ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Kelso & Newbury

I really fancy the chances of NEMEAN LION (best price 4/1) for the Kerry Lee team. He was a very smart horse on the Flat in France who has taken well to hurdles and was impressive on his hurdles debut at Hereford, winning by over nine lengths.

He then tackled a competitive introductory hurdle at Haydock and while he couldn’t get to grips with Hullnback, he ran with credit to finish a clear second when attempting to concede the winner five-pounds.

His next task came in the Grade 1 Tolworth Hurdle and he ran a belter to finish third to Tahmuras. He just missed out on second when he weakened in the final 100 yards but his performance can be upgraded.

I thought he did well to finish as close as he did considering he was denied a clear passage when attempting to get a clear run at the race started to take shape, whereas the eventual winner had clear daylight throughout.

He had to do plenty of running to close the gap on Paul Nicholls’ charge approaching the last hurdle, so it wasn’t really a surprise that he just missed out on the runner-up spot given the petrol he used up beforehand. He lost little in defeat as well.

This is a drop in grade and he will have learnt a lot from that first test at the highest level plus the conditions will be better. His trainer Kerry Lee has been amongst the winners of late and he is her only runner in Scotland. He must have a serious chance.

Tom Lacey’s nine-year-old SEBASTOPOL (best price 13/2) hasn’t been seen since beating the classy Stage Star in a Grade Two at this course in November but that reads well in the context of this race, as he drops in class, plus the second has boosted the form since by winning a good-quality handicap at Cheltenham.

He didn’t jump as well as he could but the fact he was still able to beat a Grade 1 winner by five-lengths and give him five pounds was a testament to what he is capable of doing when he puts it all together. That victory was undoubtedly a career-best performance and he will return to handicap company, dropped in class, off a mark of 147. That could prove to be really lenient.

I am a little bit surprised he isn’t nearly favourite, as it’s like he is priced up as though his latest win was somewhat of a fluke and that is certainly not the case by any means. The good ground here will be perfect for him and his record under that description in this sphere reads F11 and in that fall, he was well clear and in command until unluckily falling at the final fence.

Zanza has a good record here but returns to handicap company off a stiff mark of 158 and might be found wanting, as could Paint The Dream, who might not be allowed to have it all his own way in front. Gemirande, Lord Baddesley won last time but are up in grade whilst The Big Bite and Espoir De Guye ran poorly when last seen and might be out of their depth.