Saturday ITV Racing Tips & Preview

Venetia Williams boasts a decent strike rate in Prestbury Park handicap chases and ASO (Best price 15-2) could be the answer to a tricky Grade 3 affair. The seven-year-old has a pretty decent profile over fences below Grade 1 level with his form figures reading 222131421 and he ran a blinder behind Frodon in a hot handicap here pre-Christmas before enjoying a nice confidence booster at Chepstow last time. There is a chance he may again find one too good for him now he goes back up in class again but, at his odds, I’m willing to take the chance.

It is very difficult to oppose UN DE SCEAUX as he bids to win this race for the second year running, albeit not at Ascot. The forecast overnight rain should make this more of a test which should suit the Willie Mullins-trained nine-year-old and nullify the speed of chief market rival Special Tiara. Any dramatic easing in conditions could see the door opened for TOP GAMBLE (Best price 10-3) to nick the forecast spot and he could be worth exploring in the markets without the odds-on favourite.

The Cotswold Chase has proved a graveyard for favourites in recent times and Thistlecrack is the latest to try and end the hoodoo this afternoon. I can’t tip the King George winner at long odds-on, especially when he has displayed the odd frailty in jumping ditches so old favourite SMAD PLACE (Best price 13-2) gets the nod. Unlike the hot favourite, Alan King’s charge has missed the various gruelling Christmas tests and arrives here a fresh horse with this race as his main target. It is worth recalling his trainer sent out a sparkling five-timer on this day 12 months ago and I would rather back his grey each-way at his morning odds than Colin Tizzard’s Gold Cup favourite.

Enda Bolger has made a habit of mopping up cross country races on both sides of the Irish Sea and CANTLOW (Best price 6-4) looks the obvious starting point in a race lacking in depth. Bolger is one of few trainers to actually target these events and train his horses specifically for the examination that they provide and, with the exception of the 159-rated Alelchi Inois and doughty Any Currency, this doesn’t appear a vintage renewal.

Trainer Nick Williams has his string in good order now after a quiet start to the season and I was taken with the performance of COO STAR SIVOLA (Best price 14-1) in a warm handicap on New Year’s Day over this afternoon’s course and distance. It might be significant that Williams is happy to run his charge in this afternoon’s Grade 2 event rather than wait for a handicap at the festival which would have seemed the most natural course of events after his win earlier this month. Coo Star Sivola has a little to find with the main protagonists, but he boasts a great track record and double-figure odds look insulting now that his stable are back among the winners. I was tempted to also put up Kimberlite Candy at a double-figure price, but the value has eroded and he is reluctantly shunned.

The size of this field probably suggests some of the country’s leading trainers doubt UNOWHATIMEANHARRY (Best price 5-4) is a genuine Stayer’s Hurdle contender. Whatever your view of Harry Fry’s gelding, his record at Cheltenham is phenomenal and victory this afternoon would extend his winning run at Prestbury Park to four. He may not have been at his best at Ascot last time but he still obliged with authority – admittedly aided by Ballyoptic’s unfortunate last-hurdle fall – and he is developing into the consummate professional.

Those that saw Give Me A Copper make a successful UK debut at Exeter won’t be surprised to see the seven-year-old installed as a market fancy for this Grade 2 event. However, the Ditcheat inmate would ideally need soft ground to be seen to best effect and, although overnight showers are expected, HAPPY DIVA (Best price 7-1) is put forward as an alternative given her recent rate of improvement. There was plenty to take from the selection’s Wetherby success last time where she dismissed inferior rivals with ease. Today’s race obviously represents a much stiffer task, but Happy Diva looked a mare on the move in Yorkshire last time and is worth siding with as she appears underrated by the market.

VROUM VROUM MAG looks head and shoulders above her four rivals and should complete her Cheltenham festival preparation with the minimum of fuss. At heavy odds on she is beyond the reach of most punters so MIDNIGHT JAZZ (Best price ) is put forward in the markets without the favourite. Good ground and Town Moor worked the oracle two starts ago and his stable have a decent record at the track so maybe their mare can chase the favourite home.

All the fancy prices about BIGBADJOHN (Best price 5-1) were mopped up by the shrewdies earlier this week, leaving the rest of us to take rather miserly odds this morning about Rebecca Curtis’ gelding. The eight-year-old ventures into handicap company for the time today safe in the knowledge there is no Thistlecrack to contend with. Bigbadjohn lines up for the Sky Bet Chase on the back of a valiant effort last time behind the Cheltenham Gold Cup favourite at Newbury and he doesn’t appear over burdened by the handicapper. He had previously hammered Our Kaempfer in a match at the Berkshire venue and, with that rival now rated 148 following a subsequent seven-length win at Kempton, Bigbadjohn’s mark of 136 looks lenient. Rather than back the eight-year-old each-way (there is a strong chance place terms will change) I would rather have a saver on OUT SAM (Best price 8-1) who rates a serious danger as this track will suit him better than his trips to Cheltenham before Christmas which were abject failures. The addition of cheekpices and the switch to a flat track at Kempton were catalysts to a better showing last time and he could be on the scene again.