After an intense, crazy week at the Cheltenham Festival we return to some normal action before the crescendo of the National Hunt Season in 2 weeks time at Aintree and the Grand National.
9 races on a bumper Saturday card from 3 courses Newbury, Kelso and Bangor-On-Dee which are putting on good, quality racing whether you are at the track or watching on ITV.
Click which race you'd like to preview below.
Kelso
13:15 Ladbrokes 'Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing' Handicap Chase
13:50 Ladbrokes 'Big-Value You Can Bet On' Mares' Hurdle (Listed Race)
14:25 Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle (Series Final)
15:00 Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Handicap Hurdle
15:35 Ladbrokes 'Boost Your Bet Builder' Handicap Chase
Newbury
14:05 Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle
14:40 BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase
15:15 BetVictor British EBF "National Hunt" Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap)
Bangor-On-Dee
13:15 Ladbrokes 'Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing' Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Handicap Class 2
Runners 5
Distance 3 miles 2 furlongs
Going Good
1st place £18,211
Our selection for the race
To win Dare To Shout (13/8)
Really tricky little race, but he bumped into Myretown last month who went on to win the Ultima at the Cheltenham Festival by 11 lengths, so that form works out very well. Runner up at Ayr 2 weeks ago on Soft ground on a trip too sharp for him (2m4f) has won a hurdle race on good ground and has gone close here over 3m2f so looks the one to beat.
13:50 Ladbrokes 'Big-Value You Can Bet On' Mares' Hurdle (Listed Race)
Hurdle Turf, Listed Class 1
Runners 6
Distance 3 miles 1/2 furlong
Going Good
1st place £23,092
Our selection for the race
To win Wyenot (Evens)
5 wins from 8 hurdle runs and beat Ottizzini by 9 lengths to win a Listed Race at Doncaster (3miles, Good to soft) in December. Then ran a good 3rd in a hot Grade 2 back at Doncaster (3miles, Good to soft) Has won here and has won on Good ground, Back down in Grade under a 4lb penalty.
14:25 Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle (Series Final)
Hurdle Turf, Handicap Class 2
Runners 16
Distance 2 miles 5 furlongs
Going Good
1st place £15,609
Our selections for the race
To win Ballyfort (11/2)
Had wind surgery and showed that solved some issues when scoring a nice win by 11 lengths at Ayr 2 weeks ago (2m, Soft) former pointer who placed over 3 miles so will have no problem with today's further trip and the 9lb rise will not be enough to stop him if backing up his last win.
Each-way Sayva (10/1)
Bumper winner and he won 2 novice hurdles towards the end of last year on Good and Good to soft ground. Had a 3 month break and returned well when 2nd at Carlisle 2 weeks ago. Lightly raced 5 year old who will come on for his first run back. Ben Macey takes of 7lb here and he should be back there if back to his best.
15:00 Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares' Handicap Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Handicap Novice Class 2
Runners 12
Distance 2 miles
Going Good
1st place £51,440
Our selections for the race
To win Walkadina (11/2)
Was below par at Wincanton in December and was also turned over at Odds-on at Ludlow last month but that came after wind surgery so he should be bang in form for this and she has showed a lot of promise on her first 2 hurdle starts in November. Has won on Good ground.
Each-way Tour Ovalie (9/1)
Won 3 handicaps in a row towards the end of 2024 on good and good to soft then added a novice win at Taunton ( 2m,soft) Ran at the Cheltenham Festival when a very good 9th in the Mares' novices hurdle. Back at a lower level and should go very close on these terms.
15:35 Ladbrokes 'Boost Your Bet Builder' Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Handicap Class 4
Runners 6
Distance 2 miles 1 furlongs
Going Good
1st place £8,714
Our selection for the race
To win Escapeandevade (10/3)
Won his 3 final starts last season including 2 that came over course & distance. Has not hit that form so far this season but is now slipping down the weights to a dangerous mark so today could be his day at a track he clearly goes well at.
14:05 Get Best Odds Guaranteed At BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Handicap Novice Class 3
Runners 11
Distance 2 miles 3 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £11,090
Our selections for the race
To win Alexei (5/1)
4 wins from 8 flat runs in Germany including 3 wins over 1m4f. Easy wins at Taunton (2m3f/2m, Good to firm/good) which where his 2 debut hurdle starts since switching to Joe Tizzard's team. Was put firmly in his place last time though in Listed company at Exeter (2m, Good to soft) 6 weeks ago. Would need to run to that level on handicap debut.
Each-way Oh My Johnny (15/2)
Has fell twice in his career (point and under rules) Flopped when hot favourite for Haydock handicap but must have been something wrong that day, won a maiden at Uttoxeter and a handicap at Hereford where he rallied to win just on the line. Todays trip might not be his optimal but he's capable of improvement.
14:40 BetVictor Home Of The Saturday Superboost Handicap Chase
Chase Turf, Handicap Class 2
Runners 11
Distance 2 miles 4 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £20,812
Our selections for the race
To win Saint Segal (4/1)
Returned to front-running tactics on his last 3 starts and it has resulted in what is his career-best form, won over course & distance in December before two great, bold runs in valuable handicaps. Has solid good ground form from 2023 and he is on the same mark as his last run so he commands respect here.
Each-way Numitor (14/1)
Veteran who we have a soft spot for, Won at Wincanton and Cheltenham after a break at the end of 2024. Pulled up at Market Rasen 2 months ago but he bounced back well before from a poor run. Finished 2nd in this race back in 2023, each-way chance.
15:15 BetVictor British EBF "National Hunt" Mares' Novices' Hurdle (Grade 2) (Limited Handicap)
Hurdle Turf, Handicap Novice Class 1
Runners 16
Distance 2 miles 4 1/2 furlongs
Going Good to soft
1st place £28,617
Our selections for the race
To win Jasmine Bliss (5/1)
Point-to-point winner and Bumper winner and she is delivering on that promise in hurdle races, Won at short odds at Ludlow(2m5f) and Southwell (extended 2m5f) Is at the top of the weights here but won with loads in hands last time, could still have improvement in her, Big player.
Each-way Clotilda (9/1)
Intriguing horse who was placed over hurdle and fences in France and made all over here on debut for Paul Nicholls at Huntingdon (2m, soft) has taken 2 backwards steps since but heavy ground was her excuse last time and she now goes up in trip from 2m 1f to 2m 4f and she should have more to give under 10st 6lb here.
13:35 Alfa Aggregates Products Handicap Hurdle
Hurdle Turf, Handicap Class 2
Runners 9
Distance 2 miles 3 1/2 furlongs
Going Good
1st place £15,609
Our selections for the race
To win Nusret (7/2)
Dual flat winner and was also a smart juvenile hurdler two seasons ago, won twice and competed well at the top level. Left Joseph O'Brien under abit of a cloud. If he's fit after 233 days off he would go very close here but he is unraced over this far as a hurdler but stayed 1m6f on the flat.
Each-way Homme Public (7/1)
Ran well when runner-up in a strong class 2 handicap at Doncaster 3 weeks ago that he did win in the previous season. He was runner-up in this 2 years ago when only 2lb lower then he is today. Ran in blinkers last time out but switches back to cheekpieces which he run very well in.
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