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ITV Racing Tips on April 16th - Wednesday's picks at Newmarket and Cheltenham

Jon Vine

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Last updated: Tue 15 Apr 2025 14:23

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Jon Vine 15 Apr 2025

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Free tips for the ITV races on Wednesday 16th April
Newmarket and Cheltenham feature on the ITV Racing schedule
Spirits Bay and Romantic Style feature in our selections

Expired

The Abernant Stakes at Newbury. (Getty)

Wednesday's Tips

ITV Racing Schedule
1:50pm Newmarket - bet365 Handicap Tips
2:05pm Cheltenham - Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle Tips
2:25pm Newmarket - Wood Ditton Stakes Tips
2:40pm Cheltenham - Silver Trophy Handicap Chase Tips
3:00pm Newmarket - Abernant Stakes Tips
3:35pm Newmarket - Craven Stakes Tips

Newmarket's Craven Meeting rolls into its final day on Wednesday, and viewers have got another Classic trial to take in. Along with four races from Newmarket, the ITV cameras will be at Cheltenham to capture two competitive handicaps over obstacles.

Here are my best betting tips for Wednesday's ITV races at Newmarket and Cheltenham.

ITV Racing Schedule

Time	Track	Title
1:50pm	Newmarket	bet365 Handicap (Class 2) 6f
2:05pm	Cheltenham	Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 2m4½f
2:25pm	Newmarket	bet365 Wood Ditton Maiden Stakes (Class 2) 1m
2:40pm	Cheltenham	Matt Hampson Foundation Silver Trophy Handicap Chase (Grade 2) 2m4½f
3:00pm	Newmarket	Blandford Bloodstock Abernant Stakes (Group 3) 6f
3:35pm	Newmarket	bet365 Craven Stakes (Group 3) 1m

ITV Racing Tips - Wednesday 16th April

1:50pm Newmarket - bet365 Handicap Tips

Wednesday's action kicks off with a tricky three-year-old handicap. I liked the way INVICTUS GOLD (14/1) progressed during his juvenile campaign and Tom Clover's youngster looks overpriced at 14/1.

Following an eye-catching debut over five furlongs at Yarmouth, Invictus Gold struck at Southwell before following up under a penalty on the July Course in August. Neil Callan's mount was badly hampered coming out of the stalls on his final outing in the Rockingham Stakes and, although he did threaten to challenge at the furlong pole, those early exertions to get back into position proved costly in the closing stages.

Clover's colt handled soft ground in the autumn, but I don't think that's vital for Invictus Gold and his prominent running style should suit the Rowley Mile, providing he gets off to a decent start.

2:05pm Cheltenham - Kingston Stud Handicap Hurdle Tips

There's rain due in the Cheltenham area on Tuesday and Wednesday morning. Any easing in the ground would suit SPIRITS BAY (15/2), who looks ready for this step up to two-and-a-half miles.

Nigel Twiston-Davies' seven-year-old has looked one-paced over two miles this season. Spirits Bay placed fifth behind runaway winner Mirabad here on his reappearance in November, before fading back to third at Haydock next time out. Spirits Bay then finished his race well to place third behind Constitution Hill in the Unibet Hurdle on Trials Day, and was last seen running on for seventh in a blanket finish to the Imperial Cup.

Spirits Bay didn't see out this distance on his final novice start at Newbury last March, but he's a year older now and his mark has dropped by two pounds since then. I'd just want to the ground to ease to at least good-to-soft before parting with my cash.

2:25pm Newmarket - Wood Ditton Stakes Tips

John Gosden has a strong recent record in the Wood Ditton, but both of his runners sit at the head of the betting. We've got no form to work with here, so it's hard judge whether any runner is overpriced. I'll leave this one alone.

il ridoto — Freddie Gingell riding Il Ridoto clear the last to win The Paddy Power Gold Cup Handicap Chase at Cheltenham. (Getty)

2:40pm Cheltenham - Silver Trophy Handicap Chase Tips

With a first prize of £40k up for grabs, Willie Mullins sends two over to Cheltenham on Wednesday, with O'Moore Park leading top-weight Classic Getaway in the market. Dan Skelton runs Riskintheground just five days after his brilliant win at Ayr, as he attempts to hold Mullins' at bay in the title race.

Course-regular IL RIDOTO (10/1) is interesting at an each-way price. Paul Nicholls' eight-year-old does his best work in the early-season handicaps here at Cheltenham, and ran out an impressive winner of the Paddy Power Gold Cup under Freddie Gingell back in November.

Il Ridoto then struggled in the December Gold Cup and on Trials Day, and couldn't land a blow as novices dominated the Plate Handicap Chase at the Cheltenham Festival. Nicholls' eight-year-old is often over-the-top come the spring, but Il Ridoto has dropped to a nice mark and his stable is ending the season in excellent form.

3:00pm Newmarket - Abernant Stakes Tips

Favourite's haven't got a great recent record in this Group Three, but I'm still inclined to side with ROMANTIC STYLE (6/4), who only has six rivals to beat, most of whom are yet to prove themselves at Group level on turf.

Charlie Appleby's filly wasn't at her best over longer distances last season, but still managed to win the Prix Imprudence and finish fourth in the French 1000 Guineas. After losing out to future Group One winner Choisya over a mile on her first start at Meydan, Romantic Style dropped back down to six furlongs and claimed a commanding victory in the Dubai Sprint on her most recent start.

Romantic Style is a course-and-distance winner, having landed the Bosra Sham on her final three-year-old start. I won't back the favourite until the day of the race, as she could drift if money arrives for the French raider Sajir - but the ground could be a bit too quick for Oisin Murphy's mount and Andre Fabre hasn't had a winner in Britain since 2020.

3:35pm Newmarket - Craven Stakes Tips

Read our free guide to the 2025 Craven Stakes to get find out who we've backed in Wednesday's Classic trial.

Visit our Craven Stakes Live Stream page if you want to watch any race from Newmarket via a mobile or tablet.

Verdict

ITV Racing at Newmarket and Cheltenham

Wednesday's ITV Tips:

Romantic Style

3:00pm Newmarket

@6/4 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £40

in free bets

18+. New UK customers (Excluding NI) only. Min Deposit £10. Min stake £10. Min odds Evs. Free bet applied on 1st settlement of any qualifying bet. 30 days to qualify. Free bets expire in 7 days. Cashed out/Free Bets won’t apply. Account & Payment method restrictions apply. 1 Free Bet offer per customer, household & IP Address only. 18+. T&Cs apply.

Bet at BOYLE Sports

Spirits Bay

2:05pm Cheltenham

@15/2 - 5 Units

Bet £10 Get £30

with bonus code NEWBONUS

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Bet at bet365

Il Ridoto E/W

2:40pm Cheltenham

@10/1 - 1 Unit

Bet £20 Get £10

Use promo code NEWBONUS

18+ New customers only. Bet £20 (or more) EVS (2.0) or greater Get 2 x £5 Free Bets. 1 x £5 Free Bet paid automatically & following £5 Free Bet after 24hrs. Min Free Bet odds 4/1 (5.0) on accumulators Trebles & upwards. Expires after 24hrs. Full T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org

Bet at Star Sports

Invictus Gold E/W

1:50pm Newmarket

@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

Bet at bet365