Saturday Racing Cheat Sheet: Best bets for ITV Racing at Newbury and Kelso

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Tips Summary

Please Note: Prices quoted in table below were correct at time of each writer/tipster's column being published on Betting.Betfair.

Race	Tipster	Tip/Runner	Odds
13:20 Kelso	Katie Midwinter	The Navigator E/W	66/167.00
13:50 Newbury	Paul Nicholls	Grand Vendetta	4/15.00
14:10 Kelso	Timeform Verdict	Diamond Galore	14/115.00
14:25 Newbury	Katie Midwinter	Coastguard Station E/W	11/112.00
16:40 Kelso	Alan Dudman	Glen Road	9/25.50
15:00 Newbury	Sam Turner	Charisma Cat	13/27.50
15:20 Bangor	Sam Turner	In The Age	3/14.00

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Saturday horse racing tips and insight

13:30 Kelso - Katie Midwinter: C&D specialist chanced at a huge price

Dianne Sayer has a good record at Kelso this term, performing at a 25 percent strike-rate with many of her beaten runners also making the frame. Her representative in this series final, veteran The Navigator, faces a stiff task as the outsider of the field, but is far from a forlorn hope.

The 11-year-old had recorded form figures of 11511 over this course-and-distance before his latest effort here when finishing down the field in his penultimate start. Two of those successes came earlier this term, his latest from only a 2lb lower mark with Charlie Maggs claiming 5lb aboard. Whilst he is vulnerable to a younger improver, he has plenty of valuable experience at this venue in his favour and isn't badly treated at the weights in his 98th career start.

At huge odds of 66/1, The Navigator could be worth keeping the faith in each-way considering his good record at the track and the fact he has proven he retains plenty of ability this term. He could be able to outrun those odds under Peter Kavanagh, for a trainer with a good record at the track.

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13:50 Newbury - Paul Nicholls: Vendetta has a Grand chance

His mark of 120 in this handicap is workable but I will monitor the ground and make sure it doesn't dry up too much for him. He won on heavy ground the last day at Taunton, and this is drying up a little bit. He is a lovely, young horse and needs to get experience before he probably goes chasing next season.  

This is tough but I think Grand Vendetta will run very well if he runs and is my best chance on Saturday afternoon. 

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14:10 Kelso - Timeform Verdict: Diamonds appeal from Henderson duo

Nicky Henderson saddled the winner of the inaugural running of this in 2022 and, in Diamonds Galore and Khrisma, the yard fields two live contenders this time round.

The latter remains with potential and is bound to be popular but Diamonds Galore is an appealing alternative at the forecast prices, on the back of what has to go down as an unlucky defeat in a Ludlow handicap. Our Peggy rates a solid each-way option, while Beauty In The Park and First Candidate are others to consider.

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14:25 Newbury - Katie Midwinter: Veteran fancied to go well under champion

This intermediate distance on a sound surface could suit Coastguard Station, who is unexposed over the trip. He was a convincing winner over an extended 2m5f at Market Rasen in his penultimate start, beating subsequent winner Mahons Glory, now rated 139, who could go well in the Topham if heading to Aintree.

It's a decent level of form and, although needing to bounce back from a disappointing effort at Ascot, Coastguard Station could be worth keeping onside as he steps up in class in this competitive contest.

At an each-way price, the experienced 10-year-old is one to note under champion jockey Sean Bowen. He has usually been seen plying his trade over the minimum trip, staying on well on most occasions in recent seasons. This extra distance could allow him to put in a bold bid in his favoured conditions, and he may be capable of outrunning his odds for trainer Henry Oliver.

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14:40 Kelso - Alan Dudman: Glen on the Road to victory

This is an old school Saturday double relying on McCain and Sue Smith, and Glen Road was one of my antepost fancies on Tuesday, and I will not be deserting him now.

At 9/25.50 on the Sportsbook as of Friday lunchtime, that represents a fair price considering he will be back at what looks his best trip.

Last time out at Sandown he was beaten just over 2L over 2m4f in soft, and the winner in that novices' chase had the run of the race from the front. A sterner test would have suited Glen Road, although a couple of mistakes didn't help his cause either.

He was a winner over hurdles at Kelso in December from 112, crucially over a little further at the extended 2m6f with a positive ride too. I can see that happening again for Saturday and he looks on a good mark from 116 for this on just his fourth start over fences.

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15:00 Newbury - Sam Turner: Cat fancied to pounce at Newbury

Alan King is another handler enjoying a decent spell and Charisma Cat could still be fairly treated despite shouldering top weight in a well-contested renewal of the EBF Mares' Final.

The daughter of Nathaniel was an extremely talented bumper horse, winning at Southwell, Warwick and Sandown in Listed company before finding two miles around Aintree last spring an inadequate test.

Although King's mare was beaten at long odds-on over Christmas at Wincanton, that below-par display was out of character with a couple of her efforts over hurdles which has seen her chase home the likes of La Conquiere here back in November and Khrisma last month.

Today's trip represents a step into the unknown for Charisma Cat, but her run style suggests that it is within her compass and a dosage index rating of 0.71 (the lower to zero, the more stamina in the pedigree) indicates that she has arguably done well to achieve what she has over the minimum trip.

She has the opportunity to display that these new circumstances can produce further improvement and she probably bumped into a smart rival in Khrisma at Market Rasen.

 

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15:20 Bangor - Sam Turner: More to come from Skelton's Age

Dan Skelton tops and tails this Class 2 handicap with likely pace angle Knickerbockerglory heading the weights and the lightly-raced In The Age residing at the foot of the handicap.

An Irish point-to-point winner back in the day, the Saint Des Saints gelding has only made four starts over hurdles and there is every chance we haven't quite seen the best of him yet.

Without a run since the end of January, it appears that the selection's handler has kept him fresh for a spring campaign and this test should ideally suit a horse that races handily.

With his stablemate and Nowmelad likely to try and dominate, I could see rider Charlie Todd drafting in behind the speed before endeavouring to produce his mount with a winning challenge on the home turn.

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