Matt Chapman’s Friday ITV Tips

Matt Chapman’s Friday ITV Racing Tips

13:50 Cheltenham – Path d’Oroux
14:08 Doncaster – Queen of Thieves
14:25 Cheltenham – Triple trade (in any direction)
14:43 Doncaster – Bennetot
3:00 p.m. Cheltenham – Brave knight
15:18 Doncaster – Zoum Zoom
15:35 Cheltenham – Mole yard

*All prices are up to date with our nifty widgets, while odds in the text are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.

ITV Racing is back with action from Doncaster and Cheltenham on Friday, starting here with a Novices’ Chase over 2m. A very strange race with four Irish raiders and just one from Great Britain. This is not easy to clarify either. PATH D’OROUX doesn’t win as often as I would like, but he has a lot of experience and a rating that puts him in contention and stands out from all his competitors. He’s been here before, placing third in Unexpected Party at this year’s Grand Annual. If he repeats this attempt it will be very difficult for Keith Donoghue and Gavin Cromwell to stop him.

The Flat race is a low class race on ITV and starts with a maiden event for young fillies over 1m. QUEEN OF THIEVES is the interesting new entry for John & Thady Gosden with the excellent Kieran Shoemark at the helm. Frankel’s daughter makes her debut and is well bred from a Pivotal mare. She is a sister of Cracksman.

Here’s a handicap chase over 2m. TRIPLE TRADE returns with a handicap mark that should be doable for Joe Tizzard and Brendan Powell and provided he’s willing to roll I’m happy to risk him either way . Last seen with 137 points, he finished a decent fifth at Aintree in April, losing £2 for it. That means he is on the same level as when he won at Ascot in December 2023, and even if he had some luck back then when Harper’s Brook threw it away, he should still be able to run well.

Here there is a handicap over 1m. BENNETOT was a real shocker the last time I tipped him at York, but if he’s in a good mood the conditions are in place for him to bounce back. David Nolan rides the five-year-old for David O’Meara and just two races ago he finished an excellent fourth in the Cambridgeshire at Newmarket. Conditions and travel are ideal.

Get into the class and take part in the 2nd class beginner hurdles over 2m. I’m really looking forward to it because there are some exciting prospects. Imaginarium was pretty much the best on the Flat and won well the first time out. BRAVE KNIGHT has a four-timer and was a decent flat stayer, while Gale Mahler just keeps winning. Dancing in Paris is a really tough stayer who was in good form at that level. But this is a difficult introduction. I like to stick with my choice, which may be ahead and difficult to catch up with. He needs to brush up on his jumping skills but looks useful to Harry Cobden and Paul Nicholls.

A handicap over 6f. ZOUM ZOUM hasn’t quite done it all this year, but these are his terms and he’s down to 101 after starting the campaign on 104. Basically he’s a mud lover who stays well at 7f and he might run into those 6f types later on which will suit him. Rob Hornby leads the Greenham runner-up (dead heat) ahead of Ralph Beckett.

Here is a handicap chase for amateur jockeys over 3 meters and 1 meter. MOLE COURT hasn’t won for some time but is showing good form at Cheltenham so this may be a chance to bounce back for Jack Andrews and Ben Pauling. My selection didn’t embarrass itself two rounds ago at Uttoxeter when I finished fourth in a large field and ended up with a score of 115 this race in 2023. Here it is at 125, which of course makes it more difficult, but it is certainly designed for that.

So good luck and pray for Yeeehaaas. Do you hear me, Paddy?

Matt Chapman’s ITV Racing tips

13:50 Cheltenham – Path d’Oroux
14:08 Doncaster – Queen of Thieves
14:25 Cheltenham – Triple Trade (both ways)
14:43 Doncaster – Bennetot
3:00 p.m. Cheltenham – Brave knight
15:18 Doncaster – Zoum Zoum
15:35 Cheltenham – Mole yard

*All prices are up to date with our nifty widgets, while odds in the text are correct at the time of publication but are subject to change.