Saturday 30th Dec ITV Racing Tips: 1-2-3 Best Bets From Newbury, Taunton & Haydock

Check out our ITV Racing tips on Saturday with action coming from Newbury, Taunton and Haydock in what looks to be an exciting day ahead. We have 1-2-3 best bets from all EIGHT races, so read on to see Kyle Curran’s selections. 

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ITV Racing Schedule On Saturday

• 1:15 Newbury – 2m½f (2m92y) Coral First For Horse Racing Handicap Chases (Class 3) – The Russian Doyen @ 9/2
• 1:25 Haydock – 3m4½f (3m4f97y) Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (Class 2) – Fortescue @ 9/2
• 1:50 Newbury – 2m4½f (2m4f118y) Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – Steal A March @ 7/2
• 2:10 Taunton –2m½f (2m104y) Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1) – Queens Gamble @ 10/11
• 2:25 Newbury – 3m2f (3m1f214y) Coral Racing Club Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) – Bowtogreatness @ 8/1
• 2:45 Taunton – 3m (2m7f198y) Racing TV 100% Profits Back To Racing Handicap Hurdle (Class 3) – Hurricane Harvey @ 7/2
• 3:00 Newbury – 2m4½f (2m4f118y) Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) – Willmount @ 6/4
• 3:35 Newbury – 2m6½f (2m6f93y) Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) – Ballycamus @ 9/2

Saturday ITV Racing Tips From Newbury, Taunton & Newbury

1:15 Newbury – 2m½f (2m92y) Coral First For Horse Racing Handicap Chases (Class 3) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: THE RUSSIAN DOYEN looks to have a good chance of keeping up his decent record around Newbury and the jockey booking of Harry Cobden can bring confidence. Jeremy Scott’s gutsy 10-year-old’s last win came over course and distance in February 2022 and Cobden was aboard that day and he can go well here after a respectable fourth of six when seen last on reappearance.

The Russian Doyen returned to action at Newbury last time out after a 621 break and finished 4th behind Elixir De Nutz (1st) and subsequent winner Master Chewy (2nd), that form is not so bad and a big run can be expected under top jockey Cobden. High in the weights but worth chancing in a small field.

Our Follet is only a four-year-old but the combination of Gavin Sheehan and Richard Hobson tend to go well and he still has plenty of scope for improvement despite two below-par efforts so far this season. Guy is also respected back in shallower waters this time around

• THE RUSSIAN DOYEN @ 9/2
• Our Follet
• Guy

1:25 Haydock – 3m4½f (3m4f97y) Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase (Class 2) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: FORTESCUE finished fourth behind eventual Welsh Grand National winner Nassalam last time out in the trial for the big Chepstow race and he may come on for that reappearance run now going back up in trip. Henry Daly’s charge rallied late on heavy ground that day and slightly quicker conditions may favour him. Hugh Nugent also claims a useful 3lb so he Fortescue can go well over a trip that can suit.

East Street has been in good form for Sue Smith after two valiant efforts (2nd latest, won race before) on heavy ground, meanwhile Robyndzone is interesting for the red-hot Venetia Williams yard but more rain would be a problem.

• FORTESCUE @ 9/2
• East Steet
• Robyndzone

1:50 Newbury – 2m4½f (2m4f118y) Coral Bet Bundles Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: STEAL A MARCH returns from a long lay-off and was last seen on Boxing Day 2022 when winning at Wincanton. Nicky Henderson often gets these things right and the HM The King-owned gelding should be ready for this despite being off the track for over a year.

He was due to run at Cheltenham Festival back in March but a setback in training led to him being scratched and he is still fairly lightly raced for an eight-year-old so commands respect for the in-form Seven Barrows yard. Henderson is operating at a commanding 33% strike rate in the last 14 days and Steal A March looks a strong bet having won on heavy ground back in the early stages of his career.

Get A Tonic was a Newbury winner last time out and should be involved and Irish Hill returns to the track for the first time since March 2022 and he typically does well at the venue.

• STEAL A MARCH @ 7/2
• Get A Tonic
• Irish Hill

2:10 Taunton –2m½f (2m104y) Byerley Stud Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle (Class 1) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: QUEENS GAMBLE looks like an exciting prospect for Harry Derham and she made it two from two over hurdles on reappearance at Kempton in November under Jonathan Burke.

This classy mare is thought of very highly by connections and a big Cheltenham Festival date may await next March if she can keep up her 100% record over the smaller obstacles. Queens Gamble will enter her toughest challenge yet, but she looks a good thing and should take all the beating with the strong form she possesses.

Casa No Mento won well last time out at Hereford and should be in the mix and Jaminska ran well at Taunton in her previous run when second behind Isabella Bee.

• QUEENS GAMBLE @ 10/11
• Casa No Mento
• Jaminska

2:25 Newbury – 3m2f (3m1f214y) Coral Racing Club Mandarin Handicap Chase (Class 3) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: BOWTOGREATNESS finished a close second in Class 1 company at Aintree when last running back in April with Ben Jones getting a career best effort out of him. Jones retains the ride and this is a much easier race back down in class on reappearance. Ben Pauling’s charge should enjoy the potentially testing ground and could finally get off the mark over fences.

That valiant second behind Midnight River at the Merseyside track last time also gave the implication that he may appreciate an extra furlong and slightly better jumping may also aid his cause.

Surrey Quest has had Wind Surgery since scoring well at Huntingdon and is worth a second look going over 3m for the first time, and Notachance was a Newbury winner back in 2019 and usually puts in a good effort at the track and can go close.

• BOWTOGREATNESS @ 8/1
• Surrey Quest
• Notachance

2:45 Taunton – 3m (2m7f198y) Racing TV 100% Profits Back To Racing Handicap Hurdle (Class 3)

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: HURRICANE HARVEY is on a seven-race losing streak but the last twice has been running in tougher races and this drop down in class may be just what he needs to return to winning ways.

Fergal O’Brien is one of the most in-form trainers in the country right now so it would be unwise to oppose Hurricane Harvey after two respectable efforts in defeat whilst in Class 2 in recent times. This nine-year-old also acts on all types of ground so can be the one to beat here.

Ballydisco is also a heavy ground winner and if conditions get tough at Taunton he should stay 3m and be in the frame. Game Winner was a beaten favourite here last time out and could bounce back.

• HURRICANE HARVEY @ 7/2
• Ballydisco
• Game Winner

3:00 Newbury – 2m4½f (2m4f118y) Coral Challow Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 1) (Class 1) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: WILLMOUNT is one of Nicky Henderson’s future stars and he made the perfect start over hurdles when winning by 13 lengths at Newbury back in November and he is one of the ante post betting favourites for the Supreme Novices’ Hurdle, and he looks to be the real deal.

He was also a soft ground scorer in his sole point-to-point so any dig in the ground should not be an issue. Nico de Boinville and Henderson are both in inspiring form too so apposing this prospect could be costly.

Captain Teague still commands plenty of respect too for Paul Nicholls despite coming second when sent off as an odds-on favourite at Cheltenham back in November. The JP McManus-owned Johnnywho is also unbeaten under rules and should be involved so this looks to be a compelling battle between the three market leaders

• WILLMOUNT @ 6/4
• Captain Teague
• Johnnywho

3:35 Newbury – 2m6½f (2m6f93y) Coral Get Closer To The Action Novices’ Limited Handicap Chase (Class 3) 

SportsLens (Kyle Curran) 1-2-3 Tips: The last of our ITV Racing tips on Saturday sees BALLYMACUS as our final selection. Nigel Twiston-Davies’ gelding is in great form and won well at Chepstow last time out. He hasn’t finished outside of the top three so far this season and could be the answer in an intriguing contest to close the day.

Ballymacus will also have no issues if there is testing ground so looks a solid pick in a hot looking race.

Golden Son is yet to score since joining Paul Nicholls but this step down in class could see him go close. Neon Moon also has decent form around Newbury so may be in the mix.

• BALLYMACUS @ 9/2
• Golden Son
• Neon Moon