ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Doncaster & Cheltenham

At Doncaster, in the ‘The Bet Boost At bet365 Handicap Chase,’ James Ewart could have a smart one on his hands in the shape of HEROIQUE DE MAULDE (best price 9/4), who ran a promising race when marginally-denied into second on stable/UK chase/handicap debut at Newcastle last-time-out and is strongly fancied to go one better here.

A dual winner in France last term, he was well-supported in the market ahead of his stable debut at Newcastle when backed into 11/4 second-favourite. He jumped superbly throughout and was actually the last horse off the bridle. Always prominent, he jumped to the lead after the second last when himself and Hidden Commander started to pull clear of the remainder.

He was marginally headed on the run-in but rallied in the shadows of the post and, at first glance, it looked as though he got back up to take the spoils. Unfortunately, that wasn’t the case, as Hidden Commander beat him by a short-head. The handicapper has raised his mark four-pounds as a result but he still looks well-handicapped off a mark of 110 based on that performance and is open to even further improvement over fences on just his second start for his Langholm-based handler.

The champion jockey, Brian Hughes, who rode him last time maintains the partnership and this five-year-old should be ideally suited to the drop back in distance with that latest run under his belt. Getaway Luv and Maninsane are last-time-out winners but both have to give weight to this promising youngster, who brings untapped potential into the race. He should relish this course, which has a lot of similarities to Newcastle, and he can therefore open his account in the UK here.

There’s great depth to the Molson Coors Mares' Handicap Hurdle, the final race of the two-
day International Meeting at Cheltenham, featuring last year’s first and second Martello Sky and Indefatigable, who fought out the finish 12 months ago with the former narrowly shading the verdict after a great battle between the classy mares up the famous hill.

Coincidentally, both arrive into this year’s renewal on the same mark as they did 12 months ago and neither can be discounted as they both wear their hearts on their sleeve. However, Martello Sky was comfortably beaten by Molly Olly’s Wishes at Kempton last time, whereas Indefatigable was last seen finishing last of six at Wetherby, so the pair need to leave their latest efforts behind them if they are to produce a repeat effort of last year’s result.

The unbeaten Lady Adare, trained by Harry Fry, is three-from-three over hurdles after winning her sole bumper start and makes her handicap debut after nine months off. An opening mark of 130 with Lorcan Murtagh claiming three could prove essential but she has yet to race at Cheltenham and this is a much tougher assignment than the races she has been winning, though some of her form has already worked out really well.

For instance, her seven-length defeat of Get A Tonic, who subsequently went close at Haydock off a mark of 133 when second in the Betfair Exchange Stayers'; Handicap Hurdle, makes her dangerously well-treated here. If she takes to the course, which is possible given she’s a straightforward individual, she could prove tough to beat. The only other minor issue I have with her though, is that this will be the quickest ground she will have encountered and is the furthest she will have raced if given the green-light to compete.

There are dangers everywhere you turn of course and you can’t rule any out including the likes of Theatre Glory and I Spy A Diva too but the Alan King-trained NINA THE TERRIER (best price 5/1) is very interesting off a light weight and could be worth a reasonable bet here with the return to this longer trip deemed a huge positive in regards to her chances.

This six-year-old mare completed a hat-trick over hurdles in novice company last year and look set to remain unbeaten and extend her winning sequence to four in a Listed event at Newbury, where she travelled well and held every chance as she just about came through with a dangerous-looking challenge until falling at the final hurdle.

She then made the frame in four of her next five starts, including when second on her first try at this distance in a Grade Two at Newbury. Her reappearance second, at Chepstow, was pretty solid as she was only beaten two lengths to Sonigino, who she was giving 12 pounds in weight.

Her next start saw her tackle the Listed bet365 Mares' Hurdle at Wetherby and she looked to be rapidly closing down the eventual first and second, which featured Martello Sky, until falling at the third last. She was getting four-pounds from Martello Sky that day and looked the most likely winner when virtually upsides that rival until she fell but this weekend she gets 11 pounds from Lucy Wadham’s charge, so there’s a bit of buoyancy about Alan King’s participant potentially reversing the form on these terms.

She shaped if still in pretty good form when fifth of 13 in the Greatwood Hurdle here last month, where again, she travelled noticeably well out-wide and got herself into second on the long run before the second last hurdle and she looked set to make the frame, only to lose two places in the final couple of strides. I think her chance was compromised by the omitted hurdles though, as she’s quite slick at getting from a-to-b at her hurdles despite hitting the deck twice in her career to date.

In addition, however, the assessor has dropped her mark a pound and this is a significant drop in grade from that latest race too, plus she has proved she stays this longer distance and should get the ideal set-up with Martello Sky likely to ensure this race is run at a decent tempo.

I can envisage her travelling into this race smoothly and, if she can navigate her way over the last few hurdles, this talented mare undeniably has the credentials to play a significant role in the outcome of this race. I’ll be disappointed if she can’t figure prominently here.