A bumper Friday afternoon of ITV Racing is set for 3rd April, as All-Weather Championships day sees live action from Lingfield and Newcastle.
We have gone through all televised races on Friday, picking out ITV horse racing tips, and an accumulator for ITV racing.
A busy day of all-weather action on ITV kicks off at Lingfield with the Vase Fillies’ Handicap over seven furlongs. Cool Molly has looked like a progressive filly on the all-weather for Ollie Sangster, winning twice from nine starts.
She was only narrowly touched off at Newcastle last time when beaten a head by Alfa Duplicate. Her finishing effort signals that a step up to seven furlongs should suit.
ITV’s opening race from Newcastle on Friday is the 3 Year Old Championships Handicap. Ollie Sangster-trained Al Najashi has been very progressive since the turn of the year, winning at odds-on prices on his last four starts.
A rise in the weights didn’t stop him at Newcastle last time out, beating Okiru by three lengths. The drop back to six furlongs is no negative, having won at Lingfield over the trip in February. Billy Loughnane is an eye-catching booking.
A mammoth two miles is covered in the All-Weather Vase Marathon Handicap. Previous course and distance winner Diamond Bay could be an interesting each-way selection for the combination of Tom Ward and Sean Levey.
The eight-year-old won on his return last year at Goodwood, and has experience over this unique distance on the all-weather. Has a solid strike rate on the surface, finishing in the top three on 13 of his 27 attempts.
Next up is the Fillies’ and Mares’ Championships Handicap, which covers seven furlongs. Stateira made a striking impression over course and distance in January when posting a career-best RPR to beat Nikki Swango by four lengths.
The Andrew Balding yard is in red-hot form, and Oisin Murphy retains the ride. The four-year-old has won on both starts over seven furlongs.
A six-furlong dash will be covered in the All-Weather Vase Sprint Handicap. Justcallmepete is a reliable sort over the trip, winning three times over six furlongs at the end of last year.
Has dropped in the weights following a couple of disappointing efforts at Chelmsford, but he typically needs a couple of runs to build fitness. Therefore, he is a dangerous outsider for the respected Tony Carroll yard, with Dougie Costello keeping the faith.
A competitive renewal of the All-Weather Championships Mile Handicap is set for Newcastle on Friday. Storm Star looks on an appealing mark for the red-hot Andrew Balding yard. The five-year-old finished a respectable sixth on return over course and distance before fading at Southwell last time.
However, the Night of Thunder colt gets a big pull at the weights over three re-opposing rivals from that day, and he should be respected after winning over course and distance on three occasions at the start of last year, which included victory in this race 12 months ago.
My Fermoy is an interesting angle in the Middle Distance Handicap, which covers a mile and two furlongs. Unlike many rivals, the four-year-old is unexposed and is likely still improving.
The Denis Coakley yard is striking at 60% over the last two weeks, and the selection was a good winner of a competitive 12-runner race at Wolverhampton last month. Should come on for that run, and he already has course and distance experience after finishing second at Lingfield in December.
Lakers could be an interesting chance in the All-Weather Sprint Handicap at Newcastle. The four-year-old for trainer Kevin Philippard De Foy has won once from three starts on the all-weather, and encountered trouble when only narrowly beaten into third at Lingfield last time.
Is yet to finish outside of the first three on the all-weather, and has never been beaten further than a length. Likely to give a bold showing.
Previous course and distance form could count for a lot in the All-Weather Vase Mile Handicap. Invited scored over a mile at Lingfield in December, beating Hitched by a neck.
He hasn’t been disgraced in two starts this season, including when only beaten two lengths at Southwell in February. Goes well at Lingfield, winning twice on his last two starts at the track. Decent each-way hope on these terms.
The lightly-raced Gaucher looks like a fascinating contender in the All-Weather Easter Classic Middle Distance Handicap for trainer Willie Mullins.
The seven-year-old is lightly raced on the all-weather, winning twice from three starts. Has impressed on back-to-back efforts at Dundalk since dropping back from two miles, including last time when beating A Piece Of Heaven by five lengths. Billy Loughnane is booked to take the ride.
The ITV coverage concludes with a marathon test over an extended two miles at Newcastle. Tryfan is an interesting chance for the Harry Charlton yard, with Kayla Fraser booked to take the ride.
The Nathaniel colt has won twice from eight attempts on the all-weather, but produced his best effort to date last time when only beaten a length by Carlton over a mile and six at Chelmsford. Unexposed over this trip, but did run a strong race in a 19-runner handicap over course and distance when only narrowly touched off by Savrola last June.
