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

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Tips Summary

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Saturday horse racing tips and insight

13:10, Kelso - Sam Turner: Hoping Doyen doesn't hit the Bar again

Having been matched on the Betfair Exchange in-running at 1.51/2, 1.824/5, 2.3611/8 and 2.01/1 on four of his last five outings, Doyen Du Bar looks a fair back-to-lay vehicle here.

There were mitigating circumstances surrounding his latest reverse at Market Rasen as he tanked into the lead turning from home looking the winner only for the extended 2m5f trip to stretch him that day.

His two previous runs this term over the minimum trip have both been fine efforts with an impressive third at Newbury behind Ryan's Rocket on Coral Gold Cup arguably the pick of those performances.

Although 10 years of age, Nicky Richards' veteran is still extremely capable of running to a high level in decent handicaps and, with his form at this venue reading 321, he ought to be on the scene again in a race which looks like it might be run to suit this strong traveller.   

13:25, Doncaster - Katie Midwinter: Praying for a winner at Doncaster

Five-year-old mare Livingonaprayer makes only her fourth career start in this Listed event, appearing in black-type company for the first time as she bids for a third successive victory.

She has impressed so far this term with two wins at Huntingdon and Wincanton respectively, making a significant impression on the back of a break in November before showing tenacity to deny the reopposing Limerick Lass when last seen in December.

Returning from a short break here, the daughter of Dartmouth makes appeal as she is on an upward trajectory and may improve even further for the step up in trip. She's out of a half-sister to Cheltenham Gold Cup winner Sizing John, and is also related to Anythingforlove, who also represented Jamie Snowden, winning over three miles for the yard.

In the hands of Gavin Sheehan, Livingonaprayer is one to note considering she has already shaped with great promise and remains unexposed. She could have plenty of further progression to come as she continues gaining experience, and can prove herself at this level.

14:15, Kelso - Mark Milligan: Mount can Star at Kelso

There was plenty to like about Starmount's winning hurdling debut at Wetherby in December, as he sauntered clear for just hands-and-heels riding.

Successful in an Irish point around the same time the previous year, what caught the eye most about Starmount's hurdling debut was the efficient manner in which he jumped and that performance prompted connections to fast track him into Grade 1 company on just his second outing over timber.

However, he failed to do himself justice when fourth in the Formby at Aintree and it's easy to surmise that the omission of obstacles in the home straight leading to a 5f run-in completely failed to play to his strengths.

The selection quickly put that behind him returned to Wetherby last time, breezing home from a subsequent winner by 15 lengths, with an even bigger gap back to the third. Starmount looks ready for this step back up in grade and he is taken to account for Dan Skelton's Le Beau Madrik in what is a fascinating Grade 2 novices' hurdle.

14:30, Doncaster - Sam Turner: Pirate can pinch the gold in feature

A combination of a tongue strap and being reunited with Rex Dingle appears to be the catalyst in turning around the fortunes of Dartmoor Pirate who has been a revelation since the festive period.

A confidence boosting defeat of No Tackle at Lingfield before Christmas (form enhanced since) set the selection up well for a step up in class at Town Moor last month and he delivered in style, powering to a convincing victory in the Great Yorkshire Chase at the expense of New Order who reopposes here.

That was far from the perfect performance from Dartmoor Pirate as he won despite a modest round of jumping which saw him register just 5.7 (sixth best in the race) on the RaceiQ jump index metric.

Anthony Honeyball's gelding lost ground on his field jumping fences nine to fifteen and it was only at the last obstacles in the race that he actually gained on his rivals.

The fact he jumped the final two fences better than the previous seven and hit the line strongly recording the best finishing speed percentage of the race augurs well for today's step up in trip and a more polished round of fencing could see him defy a 5lb rise for his latest win.

14:55, Kelso - Mark Milligan: Hit the jackpot with Vegas

The Morebattle Handicap Hurdle over an extended 2m is Kelso's highlight of the winter and, as ever, it's attracted a highly competitive field, with 17 runners set to go to post.

If there is a blot on the handicap it could well be provided by that man Dan Skelton again, as he runs Quaviste, who sneaks in towards the bottom of the weights.

This lightly-raced type is still open to plenty of progression on only his second start in handicap company, but I have my concerns as to whether he'll just find this too much of an ask against some battle-hardened types at this stage of his career.

The one who catches my eye is Jet To Vegas, an impressive winner of the Grade 2 novices' hurdles on this card last year and who is returning to hurdles having had a spell over fences. He's done okay on his three starts over the bigger obstacles without setting the world alight and he returns to timber having had another recent breathing operation.

The Lucinda Russell/Michael Scudamore partnership have got their string in rude health and Jet To Vegas makes plenty of each-way appeal with five places available on the Sportsbook.

15:15, Newbury - Katie Midwinter: Veteran makes plenty of appeal

The Nick Scholfield yard could hardly be in much better form currently, and they could saddle another winner in Gabbys Cross in this veterans contest.

The 11-year-old, formerly trained by Henry de Bromhead, is making only his 16th start over fences. He has gained valuable experience during his career to date, but hasn't been overly seen, and could have the potential for more big days in future.

Gabbys Cross makes appeal at a value price in this contest from a mark of 128, 1lb lower than when a fast-finishing third to Nocte Volatus at Sandown in early January. Gustavian was behind in fourth on that occasion and has since boosted the form with an excellent fourth to Lookaway at odds of 66/167.00 in last weekend's feature at Kempton.

His latest run is worth forgiving and the return to chasing should suit. He's yet to be fully exposed at this level, particularly for his new connections, but has shaped with great promise when an eyecatcher in defeat in his penultimate start, and should be able to make his presence felt from his current rating in this field.

First-time cheekpieces could spark improvement too, and Freddie Keighley claims 5lb off, putting him in with strong claims at the weights as he seeks a fifth career win.

15:30, Kelso - Alan Dudman: Can't help but Dream about Florida

The Nicky Richards love-in for Saturday will increase ten-fold with a win here for the last leg (we can dream) and Florida Dreams has held up well in the betting this week as I put him up in the Tuesday antepost column at 6/17.00. Now at half the price, I am feeling a little more confident.

This 15:30 is a 0-150 in name only, and no horse in this is rated above 133 - and one of those is running after an absence of 441 days.

He was last seen at Musselburgh in a race that might have stretched him from a stamina point of view and it was also his fifth of the season, which is quite unusual for Richards, who is a trainer that can perhaps save them a wee bit.

However, on the plus side, he is back down in trip which could suit, and is also lower in the mark stakes now on 123 - which is 4lb lower than his third to Kabral Du Mathan at Haydock at the Betfair Chase meeting. On that, he'd be a well treated horse.

15:45, Newbury - Paul Nicholls: Twinjets loves Newbury and this is his Gold Cup

He is good. Obviously, it was a bit of an unfortunate fall, we thought he'd go well that day. Well, he didn't actually fall, he unseated technically, but it might just as well have been a fall.

He loves Newbury, he really goes well there, and he's in good form. Again, he's pretty well on a high enough mark now, but he will appreciate the fact that it hasn't rained too much. Good to soft ground is fine but if it dried any more, that would suit him even better. He has got top weight, but I think we've won this race about 10 times, or we're going for our tenth win. He's got a chance.

If he won this, he'd end up with a penalty in the Plate, which won't help too much, and then you'd have to run him in the Ryanair at the Cheltenham Festival and hope you won a bit of place money. We'll have that sort of discussion afterwards, but this has always been his target. This is his Gold Cup in my book.

Now read Mike Norman's Cheltenham Festival 2026 Ultimate Guide