Newsboy's Expert Picks for Saturday's ITV Racing Coverage
Racing pundit Newsboy has unveiled his highly anticipated selections for Saturday's action across three premier racecourses featured on ITV. With a keen eye for form and conditions, his tips span the Virgin Bet meetings at Sandown Park, the Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown, and the competitive card at Musselburgh.
Sandown Park: Handicap Hurdle and Novices' Chase in Focus
At Sandown, the spotlight falls on the Virgin Bet Heroes Handicap Hurdle at 3.10, where Hartington is tipped for a triumphant return. Trained by Joe Tizzard, this son of Jukebox Jury aims to rebound from a disappointing New Year's Day performance at Windsor. Prior to that outing, Hartington had shown consistent improvement, securing a soft-ground victory at Carlisle in November and following up with a narrow second-place finish at Haydock Park. With Jack Tudor in the saddle and the Tizzard yard enjoying a profitable week, Hartington is poised to showcase his true potential over three miles and claim the substantial £56,270 first prize.
In the Virgin Bet Scilly Isles Novices' Chase at 2.40, Newsboy anticipates an upset with Kala Conti. This Gordon Elliott-trained mare faces Willie Mullins' favourite, Kitzbuhel, who impressed with a Kempton Park win on Boxing Day. However, Kala Conti has been flawless over fences, winning a beginners' chase at Cork and then delivering a commanding 16-length victory in a Grade 2 event. Benefiting from a 7lb gender allowance and showing immense promise in her new discipline, she is fancied to challenge the odds-on favourite.
Supporting Races and ITV Double Prospects
Jonjo and AJ O'Neill could initiate an ITV double with Soldierofthestorm in the Virgin Bet A Good Bet Novices' Limited Handicap Chase at 1.25. After a promising second on his chasing debut at Hereford, this three-time hurdles winner, partnered with Jonjo O'Neill jnr, looks ready to improve. Later, Fortunate Man, ridden by Harry Cobden, is expected to excel in the Virgin Bet Masters Handicap Chase at 3.42. Following a delayed comeback, he secured back-to-back wins at Aintree and, despite a 4lb weight rise, remains a strong contender on soft ground.
Other Sandown selections include Bollin Thou, seeking a fifth consecutive win in the Virgin Bet Daily Extra Places Novices' Handicap Hurdle at 12.55, and Kotmask, who is weighted to perform well in the Virgin Bet Every Saturday Money Back Handicap Chase at 2.02 after a recent course-and-distance second.
Leopardstown: Dublin Racing Festival Highlights
The Dublin Racing Festival at Leopardstown features the Grade 1 Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup at 3.30, where Galopin Des Champs is tipped to make history by winning a fourth consecutive title. Despite a third-place finish in the Savills Chase, Willie Mullins' star is expected to thrive in the anticipated soft conditions and reverse that form. In the Grade 1 Goffs Irish Arkle Novice Chase at 2.55, Romeo Coolio, unbeaten in three chase starts, is favoured to dominate following the withdrawal of Kopek Des Bordes.
Musselburgh: Scottish Racing Action
At Musselburgh, Insurrection is the market leader for the bet365 Scottish Champion Chase at 2.20, having shown strong form despite a mistake in a previous race over the same course and distance. Williethebuilder aims for a hat-trick in the bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle at 1.43 after recent wins at Kempton Park, while Made U Blush, following a dominant maiden hurdle victory at Doncaster, is ready for a class step-up in the Listed bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle at 1.10.
With these detailed insights, Newsboy provides a comprehensive guide for Saturday's racing enthusiasts, blending form analysis with expert predictions across all key ITV races.
