Saturday ITV Racing Tips & Preview

The ground remains a slight question mark for DIABLE DE SIVOLA (Best price 7-2) as it does for a number of his rivals, but he acquitted himself well last time at Cheltenham in a strong handicap won by Coole Cody and is worth supporting today. That performance represented a good effort from the selection, considering he raced on the unfavoured inside part of the track. The first three home that day raced wider so Diable De Sivola did well to remain in contention for so long and, although he is yet to confirm he would want conditions quite so testing, he travelled well enough on a soft surface to suggest he can cope this afternoon. 
 

KNOCKANRAWLEY (Best price 4-1) won this race in 2014 but has only raced six times since so doesn’t have a lot of mileage for a horse of his age. There is no doubting the selection is a hard ride and bone idle so rider David Bass will have every opportunity to work off the Christmas pudding, but his mount loves big, galloping tracks and deep ground so has to be of interest bidding for a repeat success given he was narrowly beaten at Ayr on his comeback.

 

Strangely, for a jockey who has ridden more than 100 winners in the last couple of seasons, Harry Skelton doesn’t obtain many outside rides, but he gains the call today aboard DAME ROSE (Best price 3-1) and it looks a smart booking from connections. The Grade One prize has attracted a small but select field, however the presence of the four-year-old daughter of Network adds further quality to a race which has produced champions in the form of Diamond Harry, Reve De Sivola and Taquin Du Seuil in recent seasons.

Dame Rose has a good few hurdles to cross before she can be rated on a par with that illustrious list, but the early signs are highly encouraging and the form of her victory in a Listed race at this venue earlier this month is already working out handsomely.

Runner-up Cap Soleil has won since, while fifth-home Banjo Girl has also obliged to give the form some substance and there is every indication this afternoon’s step up in trip may produce further improvement from the selection.
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Just the four runners but an intriguing race with narrow preference for SOLIGHOSTER (Best price 11-4) who didn’t fire at Market Rasen last time behind Barnet Dwan but had previously impressed on a large, galloping circuit at Ffos Las when the ground was pretty deep. Proper soft ground is crucial to the selection and he is narrowly preferred to Rocklander whose progress over fences is being halted by some novicey errors at present.
 

WHISKEY CHASER (Best price 5-1) could prove the answer to a tricky puzzle sitting at the foot of the weights. The nine-year-old is usually thought to be better for a run but he impressed on heavy ground here last time, galloping in strongly to win a truly-run handicap. His yard invariably targets this type of race at the north west venue (Testify a good winner for them at the last meeting) and he will have no issues with this severe test of stamina.
 

The switch from the National fences to Haydock’s more orthodox obstacles will require adjustment from FEDERICI (Best price 7-2) but he has looked an improved chaser since sporting the cheekpieces for his last two starts. Today’s drop back in distance should also play to the strengths of a horse that travelled well before finding the trip beyond him in the Beecher Chaser behind Blaklion at Liverpool. A 10lb rise for a comprehensive Lingfield success may not be enough to stop Church Hall from emerging as a major threat, but Federici possesses the class to trouble him.
 

 

A swift return for If You Say Run could spell danger for MARIA’S BENEFIT (Best price 7-4) but the former was made to work pretty hard at Wincanton on Boxing Day to land the odds and, in the hope that race has taken the edge off her chance, the Stuart Edmunds-trained mare is preferred. Both Maria’s Benefit and her main market rival, Sunshade, have been highly progressive this term and the former barely came off the bridle to win with authority at Ludlow last time. She may offer a shade more value than Sunshade who herself was impressive at Market Rasen in a decent time.