ITV Racing Tips: Saturday Double for Kempton & Warwick

The Paul Nicholls-trained PIC D’ORHY (best price 11/4) is fancied to take the Grade 2 Silviniaco Conti Chase for the second year in succession. The nine-year-old has won five of his last six starts and won this race last year by 16 lengths.

I am surprised he isn't a clear favourite because he ticks every box for this contest with conditions to suit. Edwardstone is stepping up in distance and isn’t guaranteed to appreciate it, while Banbridge is returning from an absence. Harry Cobden can guide him to third-course success.

APPLE AWAY (best price 9/4) was behind Great Dawning at Haydock, but the former should prove a different proposition now. This Grade 1 winner made giant strides over hurdles last season and opened her account over fences at Leicester last time in great style.

Her attacking style of racing will really suit this course, and the weight she gets from the remainder is hugely beneficial. She can continue her progression with a dominant display from the front by landing the Grade 2 Hampton Novices' Chase.

Extra ITV Racing Tips

This race is unfortunately restricted to just two places given the seven runners, but at a double-figure price, MORODER (best price 14/1) could cause a minor surprise if he’s in the mood.
The ten-year-old has been pulled up in both starts this season. However, he tends to save most of his best for this time of year, and a repeat of his career-best second in the Bet365 Gold Cup at Sandown would be good enough to go close against these. At a whopping price, with the ground continuing to dry out, he’s the play at value odds.

In the Pertemps Network Handicap Hurdle at Warwick, J’AI FROID (best price 9/1) might be given an uncontested lead and could run well from a 5Ib lower mark than when he last got his head in front.
Coincidentally, his last win came on this course, which then led to a good second in a Grade 3 handicap at Aintree off a mark of 143. His form has been mixed since, but his last couple of starts have been decent, resulting in a win and a second place. If the 11-year-old can continue his good run of form, he should be able to at least fill the frame.
 

In the feature race at Kempton, the Coral Lanzarote Handicap Hurdle, it is really difficult to oppose IMPOSE TOI (best price 4/1),who is one of the most progressive runners in the line-up and must have outstanding claims.
He was narrowly denied in the Betfair Exchange Trophy at Ascot when last spotted and might have beat stablemate Luccia without a mistake at the second and last hurdle. His only previous start over this distance resulted in an emphatic 15-length success. With more to come, Nicky Henderson’s six-year-old should be hard to beat.
 

At an each-way price in the Lanzarote, the Paul Nicholls-trained IRISH HILL (best price 22/1) could be thereabouts under Bryony Frost. Harry Cobden might have overlooked him in favour of Sonigino, but the former is closely matched with the former winner of this race, Cobblers Dream, as he was only a neck behind the latter over with these and distance in November.
He is also 1Ib below his last winning mark after a decent second place at Newbury last time. The first-time blinkers that were equipped last time are retained, and, with ideal conditions, he could outrun his odds with four places generally available.
 

In Warwick’s Classic Chase, I’m bullish about the chances of three participants. The first one is BROKEN HALO (best price 18/1), who looked set to play a leading role in the London National when still going well before his departure at the second last fence.
The nine-year-old seemed to relish the conditions and hadn’t been asked for any effort before he exited the contest last time. The assessor has not reacted in any shape or form by leaving him on an unchanged mark of 133, and Lorcan Williams is retained in the saddle. He could run well with five places widely on offer.
 

BEAUPORT (best price 14/1) is a class act on his day and was well suited by stepping up to a marathon trip when a very good second at Sandown last month in the London National. He couldn’t quite see off the gutsy Truckers Lodge, but he lost little in defeat, and the handicapper has only raised his mark by 1Ib.
He beat a Grade 1 winner on his chase debut and is open to improvement in this sphere. He is unexposed over staying distances, and this race should be run to suit. If he can keep the errors at bay, he should have every chance in the Classic Chase from a handy mark with five places generally on offer.
 

PERCUSSION (best price 18/1) is another who is overpriced in the Classic Chase. This nine-year-old deserves a change of fortune after making the ofame in all four starts over the National fences at Aintree. He is a really consistent horse who has placed in the last two renewals of the Becher and Grand Sefton Chases, and this longer trip could prompt further improvement.
He is likely to be up with the early pace and gets on well with Harry Reed. I often find horses who run well over the National Fences tend to do well in this contest, and he fits the bill as a potential winner. I’m quite confident he has the ammunition to execute another bold display, with most firms offering five places.
 

Richard Hobson’s LORD DU MESNIL (best price 9/1) has been winless in nearly three years, but the 11-year-old is extremely consistent and has placed in four of his last six starts. He acquitted himself very well when he finished second at Cheltenham last time, a trip short of his best.
The return to this distance of three miles will suit him, and he is 5Ib below his last winning mark. He has lots in his favour, and if he can get himself into a nice rhythm, a return to winning ways could be imminent. Four places are widely available.
 

AYE RIGHT (best price 6/1) is the other runner I want on my side in this race. He hardly ever runs a bad race, and while he was behind Thomas Darby here last time, he must have a solid chance of reversing the form with Dylan Johnston claiming a valuable 7Ib.
He has run some huge races in defeat off higher marks during his career and is 1Ib lower than when he last got his head in front, which came in the 2021 Rehearsal Chase. This has probably been the plan all season, and he merits strong consideration in a race he is capable of landing. Great chance.