Three different tracks host races on terrestrial TV this Saturday. In all, viewers can enjoy ten different races on ITV‘s flagship show.
Matty Sutcliffe toasts the action. He has four top tips across the cards at Kelso and Doncaster.
Kelso Racing Tips (Saturday 28 February)
Kelso’s is the feature card on Saturday. Matty’s two best bets at the Scottish track include one in the Grade 2 Premier Novices’ Hurdle.
1:10 Kelso – bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-130) – Torneo 7/4 1pt WIN
Torneo has kept better company than makes up this race this season and can take advantage of the drop in class.
The Tornado gelding was progressive as a novice chaser last season with form figures of 322131F, and has taken that form into open company. He ran a career best RPR when a neck second to Triple Trade at Cheltenham in November, who backed that up Sandown last month.
He was unfavored by being held up when a four-length fourth at Newbury, but that form’s worked out with the third bolting up twice since including the Ladbrokes Trophy at Kempton last time out now rated 11lbs higher. The second has also won since having beaten Torneo a head at Windsor in a 26k class two, and the winner, Mighty Bandit, is now rated 13lbs higher after winning by eight lengths next time out.
Torneo has bumped into a number of well handicapped chasers of late, but there doesn’t appear to be much sticking out here and this drop into 0-130 company can see him return to the winners enclosure for a yard who have a 25% strike rate here when making the long trip up from Berkshire.
2:15 Kelso – bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Lord Byron 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
Faye Bramley makes the six hour journey up to Kelso for just the one runner on the card with Lord Byron. It wouldn’t be the normal modus operandi to chance a four year old in here, but the last time one contested the race was in 2015, when Bristol De Mai and Intense Tango were second and third respectively.
The former Coolmore owned Camelot gelding made a promising hurdling debut albeit beaten at Evens when a length behind Klycot, who was second in Grade Two at Chepstow next time out before bolting up twelve lengths at Wetherby now rated 127.
Lord Byron then caught the eye in the Grade Two Finesse Hurdle at Cheltenham last month, racing in rear throughout before challenging wide on the unsuitable part of the track, staying on well to be beaten four lengths by Maestro Conti. That form was franked by the fifth La Luna Artiste next time out, who bolted up thirteen lengths in the Adonis next time out.
While this does look an above average renewal the race, he receives a handy 4yo allowance and the first time cheekpieces are applied to eek out further improvement for a yard going well this season.
Doncaster Racing Tips (Saturday 28 February)
The feature at Doncaster is the Grimthorpe Handicap Chase, formerly a useful Grand National Trial. One of Matty’s two Doncaster tips comes in that contest.
1:55 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Homme Public 13/2 1pt WIN
Four of the six runners here are previous course and distance winners including the last two winners of this race. Brookie remains 18lbs higher however, so it may pay to focus on Homme Public who won this off 6lbs lower in 2024, and has a 27lbs swing in the weights to reverse his length defeat to Brookie in this last season.
The Cokoriko gelding requires a fair chunk of faith on this season’s evidence with form figures of 6660, finishing last in his first three races. There have been some reasons for the poor displays, not least the dramatic attempt to race him over 3m5f in a Cross Country Chase at Cheltenham last time out.
The yard equip him with a first time visor here which will hopefully perk him up, as the first time blinkers very nearly did in this contest last season. His Doncaster form reads 1162 and off his lowest mark in handicaps since November 2022, he’s taken to bounce back to form.
2:30 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Moroder 20/1 1pt EW 4 places
Moroder reclaimed his 2023 Grimthorpe success when landed it again last season despite his advancing years and this looks to be his Gold Cup once more.
His first win here came after pulling up and finishing a forty nine length eleventh, and it was a very similar scenario last season when pulling up at Exeter before beaten sixty seven lengths en-route to winning the Grimthorpe again.
His form has once more been poor this season with figures of 6PP3, however the fact that he was only beaten 12 lengths here in December suggests there’s even more reason to retain the faith.
Crucially, as was the case for last season, the cheekpieces worn last time out are discarded and instead swapped for the blinkers, which he wore for the first time when winning this off a 5lbs higher mark. He’s 9lbs below his opening mark this season, and everything is pointing to him giving another strong showing.
Matty Sutcliffe’s Best Bets
1:10 Kelso – bet365 Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (5yo+ 0-130) – Torneo 7/4 1pt WIN
1:55 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Supports Safe Gambling Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Homme Public 13/2 1pt WIN
2:15 Kelso – bet365 Premier Novices’ Hurdle (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+) – Lord Byron 9/1 1pt EW 3 places
2:30 Doncaster – Virgin Bet Grimthorpe Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (5yo+) – Moroder 20/1 1pt EW 4 places
FAQs
What are today’s racing tips?
Matthew Sutcliffe provides his best bets for the racing at Kelso & Doncaster on Saturday 28 February.
When were Matthew Sutcliffe’s tips published?
Matty Sutcliffe’s Saturday horse racing tips were published at 4.25pm on Thursday 26 February.
Who is Matthew Sutcliffe?
Matthew Sutcliffe is GGs newest contributor, often providing a value angle for his tips. He writes weekly columns for the weekend’s racing, as well as taking aim at ante-post markets at the Cheltenham Festival. Follow him on X: @MattySutcliffe
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