ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Kempton

An excellent opener to start the action at Kempton. Rare Middleton and Perseus Way do make some appeal but SCRIPTWRITER (best price 7/4) has taken really well to hurdles. He probably would still be unbeaten in this sphere too if he didn’t hit the front too soon at Cheltenham when last spotted, as Paddy Brennan would have done things differently in hindsight.

He won his first two hurdle starts, including a Grade 2 at Cheltenham, and lost little in defeat behind Comfort Zone last time. He has to carry more weight than the remainder but he should be well-suited to this course and connections are confident about his chances in the Triumph Hurdle next month.

I have also advised him ante-post for the Triumph Hurdle, as well as Rare Middleton, but I think Milton Harris’s charge will be more suited to this race. He was the best of these on the Flat, while his connections won this last year with Knight Salute and Milton Harris has expressed that this horse has more natural ability.

I think he’s a very generous price and the only reason he isn’t shorter is based on the others' potential, which is understandable. Perseus Way ran well when second behind him on hurdles debut but Scriptwriter had plenty up his sleeve and I am optimistic about him confirming that form by winning this which would book his ticket for Cheltenham.

Paul Nicholls’ Solo has a decent chance, especially if the wind surgery has a positive effect, but even if he does try to dictate the race, I feel as though he will set this race up perfectly for BOOTHILL (best price 7/4) who could be even better over this longer distance.

Harry Fry’s charge has already established himself to be an even better chaser, with three wins from four starts, and was impressive in winning the Wayward Lad Novices' Chase here over two-miles back in December. He is rated nine-pounds and upwards over the rest.

I was really impressed with how he managed to overhaul Aucunrisque who had it all his own way on the front end. The former's job was made even tougher as the pace-setter was quickening from the front when he lifted the tempo, so Harry Fry’s charge had to use double the petrol to get to him and then get past.

He did just that and, essentially, the runner-up has boosted the form by winning the Betfair Hurdle on his next start. He could do with settling better but Solo is likely to go at a good pace and this smooth-traveller, who jumps well, should be in his slipstream ready to pounce from the home-bend.

He won’t find it easy giving weight to his rivals but he is open to further improvement, brings the best chase form to the table and is the only runner in the field to have proven himself at this level in this sphere. His odds are short but I think he’ll win.

Bonus ITV Racing Tips for Newcastle & Kempton

Christian Williams won this last year with Win My Wings and he has an excellent chance to repeat the dose with KITTY’S KIGHT (best price 11/4) who could outclass these off a mark that’s well within his compass, as he is three-pounds below his last successful mark.

His last start over such a marathon distance saw him finish a creditable second in the Scottish National off a mark of 143. He is 11 pounds lower for this race, which is much easier, and his third in the Bet365 Gold Cup was off 145 plus he showed encouraging signs when third at Kempton last time.

I don’t think he would even need to be at his best to go close in this race. The conditions will suit, the return to the longer trip will suit, and he’s lurking on an extremely dangerous mark as well. The seven-year-old is unexposed over this trip and that Scottish National second is the best form on offer.

I will also be having an each-way bet in the race in the shape of YOUNG BULL (best price 18/1) who has raced sparingly the last few years and has built up quite a consistent profile, who has only been out of the frame once in all starts over obstacles.

Harry Whittington’s charge ran well after an absence when third at Haydock last time and his two placed efforts behind Demachine makes his mark of 123 attractive. He is fitted with the cheekpieces as well, which could bring out further progression.

Furthermore, he appeals as the type to appreciate the step up in distance and is completely unexposed still in this sphere. With everything taken into consideration, and four places widely available, he is my each-way choice.

This doesn't look like the deepest edition of the Sky Bet Dovecote Novices' Hurdle and I am not sure why Rubaud and Ukantango are so short in the betting after they both turned in poor efforts last time. Hansard has won both his hurdle starts in good style and his latest win when giving weight and a beating to Master Chewy was pretty stylish.

This is a big step up in grade from that performance though, and while Imperial Bede impressed as well as last time, he too needs to step up in the race. The fact he was sent off a huge price on his hurdles debut suggested he ran above expectations and this race is much tougher.

Kayf Legend won on his hurdles debut last time but in another couple of strides, the second would have caught him and again, this is a huge rise in grade. He could be useful but might be one for handicaps further down the line. He might be out of his depth here.

So instead, I am focused on the two Milton Harris trained runners. However, Mullenbeg has won three of his six hurdle starts but disappointed when only sixth at Cheltenham last time and this race represents a rise in grade plus he is more exposed in comparison to the remainder.

Then we are left with just one horse, who is my bet in the race, and I cannot help but think the price about the Milton Harris-trained POSTMARK (best price 40/1) is too big, as he shouldn’t be the outsider of the field given he looked a nice prospect when winning at Newbury very smoothly last time.

His jumping will need to be more slick to give himself a chance in this race but he was a very decent horse on the Flat (rated 89) and the manner in which he quickened away last time, showcasing a nice turn of foot suggested he is well worth his place in the line-up this weekend.

He never went a yard on his hurdles debut here but the experience clearly did him the world of good as despite not being all that fluent at Newbury, his class came to the fore. What is even more interesting is that Mitchell Bastyan rides him instead of Mullenbeg, so at the odds, he is fancied to cause an “upset.”