ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Each-Way Double for Newbury

The first race on the ITV schedule is the Bet In-Play On Racing With BetVictor Novices' Handicap Hurdle and the one who makes plenty of appeal is Michael Bell’s ARTISTIC CHOICE (best price 9/1) who is in receipt of loads of weight from all of his rivals. 

This promising youngster achieved a fair level of form on the Flat without success and made a winning start over hurdles at Catterick in November before doubling his tally over timber at Huntingdon last month, showing a good attitude under pressure. 

Despite belting the last hurdle, he rallied strongly to win going away on the run-in, winning much easier than the margin indicated at the finish. He then contested a fair race here last month and was denied by just under a length to Fruit N Nut. 

In that race, he split two horses rated 124 and 119, so his current mark of 115 marks him down as a well-treated horse. Harry Cobden, who has been on him the last twice, gets down to do the low weight and he appears to be a great bet at the odds. Four places widely available.

The Grade 2 British EBF BetVictor 'National Hunt' Mares' Novices' Hurdle has attracted a mass field of 18 runners but I am drawn to the claims of Mark Walford’s RUBY ISLAND (best price 7/1) who has displayed good enough form to date to make her a serious player at this level.

This progressive six-year-old ran four times in bumpers, winning once whilst making the frame in the other three races. She pushed the undefeated Credrojava to within half-a-length at Aintree and would have won in another couple of yards, as she rattled home from miles back to be nearest the finish. 

She then contested a really strong Listed event at Cheltenham and remarkably, despite racing keenly, her strong finishing effort was firmly in evidence, as she took fourth behind Queens Gamble. Since then, she won her first two hurdle starts impressively and was unlucky to lose out by a whisker last time. 

In the interim, she was briefly outpaced but surged home in the closing stages and again, would have won in another few strides. Even so, she lost nothing in defeat in giving the winner five-pounds and this course should massively play to her strengths alongside the ground. 

Her trainer sends her on a long round trip of 450 miles and she is his only runner on the card, which is noteworthy, plus Jamie Hamilton has his only ride on the card as well. With five places widely available, she has excellent each-way claims in a race that could potentially bring the best out of her.