The ITV cameras are at Aintree and Doncaster on Saturday.
SATURDAY’S ITV RACING TIPS
- 13:15 Aintree – Kadastral
- 13:45 Aintree – Alexei
- 14:10 Doncaster – Unique Journey
- 14:25 Aintree – No Drama This End (NAP)
- 14:45 Doncaster – Felicitas (NB)
- 15:00 Aintree – Lord Snootie
- 15:25 Doncaster – Nobody Knows
- 15:35 Aintree – Boombawn
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13:15 2m (1m7f176y) (Mildmay) Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 3) (4yo+ 0-130)
Harry and Dan Skelton team up with KADASTRAL, who will be having his first run in 238 days and his first run since a wind op. This horse was a bumper winner at Newbury in March 2025 when he got the better of the now Joseph O’Brien-trained Talk The Talk. His form was consistent after that with a pair of seconds behind Sober Glory in maiden and novice company and that form was boosted when Sober Glory finished second to Old Park Star in the Supreme Novice Hurdle at Cheltenham. He goes over fences for the first time and could be nicely handicapped on what he has shown so far.
Selection: Kadastral
13:45 2m1f (2m209y) Molyneux Hurdle (Grade 2) (Formerly Registered As The Elite Hurdle) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
The Champion Hurdle form will be tested here against the Supreme Novice Hurdle form as ALEXEI and Mydaddypaddy face off. Alexei was fourth in the Champion Hurdle behind Lossiemouth and then followed that up with a third to Brighterdaysahead at Aintree. He was impressive in the Greatwood at Cheltenham around this time last year and a repeat of either run towards the end of the season should be more than enough to see him off the mark for the new campaign. He is rated 158 and will have to give five pounds to Mydaddypaddy, so there shouldn’t be much between them, but the proven form may just edge it this weekend.
Selection: Alexei
14:10 6f (6f2y) Wentworth Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+)
A very competitive renewal of the Wentworth Stakes and a chance is taken on the Irish-trained UNIQUE JOURNEY in the hands of Ryan Moore. This horse won his last two starts at the Curragh off marks of 94 and 103 and won them both in good fashion. The soft ground looks key for him and with Ryan Moore booked, connections look like they are expecting a big run.
Selection: Unique Journey
14:25 2m4f (2m3f200y) (Mildmay) Boodles Rising Stars Novices’ Chase (Grade 2) (GBB Race) (Class 1) (4yo+)
Paul Nicholls has declared NO DRAMA THIS END for his chase debut here and if he can show some of the ability he showed over hurdles, then he looks a main contender here. He was a twenty-three-length winner of a P2P at Badbury Rings when trained by Will Biddick, so you would expect him to improve for the larger obstacle. Owner Max McNeill is quite keen on his chances too when speaking to Sporting Life: “This is his day job now as this is what he is bred to do. This is where you would hope he can go on and progress and show what he can do. I think, as we stand here now, he is the most exciting horse I have ever gone chasing with. I’ve had lots of good horses in the past, but on paper he is the best chaser that I’ve had.”
Selection: No Drama This End
14:45 1m2f (1m2f43y) Irish EBF Gillies Fillies’ Stakes (Listed Race) (Class 1) (3yo+)
The Ed Walker team have been in good form in recent days with seven winners in the last two weeks. FELICITAS is a filly who has shown some solid form in her three-year-old campaign and while the ground may look a small question mark, she could go close. She was second in the Musidora at York behind Legacy Link and stepped up to Group 1 company in the Prix De Diane. Her last run was fourth to Song of The Clouds at Newmarket, where she was unlucky in the run and finished fourth. Her dam has winning form on soft ground, so there is a chance that her daughter may appreciate ease in the ground.
Selection: Felicitas
15:00 3m½f (3m149y) Handicap Hurdle (Pertemps Hurdle Series Qualifier) (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+)
Several runners have chances here as they look to qualify for the final at the Cheltenham Festival and a chance is taken with LORD SNOOTIE on his third run of the season. He finished second at Cartmel last time in the hands of Sean Bowen, and he was detached before three out and then made good headway at the back of the second last but flattened out close home. He ran off 122 and is up a pound to 123 and with a similar run he could go close off a light weight.
Selection: Lord Snootie
15:25 1m4f (1m3f197y) November Handicap (GBBPlus Race) (Class 2) (3yo+)
Richard Hughes and Ryan Moore team up with the Sean & Bernadine Mulryan-owned NOBODY KNOWS. This horse was a massive eyecatcher at York last time when he finished fifth behind Grey Cuban. He dwelt at the start and was in rear with plenty to do at the two-furlong pole and was then switched right and ran on strongly in the closing stages. The Racing Post in-running comments suggested that he “did well in the circumstances”. Ryan will be back aboard for the second time here and with luck in running he should go close.
Selection: Nobody Knows
15:35 2m4f (2m3f200y) (Mildmay) Handicap Chase (GBB Race) (Class 2) (4yo+ 0-145)
It could be a good day for the Harry and Dan Skelton team as they have BOOMBAWN declared here. Harry Skelton hasn’t been aboard this runner in his last four starts, but he ran well on his first start for the new season when sixth at Chepstow last time. He was 50/1 and ridden by Jack Andrews and while he got outpaced and lost position three out, he kept on close home. He was fifth to Gaelic Warrior in the Oaksey Chase at Sandown in 2025 off a mark of 153 and is in here off ten pounds lower here off 143. If the hurdle run was a prep for this, then he could be nicely handicapped.
Selection: Boombawn
SATURDAY’S ITV RACING TIPS
- 13:15 Aintree – Kadastral
- 13:45 Aintree – Alexei
- 14:10 Doncaster – Unique Journey
- 14:25 Aintree – No Drama This End (NAP)
- 14:45 Doncaster – Felicitas (NB)
- 15:00 Aintree – Lord Snootie
- 15:25 Doncaster – Nobody Knows
- 15:35 Aintree – Boombawn
