ITV Racing Bonanza & Musselburgh Betting Angles

Hi all,

All eyes are on the Dublin Racing Festival (DRF) this weekend.

The DRF is a superb meeting in its own right, with huge prize money and elite horses on show. But let’s be honest it’s also the launch pad for Cheltenham, perfectly placed in the calendar as the final major staging post before March.

ITV Racing viewers are in for a real treat. An incredible 22 races will be shown live across the weekend – two from Leopardstown on Saturday and a further five on Sunday.

I sent my full Saturday DRF preview to subscribers on Friday lunchtime, and just writing it got me genuinely excited about what’s in store. I’ve got plenty of strong fancies at Leopardstown and at Sandown and Musselburgh so it’s shaping up as a big betting weekend to close one month and start the next.

Weather Watch Again

There is, however, one fly in the ointment. Leopardstown faces an 8am inspection after further heavy rain was forecast for Friday night. If it fails, Saturday’s card will be rescheduled for Monday weather permitting.  At least that’s some consolation and would be cracking Monday treat.

If Leopardstown can race the race of the day is stellar Paddy Power Irish Gold Cup (3:30). It’s likely to be the strongest staying Grade 1 chase of the season and I include the Cheltenham Gold Cup in that sentiment. If Galopin Des Champs wins the race for a fourth successive year the crowd will take the roof off.

Sandown also now faces a 7:30am inspection. I think they’ll be fine, but more rain than forecast would be a concern. Let’s hope they don’t regret not opting for an all-chase card.

What should be the most exciting weekend of the jumps season could yet turn into a damp squid. Fingers firmly crossed it doesn’t.

Of Saturday’s jump meetings, the only one guaranteed to go ahead is Musselburgh.

Inside today’s main piece, I focus on two of the three ITV races there, where it’s the bet365-sponsored Scottish Cheltenham Trials Weekend.

Musselburgh

I’m bypassing the opening ITV race – the bet365 Scottish Triumph Hurdle (1:10) to concentrate on the other two races.

1:43 – bet365 Scottish County Handicap Hurdle (Class 2) – 1m7½f

Welsh Charger is 2 from 2 over C&D and won this race last year from just 1lb lower. The track suits him perfectly and he should go very close.

Afadil, a dual C&D winner, is 1lb lower than when beaten a length in this race last year. With Freddie Keighley taking off a further 7lb, he has strong claims.

Star Of Guiting is 6lb higher than his New Year’s Day C&D win but is well suited to this sharp two miles. He races from 4lb out of the weights, but another bold show looks likely.

2:20 – bet365 Scottish Champion Chase (Class 2) – 2m4½f

Insurrection shaped well when third over C&D on New Year’s Day and should improve for that run. Freddie Keighley’s 7lb claim makes him look very well treated.

JPR One travelled and jumped well when just denied by the progressive David’s Well at Cheltenham (2m1f) last month. He looks worth a try at this trip and is the class horse if the ground stays no worse than good to soft. Very interesting that stable jockey Brendan Powell comes here rather than Sandown.

The Kalooki Kid was two places behind Insurrection over C&D last time, but he won this race last year from 7lb lower and this will have been the plan again. He should be thereabouts from a competitive mark.

Traprain Law returned to winning ways at Wetherby last month. Best form has come over shorter, but he was a six-length third in this race last year from 3lb higher and now has a 10lb pull with the winner.

Tommy’s Oscar has tumbled down the weights and, while the trip stretches him, the veteran is simply too well treated to dismiss.

There’s more ITV Racing from Leopardstown and Musselburgh on Sunday, so I’ll likely be doing a Sunday column this week as well.

Good luck with your Saturday bets.

John