ITV Racing tips – Saturday March 15: Midlands National day at Uttoxeter and Kempton
ITV Racing presents action from Uttoxeter and Kempton on Saturday. Seven races, all National Hunt, will follow on from a historic and eventful Cheltenham Festival during the week.
Our betting expert has selections from three of the televised races that make an appealing 540/1 each-way treble. Catch all the action on ITV4 from 1.30pm to 4pm.
Today's best bets
2.25, Uttoxeter – Joyeux Machin @ 4/1 with Betfair
2.45, Kempton – Josh The Boss @ 11/1 with Betfair
3.00, Uttoxeter – Mr Vango @ 8/1 with Betfair
Odds, provided by Betfair, are correct at the time of writing.
If you already have a Betfair account and are looking for a new bookmaker to use for this weekend's racing, check out our list of free bets here.
2.25 Uttoxeter – JenningsBet Handicap Hurdle (Class 2, 2m 7½f)
There will be voided and lost ante-post betting slips up and down the country with JOYEUX MACHIN on them for last Wednesday's Coral Cup at Cheltenham.
The Skelton horse looked as though he was being prepped to peak at the Festival and was at the cusp of bottom weight, but excuses were being made that the going was not suitable. Cheltenham tends to be a very well-draining track so drying ground can get quite firm. Connections will be hoping for softer conditions on Saturday and a win can follow.
Joyeux Machin's outing at Wetherby in February was the first eyecatching run where he was a fast-finishing third. That was followed up with a calculated never-nearer second behind likeable handicapper Altobelli, which affirmed everyone's suspicions that a big victory was just around the corner.
2.45, Kempton – Virgin Bet Best Odds Daily Handicap Hurdle (Class 2, 2m 5f)
JOSH THE BOSS won on ground similar to this back in October at Chepstow and the form of that race has worked out very well with Doyen Quest, Take No Chances and Lowry's Bar directly in behind going on to have fabulous seasons.
The same cannot be said for Josh The Boss, who has finished ninth and pulled up in two attempts on soft ground since. He has dropped a couple of pounds for those efforts, but can resume progress now with more suitable conditions.
3.00, Uttoxeter – JenningsBet Midlands Grand National (Class 1, 4m 2f)
Today's feature selection is for MR VANGO who will need to defy trends and win today off top weight. Ten of the last 12 winners have carried 10st 12lb or less, but this likeable sort has to shoulder the full 12st.
He has had a flawless season, winning twice over near-marathon trips and impressing by jumping like a stag in the process. He holds an entry in the Grand National, but looks like he will not qualify at this stage – so connections have reverted to today's Midlands National to sign off his campaign.
Trainer Sara Bradstock will certainly be hoping the ground is softer than the current reporting but Mr Vango should have the class to handle this surface against today's opposition, which should lead to a big enough rise in the weights to target the 2026 Grand National next season.
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