Sportscasting’s horse racing expert Andy Newton is back with his hot trends and 1-2-3 picks ahead of the ITV Racing from Kelso, Bangor and Newbury this Saturday (22nd March)
You can also watch/listen to Andy’s weekend views with TalkSport 2’s Emmet Kennedy and former jockey George Gorman on the FINAL FURLONG Podcast.
ITV Racing Cameras Head To Kelso, Newbury and Bangor This Saturday
After the highs of the 2025 Cheltenham Festival and the Aintree Grand National Festival less than two weeks away the UK horse racing has moved down a few notches.
That said, there is still some competitive fare to take in this Saturday with the ITV Racing team showing NINE races on their main channel.
With the action coming from two Premier Racedays at Kelso in Scotland and Newbury – plus there is also one race coming live from Bangor.
NEWBURY Horse Racing Stats: Harry Derham Has Some More Big Chances At The Berkshire Track
2:05 – BetVictor Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m3f ITV
🥇NORN IRON
🥈OLD COWBOY
🥉CALIMYSTIC
As already mentioned, the Harry Derham yard are in tip-top order heading into this weekend and they’ve got another big chance here with NORN IRON.
This 7 year-old is yet to win over hurdles, but has only had four starts and the step up in trip here looks ideal – having stayed on well the last day (4th) at Doncaster. The form of that run has also been boosted with the second Bluegrass winning since.
The Moore team run recent Plumpton scorer Old Cowboy, who can go well too. They had another entered in the race earlier in the week called Authentic Legacy, but it’s interesting they are pinning their hopes on this unexposed 5 year-old.
Calimystic is also worth a mention for the Henderson de Boinville combo, who rarely leave Newbury without success.
📈Hot Stats:
- 4/4 – Aged between 4-6
- 1/4 – Winning favourites
- Trainer Harry Derham is 6-17 (35%) in the last 14 days
- Trainer Gary and Josh Moore have a 23% record with his hurdlers at the track – OLD COWBOY
- Jockey Nico De Boinville has a 25% record riding over hurdles at the track- CALIMYSTIC
2:40 – BetVictor Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+ 0-150) 2m4f ITV
🥇RISKINTHEGROUND
🥈THEATRE MAN
🥉SAINT SEGAL
Saint Segal probably brings the best form to the race after his third in the Greatwood Gold Cup here last time, but you just feel he’s in the handicapper’s grip at the moment and a place might be the best he can hope for.
Theatre Man had top form in 2023 and the start of 2024 but has lost his way – a recent wind op might spark him back to life and off a mark of 132 could be dangerous.
But the Skelton yard have won the last two runnings of this and send Real Stone and RISKINTHEGROUND to post.
The latter gets the nod with Harry Skelton riding and will love the better ground. He’s only a pound higher than his last winning mark now too and looks a horse to keep on the right side of heading into the Spring months – he won three times between May and June last year.
Oh, we could also see another Harry Derham runner here in Imagine. The ground would be a worry and he’s been poor since leaving Gordon Elliott but don’t forget he beat recent Gold Cup winner Inothewayurthinkin at Fairyhouse back in 2023 – albeit on heavy ground.
📈Hot Stats:
- 9/10 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
- 9/10 – Favourites that finished 1st or 2nd last (4 won)
- 8/10 – Carried 11-1 or more in weight
- 7/10 – Top 3 finish last time out
- Dan Skelton has won the last two runnings
3:15 – British EBF BetVictor “NH” Novices’ Mares’ Hurdle (Limited Handicap) (Grade 2) (Series Final) (GBB) Cl1 (4yo+) 2m4½f ITV
🥇SIOG GEAL
🥈JASMINE BLISS
🥉LA PINSONNIERE
Jasmine Bliss will be popular here for the in-form Harry Derham team – having won her last two in good fashion. However, the big weight (11-12) is the small worry.
La Pinsonniere, who was 11 lengths behind Jasmine Bliss, gets a 7lb pull this time and in the first-time cheekpieces I think this Henderson mare can go well too.
But the pick is SIOG GEAL for Fergal O’Brien. She brings solid form to the table after a close 4th to Jubilee Alpha and second to Bluey in her recent runs.
The former has since run a fair 8th in the Mares’ Novices’ Hurdle at the Cheltenham Festival, but the key here looks to be the step up in trip – having looked a bit one-paced and if this extra yardage will be right up her street.
📈Hot Stats:
- 10/12 – Carrried 11-3 or less
- 9/12 – Aged 5 or 6
- 9/12 – Top 3 finish last time out
- 8/12 – Ran in the last 6 weeks
BANGOR Horse Racing Stats: Olly Murphy and Jamie Snowden Head To Bangor In Tip-Top Form
1:35 Alfa Aggregates Products Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m 3 1/2f ITV
🥇THE FOUR SIXES
🥈MILLDAM
🥉MR FREEDOM
Former Joseph O’Brien inmate Nusret is worth a market check on his first run for Nicky Henderson – he was last seen running 14th in the Galway Hurdle in August.
But in a tricky race another yard that are going well at the moment is Jamie Snowden and he’s got Milldam here. Yes, this grey was down the field the last day at Kelso in the Morebattle Hurdle, but that was his first run since December and should strip fitter (now a non-runner).
THE FOUR SIXES is another to note despite a string of average runs in his last three. As a result he’s dropped to a mark of 131 but even though he was pulled up the last day at Newbury that was over 3m and fared okay for much of the race.
The drop back in trip will suit, the Olly Murphy yard are going well and also boast a 22% SR with their hurdlers here at Bangor. Sean Bowen is the added plus in the plate.
📈Hot Stats:
- 2/2 – Aged 7 years-old
- 2/2 – Carried between 10-13 and 11-3
- 2/2 – Favourites (or joint)
- Trainer Nicky Henderson has a 27% record with his hurdlers at the track – NUSRET
- Trainer Olly Murphy has a 22% record with his hurdlers at the track – THE FOUR SIXES and THUNDER ROCK
KELSO Horse Racing Stats: Wywnot Holds Leading Claims In Mares’ Hurdle
1:15– Ladbrokes ‘Best Odds Guaranteed On Racing’ Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl2 (5yo+) 3m2f ITV
🥇YOUR OWN STORY
🥈DARE TO SHOUT
🥉CADELL
Dare To Shout will be popular with a string of silvers next to his name and also ran second to subsequent Ultima Chase winner Myretown here two runs back.
However, he’s only recorded one win from six starts over fences and the favourites in this race are also only 1 from 8 in recent runnings.
Therefore, a chance is taken on one of the two Lucinda Russell runners YOUR OWN STORY.
Despite having a ‘9’ next to his name in his last race actually finished 5th in the Eider but was disqualified with the jockey failing to weigh in.
The first-time visor is on today too, plus the better ground will be more to his liking.
📈Hot Stats:
- 7/8 – Ran in the last 5 weeks
- 7/8 – Unplaced last time out
- 4/8 – Had run at Kelso before
- 1/8 – Winning favourites
1:50 – Ladbrokes ‘Big-Value You Can Bet On’ Mares Hurdle (Listed Race) (Registered as the Beeswing) (GBB) Cl1 (5yo+) 3m 1/2f ITV
🥇WYENOT
🥈LAVIDA ADIVA
🥉OTTIZZINI
This should be fairly straightforward for the Henry Daly-trained WYENOT, who is the clear top-rated mare in the field. She’s been running consistently all season and also had Ottizzini 9 lengths back at Doncaster two runs back and is only 4lbs worse off.
She’s likely to be one of the best supported horses on the day with the best horse racing betting sites in the UK.
Of the rest, the Ruth Jefferson-trained Lavida Adiva has a good record when ridden by Brian Hughes and has looked as if the step up in trip, which she’ll get here, will suit. It would be no shock if she outran her odds.
📈Hot Stats:
- No previous runs
- Trainer Henry Daly has a 29% SR at the track (2-7) – WYENOT
- Trainer N W Alexander is 4-15 in the last 14 days – MY LADY ELKTRA
- Trainer Dan Skelton is just 4-54 in the last 14 days – SACRE COEUR
2:25 – Ladbrokes Go North Cab On Target Handicap Hurdle (Series Final) (GBB Race) (Cl2) (4yo+) 2m5f ITV
🥇NORDIC TIGER
🥈SAYVA
🥉ASHINGTON
The Harry Derham team are in fine fettle at the moment and with that in mind their NORDIC TIGER gets the nod here.
Yes, the horse was well beaten last time here but the better ground is a plus and did well around this time of the year 12 months ago.
He’s only three pounds higher than his last winning mark and Alice Stevens, who gets on well with the horse, can claim 3lbs from the saddle.
Of the rest, the Jonjo O’Neill team are not in the best of form of late – but they’ve done well with their limited runners at the track in the past, so their Sayva is interesting too.
While recent Doncaster scorer and former CD winner Ashington is respected too.
📈Hot Stats:
- Both previous winners ridden by a claiming jockey
- Both past winners aged 6-8 years-old
- Trainer Harry Derham is 6-17 (35%) in the last 14 days
- Trainer Philip Kirby is just 1 from 29 with his hurdlers at the track – ACHNAMARA
- Trainer Jonjo O’Neill and AJ O’Neill are 2-5 (40%) with their hurdlers at the track- SAYVA
3:00 – Ladbrokes Herring Queen Series Final Mares’ Novices’ Handicap Hurdle (GBB Race) Cl2 (4yo+) 2m ITV
🥇 NORTHERN AIR
🥈BARRABOOL
🥉RULA BULA
Another for the in-form Harry Derham yard here in Barrabool, who was an excellent second at Taunton last time out to Tour Ovalie and is much better off at the weights this time – she can reverse that form.
Rula Bula is another for the Jonjo O’Neill team that have a 40% return with their hurdles here. But the main one of interest is NORTHERN AIR for the Fergal O’Brien camp, who won this race in 2023. They also run Leloopa.
This 6 year-old was a tidy winner at Taunton last time out off the back of a wind op and the form of that race has been franked since with the third and fourth both winning since.
📈Hot Stats:
- Trainer Fergal O’Brien won the race in 2023 – NORTHERN AIR
- 2/2 – Winning favourites
- 2/2 – Aged 5 and 6 years-old
- Trainer Fergal O’Brien has a 31% record with his hurdlers at the track
3:35 – Ladbrokes “Boost Your Bet Builder” Handicap Chase (GBB Race) Cl4 (5yo+ 120) 2m1f ITV
🥇BOLLINGERANDKRUG
🥈ESCAPEANDEVADE
🥉FLASH DU PISTOLET
Flash Du Pistolet grabbed his first win over fences at Newcastle last time – but is up 6lbs and hiked in class too, which makes life harder.
Proven CD winner Escapeandevade looks to holds a big chance despite being well beaten in his last five races as this ease in grade and drop in the ratings should make him more competitive.
But this is a race the Lucinda Russell team have won twice in the last seven and their BOLINGERANDKRUG catches the eye too.
He’s another CD winner who will be better for his last run here at Kelso – with that coming off a four month break. He’s also down to a mark of 109, which is 12lbs lower than his last win and is another that will be more at home in this drop in grade.
📈Hot Stats:
- 7/7 – Ran in the last 3 weeks
- 7/7 – Had run at Kelso before (5 won)
- 2/7 – Trained by Lucinda Russell
- Duty Calls won the race in 2023
GOOD LUCK 🤞
Note: All trainer and jockey stats shown are subject to change (correct 21st Mar 25)
