, in better quality races too. She could claim back-to-back wins.
2:05pm Aintree - Handicap Chase Tips
I quite like the chances of COASTGUARD STATION (9/2), following a solid effort at Cheltenham's Showcase Meeting.
Henry Oliver's eight-year-old was in very good form over fences during the spring and summer, winning twice while also finishing second behind Guy and Martator. After a 96-day break, Coastguard Station ran well in a competitive handicap hurdle at Hexham, before finishing fourth behind Calico on his return to chasing.
Nothing got involved from off the pace in that red-hot handicap and I thought David Noonan's mount jumped well as he attempted to make some inroads. This race is much weaker compared to that contest at Cheltenham and Coastguard Station has been dropped two pounds in the handicap for what was a decent performance.
Harry Cobden riding Handstands (green) clear the last to win The M1 Agency Sidney Banks Memorial Novices' Hurdle at Huntingdon. (Getty)
I'm intrigued to see what HANDSTANDS (2/1) will produce on his chasing debut in this Grade Two. Ben Pauling's five-year-old made it onto my 20 To Follow list for the new National Hunt season, having won three novice hurdles in impressive fashion last term, before coming up short at Cheltenham.
Handstands is the only runner in this field who will be making his chasing debut. Insurrection, Boombawn and Glynn have run recently and Soul Icon - the most experienced chaser in the field - was on the go during the summer. However, if there is a star to come out of this field, it's Handstands, and Pauling has been aiming for this race since his gelding returned to training.
2:40pm Aintree - Grand Sefton Handicap Chase Tips
Plenty bring Grand National course form into Saturday's Becher, while in-form sorts like Sure Touch and Gaboriot cannot be ruled out. However, I fancy that the track at Aintree and the challenging nature of this circuit will suit IDALKO BIHOUE (10/1).
Nigel Twiston-Davies' star seems to be at his best during the autumn and winter. Idalko Bihoue won his novice hurdle and finished third in the Challow back in 2022, and ran away with a hot handicap at Cheltenham on his second chasing start last October. Sam's mount will only shoulder 10-7 on his first crack at the National fences and galloping, left-handed tracks at his forte.
2:55pm Wincanton - Elite Hurdle Tips
Normally, I would write a stand-alone preview of the Elite Hurdle. However, we've only got three runners in this year's renewal and I don't fancy backing any of them. We need some rain. We desperately need some rain!
3:10pm Doncaster - Gillies Fillies' Stakes Tips
I'm happy to give another chance to ESTRANGE (13/2), who won like a potentially smart filly on debut at Goodwood in August.
David O'Meara's grey was then a little outpaced on much quicker ground in the John Musker Fillies' Stakes, finishing seventh after having the door slammed in her face on a couple of occasions. Ground conditions should be much more suitable on Saturday and James Doyle takes over from Danny Tudhope in the saddle.
Having been held on the all-weather at Newcastle 12 months ago, the November Handicap returns to Doncaster this weekend. A capacity field of 23 runners has been confirmed for this flat season curtain closer. With the ground as soft as it is, I won't be backing anything at a short price.
Only three of the last 15 winners have carried more than 9-00, so looking towards the bottom half of the handicap seems sensible. A wide draw has proven to be advantageous too, so I'll chance my arm with KOTARI (33/1).
Gary and Josh Moore's five-year-old ran up a hat-trick of handicap wins earlier this season, before running a decent race behind Relentless Voyager on Derby day at Epsom. After a summer break, Kotari has returned to action with two decent staying-on-fourths at Newbury and Leicester. He could go well again with conditions to suit.
Verdict
Saturday's Top ITV Tips:
Best Bet1: Tedley 1:09pm Wincanton @7/4 at bet365 - 5 Units
Best Bet2: Coastguard Station 2:05pm Aintree @9/2 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet3: Idalko Bihoue E/W 2:40pm Aintree @10/1 at BOYLE Sports - 5 Units
Best Bet4: Thunderbear E/W 1:20pm Doncaster @20/1 at bet365 - 5 Units
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