Today’s ITV races, by Chris Cook
Venetia Williams made an atypically slow start to the core jumps season but has really found her stride in recent weeks. February was her best month by strike-rate for more than a year while she is hitting the target with more than half her runners in March so far, so the omens are auspicious for her Vic De Touzaine (3.15) in Newbury’s Greatwood Gold Cup.
This ex-French grey took a few runs to find his feet in this country but got there in March, when he might have won two races but for a late unseat at Wincanton. He probably needed his first run for 11 months when chasing home Dusky Lark at the beginning of February but it’s interesting to note that Pilgrims Lad was 11 lengths back in third before landing the Betbright, last weekend’s major betting race. I’d make Vic De Touzaine favourite, so it’s nice to be offered 5-1 as I type.
Oldgrangewood is likeable and unbeaten over fences, barring a race in which he was brought down, but three wins already this winter may have taken him closer to his ceiling than Vic De Touzaine is to his.
1.50 Doncaster A half-brother to the very smart Willoughby Court, Markov
starts life in handicaps on what seems a very reasonable rating.
2.05 Newbury His last run at Exeter suggests there is at least one more big day in Harry Topper, who is all engine and no chassis and has had to be stuck back together over years by the in-form Kim Bailey. A Charlie Hall winner, he beat Al Ferof out of sight in the Denman Chase three years ago and wouldn’t still have to be that good to land this off his current rating. He stayed on strongly into fourth last time and all the recent rain will be a big help.
2.25 Doncaster A few of those won’t enjoy the unseasonably testing surface but Workbench may get away with it. He’ll be sharper for his recent return over hurdles.
2.40 Newbury Representing trainer Nicky Henderson and owner JP McManus, Bloody Mary makes an intriguingly timed return to the track, now that weights are set for the Festival handicaps next month. She probably needs a penalty to get anywhere near making the cut for those but she certainly could be nicely treated, having run third in last year’s Festival race for novice mares, when she was close to Limini as late as the final flight.
3.00 Doncaster This significant step up in distance to three miles should help Taws, who has been a very effective stayer on the Flat. She was a respectable second to Finian’s Oscar in first-time cheekpieces when last seen.
3.35 Doncaster The Last Samuri is almost a stone higher than when winning this last year, making him vulnerable. At the other end of the weights, Looking Well will be a danger to all if able to build on his fine second place to Ziga Boy in the Great Yorkshire.
Tips for all Saturday races, by Chris Cook
Doncaster: 1.50 Markov 2.25 Workbench 3.00 Taws 3.35 Looking Well 4.10 Thumb Stone Blues 4.45 Honey Pound 5.20 Maria’s Benefit
Kelso: 2.15 Reivers Lad 2.50 Un Prophete 3.25 Mount Mews 4.00 Tenor Nivernais 4.35 The Orange Rogue 5.10 Sammy B
Lingfield: 2.00 Frank The Barber 2.35 My Target 3.10 Miss Mirabeau 3.45 Robot Boy 4.20 Second Thought 4.55 Tartan Bute 5.30 Synodic
Newbury: 1.30 Justification 2.05 Harry Topper 2.40 Bloody Mary (nap) 3.15 Vic De Touzaine 3.50 Knightly Pleasure 4.25 Cepage 5.00 Talkischeap (nb)
Newcastle: 5.45 Tricorn 6.15 Veena 6.45 Entertaining Ben 7.15 Amber Mystique 7.45 Bowed Not Broken 8.15 African Grey
(all times GMT)
